Whatever Happened to Kevin Costner’s Horizon Lawsuit?

Kevin Costner is juggling two very different headlines right now: a nasty Horizon set lawsuit that just will not go away, and a primetime Christmas special on ABC. Let’s start with the legal mess, then pivot to the holiday cheer.

Where the lawsuit stands

Stunt performer Devyn LaBella sued Costner in May 2025, alleging she was subjected to a violent, unscripted, and unscheduled rape scene while doubling Ella Hunt on the set of 'Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2.' In October 2025, a judge denied Costner’s bid to toss the case outright, letting eight of LaBella’s ten claims move forward and dismissing two. According to TMZ, Costner has now appealed that partial ruling, hoping to get the remaining claims thrown out too.

The two claims that were dismissed: one sexual harassment claim and a claim under California’s Bane Act (a civil-rights statute often tied to threats or intimidation). Costner’s team also got a partial win on an anti-SLAPP motion, which is basically a First Amendment shield meant to knock out claims targeting protected speech or creative activity. Even so, most of LaBella’s case is still alive.

'The creative process cannot be used as a shield for unlawful conduct.'

— attorney Kate McFarlane, speaking for LaBella

What each side says

LaBella says she was told to lie down for a setup, then — without warning or rehearsal — another actor was brought in to simulate a rape on top of her, exposing her undergarments. She says she was left alone afterward, in shock. Her lawyers, James Vagnini and Kate McFarlane, say texts with the production’s intimacy coordinator and multiple eyewitness accounts back her up.

Costner’s camp, led by attorney Marty Singer, calls the claims baseless. They argue there was no simulated rape, no simulated sex, no sexual harassment, and no retaliation — and that the shot was benign, scripted, explained in advance, and done with LaBella’s prior consent. They’ve filed declarations and witness statements to that effect and suggest she’s after a big payout.

• Filed: May 2025, by stuntwoman Devyn LaBella, over an alleged unscripted rape scene on 'Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2'
• October 2025 ruling: Motion to dismiss denied in large part; 8 claims proceed, 2 dismissed (one sexual harassment claim and a Bane Act claim)
• Anti-SLAPP: Granted in part for Costner, tied to two dismissed claims
• Appeal: Costner has appealed the partial ruling, per TMZ, aiming to nix the remaining claims
• Evidence fight: Plaintiff cites intimacy coordinator texts and eyewitnesses; defense cites written declarations and prior consent
• Next step: A December court date will decide if those eight surviving claims keep going

Meanwhile, Costner’s got a Christmas special

On a completely different note, 'Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas' airs Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET on ABC. Costner hosts the dramatization of the Nativity, with Gia Patel as Mary and Ethan Thorne as Joseph. The special leans into historical detail — for example, placing Jesus’ birth in a cave rather than the standard barn/inn staging. Costner told America Magazine (via Newsweek) that he wanted to approach the Biblical story in a slightly different way and re-energize something that has resonated for centuries.

If you want to stream it live, it’ll be on Fubo as well. You can start a free trial and watch on your TV, tablet, or phone; that bundle also includes channels like ABC, CBS, ESPN, and Comedy Central.

Whether the Horizon controversy casts a shadow over the holiday special is up to viewers. Personally, I think both stories will keep running on parallel tracks — the court fight in December, the ABC broadcast in the meantime. What do you make of it?