Kevin Costner sued by stunt performer over ‘unscripted' rape scene in Horizon 2

Straits Times

4 days ago

Kevin Costner is both the director and star of the Horizon: An American Saga film series. PHOTO: HORIZONAMERICANSAGA/INSTAGRAM
LOS ANGELES - A stunt double who worked on the Western film, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 (2024), sued its director Kevin Costner and producers on May 27 for what she called forced participation in a 'violent unscripted, unscheduled rape scene' without advance notice or an intimacy coordinator.
The plaintiff, Ms Devyn LaBella, was the lead stunt double for English actress Ella Hunt, who plays Juliette Chesney in the film.
Ms LaBella said she was left with permanent trauma after the scene and was seeking a public apology and unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. A lawyer for Costner, who also stars in the film, said the claims were meritless.
According to Ms LaBella's complaint, the unscripted rape scene took place in May 2023, one day after she had filmed a similar one without incident. Costner, the suit said, inserted additional scenes to be shot with a different male actor in which he would climb on top of Hunt and violently rake up her skirt.
The additions, the suit said, were not outlined in the day's call sheet, and no arrangements were made for an intimacy coordinator, who works with actors before and during scenes involving nudity or simulated sex to make sure they are comfortable.
'Ms Hunt became visibly upset and walked off the set, refusing to do the scene,' the complaint said.
At that point, Ms LaBella was asked to stand in. She had not been prepared for the scene, the suit said, and learned its details after filming had begun. There were multiple takes of the scene, according to the lawsuit.
Horizon 2 was the planned second instalment of a four-part film series by Costner, 70. After the first chapter, which cost US$100 million (S$129 million) to make, earned US$11 million in its opening weekend in June 2024, the second chapter's theatrical release was cancelled.
Mr Marty Singer, Costner's lawyer, said in a statement that Ms LaBella's claims contradicted her own actions and that she was using 'shakedown tactics' that would not work. He said the scene in question was explained to her, who rehearsed it and gave an indication that she was willing to film it.
The lawsuit by Ms LaBella, which was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, states that the added scene also violated her union contract, which prohibits last-minute requests for nudity or simulated sex. The union, SAG-Aftra, requires producers to provide at least 48 hours' notice before call time to negotiate a written contract rider for simulated sex and obtain a performer's consent.
A union representative did not respond to a request for comment.
After that day of filming, Ms LaBella said, she felt shame and humiliation and flew home for a few days before returning to work. Several people apologised and made excuses for Costner, the lawsuit said, which made her feel 'even more uncomfortable'.
Mr Singer's statement said that after filming had wrapped, Ms LaBella took the stunt coordinator to a thank-you dinner.
'She also sent him a cordial thank-you text illustrated with happy heart emojis,' the statement said. 'The facts are clear and we are beyond confident that Kevin will prevail.' NYTIMES
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