The HISTORY Channel will kick off the documentary series Kevin Costner’s The West on Memorial Day.
Oscar-winning filmmaker Kevin Costner and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin are the prestigious prime movers behind Kevin Costner’s The West, an ambitious HISTORY Channel presentation set to kick off on Memorial Day.
The eight-episode docuseries — hosted by Costner, who serves with Goodwin as executive producer — will premiere with two back-to-back episodes starting at 9 p.m. ET Monday, May 26. A special presentation of Episode 3 will air at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, May 27, just before the premiere of Sitting Bull, another multipart HISTORY Channel docuseries, at 9 p.m.
Subsequent episodes of Kevin Costner’s The West will be presented in the 9 p.m. Monday timeslot. Each episode of the docuseries will stream on history.com, and across the VOD platforms of major TV providers, the day after its HISTORY Channel premiere.
According to HISTORY, Kevin Costner’s The West “will provide a fresh look at the sweeping and complex history of the American West through a wide range of conflicts – all driven by the desperate struggle to control the land itself. Transcending the clichés of the ‘Wild West,’ each one-hour episode will capture multiple perspectives on the stories that not only defined an era but continue to shape our country today.”
The docuseries “takes viewers on an epic journey through the birth of the American West, examining the relentless competition for land, power, and identity that forged our nation’s history. With legends born from figures such as Lewis and Clark and Sacagawea, to the clashes between lawmen and outlaws, the rise of cowboys and ranchers, the resilience of trailblazing women, and the fervor of fortune seekers and abolitionists, this series spans a century of pivotal events.
“By presenting these stories from diverse perspectives, the series illuminates both the indelible contributions of the pioneers who shaped the dream of the American West and the courageous resistance of Native American tribes who valiantly defended their ancestral land.”
Kevin Costner’s The West “highlights pivotal battles and iconic figures, from Chief Little Turtle’s decisive victory over the U.S. Army, sparking General ‘Mad’ Anthony Wayne’s counteroffensive and the inexorable push westward, to the tenacious stands of the Blackfeet, Comanche, and Lakota Sioux tribes and by warriors like Red Cloud and Crazy Horse, as well as the storied vigilante Joaquin Murrieta. Blending powerful historical archive, striking visuals and insightful expert interviews with globally recognized historians, each episode highlights a crucial and often tragic chapter in the rich tapestry of the West.”
Like Sitting Bull, this series will premiere as part of the network’s “HISTORY Honors 250,” a multiplatform initiative which includes long-form and short-form programming, digital and social content, custom partnerships, premium events and more, leading up to the landmark 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States in July 2026.
Costner and Goodwin recently visited ABC’s Good Morning America to discuss Kevin Costner’s The West.
