Kevin Costner steps into a dual role as executive producer and host of the upcoming eight-part docuseries Kevin Costner’s The West, set to premiere on May 26. The series, as revealed in its first trailer, dives deep into the dramatic and often violent history of the American frontier, examining how its legacy continues to shape the nation today.
“What do we see when we think of the West?” Costner asks at the start of the trailer, inviting viewers to rethink long-held notions of the Wild West.
Biographer and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, who also co-executive produced the series, describes the West as “the essence of the American dream,” while historian Ned Blackhawk adds, “The American West conjures wonder, possibility, and opportunity.”
The series doesn’t shy away from the darker side of history. American history expert Ed O’Donnell notes, “Many people had to pay the price of ambition and westward expansion,” highlighting the deep conflicts that arose over land, identity, and power. Author and activist Yohuru Williams adds, “American forces had a sense of superiority. The Native Americans are going to prove them deadly wrong.”
“These stories will captivate us and shock us,” Costner says in the trailer’s closing moments. “Now it’s time to come face to face with the real story of our wild past.” Kevin Costner’s The West premieres Sunday, May 26, with the third episode airing on May 27.
