Costner Battles ‘Horizon II’ Lawsuit with Bold Move, Called “Nonsense” by Legal Team
Tensions Escalate in Legal Battle Between Kevin Costner and Stuntwoman Devyn LaBella Over ‘Horizon II’
The legal standoff between Kevin Costner and Horizon II stunt performer Devyn LaBella is deepening, revealing not only sharp disagreements over her sexual harassment allegations, but also over the very framing of the case.
In a pointed legal filing submitted on September 5 in Los Angeles Superior Court, LaBella’s attorneys argue that Costner and his legal team are attempting to twist the core issue. “As a desperate measure, Defendants now claim that Ms. LaBella intends to interfere with their free speech rights regarding creative works,” the 21-page filing states. Represented by Hadsell Stormer Renick & Dai and Valli Kane & Vagnini, LaBella accuses Costner, the production team, and his lawyer Marty Singer of trying to misuse California’s anti-SLAPP statute to derail the case.
“By Defendants’ logic, the anti-SLAPP statute would prohibit any suit based on a film industry worker’s objection to the breaking of safety protocols during filming,” the document reads. “This would place such workers at the mercy of powerful companies and famous directors, and risk silencing those who try to vindicate their hard-won rights.”
LaBella’s lawsuit, originally filed in May, stems from a May 2, 2023, scene shot for Horizon II that she describes as a “violent unscripted, unscheduled rape scene” filmed without the presence of a required intimacy or stunt coordinator. Costner has called the claim a “bold-faced lie” intended to damage his reputation, asserting that the allegations are a “transparent shakedown.”
LaBella is seeking multiple remedies, including damages, court-mandated training for all defendants on sexual harassment and violence prevention, and a requirement for intimacy coordinators on future productions involving Costner.
Her latest filing claims that the defense’s documents are “rife with contradictions” regarding the scene’s details — from how long it lasted to what undergarments were visible and whether proper safety protocols were followed. According to LaBella, the May 2 shoot lacked all contractually required protections, unlike a shoot that occurred the previous day.
Backing her claims is Horizon II intimacy coordinator Celeste Chaney, who has publicly supported LaBella’s account.
On the other side, Costner’s longtime attorney Marty Singer dismissed the filing outright. “This may be a new filing, but it’s really just more of the same old nonsense,” Singer said. “These claims are not only groundless, they are ridiculous. There are 12 independent witnesses who confirm that Ms. LaBella’s claims are fabricated. Kevin Costner has been very clear about why he refused to give in to a transparent shakedown. He is determined to stand up and fight for the truth — and we will continue to do so.”
The outcome of this case may have broader implications for the future of Costner’s Western film saga. With Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 underperforming at the box office and no release date yet announced for Horizon II, the legal controversy could further cloud plans for the planned Horizon III and IV, which have not yet entered production.
A hearing on the motion to dismiss is scheduled for September 18.
