The popularity of Paramount’s neo-Western Yellowstone helped launch an accrescent universe with no plans to halt expansion in sight, even amid the show’s ongoing controversy. Though the flagship series revolves around the drama surrounding the Dutton family and their ranch empire, conflict has spilled over into real-life with Kevin Costner — who portrays Dutton family patriarch John Dutton III — at the center of it all. Rumors have swirled for weeks of Costner’s Horizon scheduling conflicts creating problems on set with speculation fueling claims of Costner’s impending exit and Matthew McConaughey’s potential entry into the blossoming franchise. Despite Costner’s future in the Yellowstone universe being in limbo, the in-demand actor has added yet another series onto his overflowing plate. According to CinemaBlend, it was revealed that Costner signed on to a Western documentary series for The History Channel.
The official announcement came during A&E Networks’ 2023 upfront presentation. The upcoming documentary series’ working title is Kevin Costner’s The West with Costner on board as host and executive producer. The eight-episode historical series will send viewers back in time “through a host of classic stories, myths, and clichés [which] sprouted from that resoundingly influential period in U.S. history.”
Kevin Costner’s The West is a sentimental moment for the star — one that marks his first return to The History Channel where he got his start in television with his Emmy-winning miniseries, Hatfields & McCoys. Following the series’ announcement, Costner shared a spirited statement about the forthcoming series.
“I am in love with history. I love the rich, heroic, and harrowing stories of the West. The people and their stories have always held a fascination for me, but there’s an urgency today to put those times and the men and women who we think we know in perspective, in the context of their times, without judgment. This particular West project is significant for me as it marks a return to The History Channel, the home of my first foray into television with the Hatfields & McCoys, and an opportunity to partner with the legendary biographer and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, who so artfully weaves together important stories that are at once expansive, intimate and true.”
Related: Yellowstone’s Wes Bentley Discusses Series’ Drama Amid Kevin Costner Controversy
Audiences Can Expect An In-Depth Look into America’s Western History
Paramount Network
Though Taylor Sheridan has been a pioneer in the modern Western resurgence for mainstream television, Kevin Costner’s love and impact within the genre is evident when looking at the Hollywood icon’s acting history. In addition to his television entry, Hatfields & McCoys, Costner was at the helm of the award-winning 1990 feature Dances with Wolves as the film’s director, but he additionally produced and starred in the epic Western as well. Dances With Wolves doubled as Costner’s feature directorial debut and his first Western-centric project, which eventually became universally credited as the catalyst for the Western genre’s revitalization in filmmaking. As his career progressed, the critically acclaimed feature served as the beginning of his attraction to Western projects.
Costner’s ties to the Western genre and his fervor for Western Americana’s history make him uniquely qualified to head the upcoming documentary for The History Channel. Luckily, the A&E upfront presentation offered some insight into what the Costner-led series has in store for audiences. The eight-episode documentary will focus on a variety of real-life cowboys and frontier pioneers. Multiple perspectives shall be explored using “curated archival materials and interviews with lauded experts and historians” to piece together the epic tales. Kevin Costner’s The West aims to shine light on the truths from that time that have been hyperbolized and provide connections of the West’s lingering influence on present-day United States.
Though an official release date for Kevin Costner’s The West has not been revealed, audiences can still catch Costner on Yellowstone for the time being with seasons available for screening exclusively through Peacock.
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