Kevin Costner returns to frontier territory with a sharp focus on one of the most violent land disputes in American history. Kevin Costner’s The West airs a new episode titled Johnson County Wars on Monday, June 30, 2025, at 9:00 PM ET on History.
Set in Wyoming’s Powder River Valley, the episode chronicles the high-stakes clash between powerful cattle barons and independent ranchers trying to survive on the open range. The violence that followed wasn’t spontaneous. It was the result of years of rising pressure over territory, access, and control.
At the centre of the conflict is Nate Champion, a small-time rancher who became a key figure in the resistance. The episode reconstructs key moments from the confrontation, illustrating how armed standoffs and vigilante justice came to define this chapter of the American West.
The West continues to frame these conflicts within a broader context. Costner’s approach blends dramatic storytelling with detailed historical analysis. Native resistance, expansionist policies, and shifting power structures are all part of the landscape.
Kevin Costner’s The West: Johnson County Wars premieres Monday, June 30, 2025, at 9:00 PM ET on History.
