Washington [US], April 15: Hollywood icon Kevin Costner is diving into America’s past as both executive producer and host of Kevin Costner’s The West, an upcoming eight-part docuseries set to premiere on May 26.
As revealed in the newly released trailer, the series delves into the turbulent and defining chapters of American history—exploring the fierce battles over land, power, and identity that shaped the Western frontier. Produced in partnership with historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, The West aims to unpack the myths and realities of westward expansion and its enduring impact on the United States.
“What do we see when we think of the West?” Costner opens in the trailer, setting the tone for a series that promises both reflection and revelation.
“The West is a place where anything is possible,” Goodwin says, highlighting the region’s historical role as a symbol of the American dream. Fellow historian Ned Blackhawk adds that the West evokes “wonder, possibility, and opportunity.”
But the series doesn’t shy away from the darker consequences of that ambition. American history expert Ed O’Donnell comments, “Many people have to pay the price of ambition and westward expansion,” while author and activist Yohuru Williams warns of the dangers of historical superiority: “The Native Americans are going to prove them deadly wrong.”
“These stories will captivate us and shock us,” Costner concludes. “Now it’s time to come face to face with the real story of our wild past.”
The highly anticipated Kevin Costner’s The West premieres Sunday, May 26, with the third episode scheduled to air the following day on May 27.