From “Dances with Wolves” to “Yellowstone,” Kevin Costner has long been fascinated by the history of the American West.

Kevin Costner executive produces, hosts, and narrates “The West” on The History Channel. ©️2025, A&E Television Networks, LLC photo: Carlos Jaramillo

And he’s now taking that fascination to the History Channel with the docuseries, “The West.”

“The West” examines American’s expansion from the original colonies all the way to the Pacific Coast.< >

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The eight part series, which kicked off with the first three episodes on May 26, takes a deep dive into America’s expansion west from the original thirteen colonies into the country we know today.

“The West” doesn’t shy away from some of the country’s more difficult historical details, especially slavery and the treatment of Native Americans. ©️2025, A&E Television Networks, LLC

Each episode takes its time examining the progress of settlers of European descent spreading across the land following the Revolutionary War, beginning in Kentucky and the Great Lakes region, working its way to Texas, Kansas, and eventually all the way to California, and most states in between.

One of the highlights of the series is the care it takes in acknowledging the land was already occupied by Native Americans, focusing on the push and pull between the desire of the newly formed country of America. The show builds itself up on the existing lives and societies of the Native Americans who had been living on the land for thousands of years.

The History Channel series pays special attention to the history of Native Americans. ©️2025, A&E Television Networks, LLC

As the series progresses, it also examines the roles of slavery and battle between free and pro-slavery states as they enter the Union, prior to the Civil War.

“The West” also puts a spotlight on figures that played key roles in the country’s development that may not be as well known to casual history fans, like John Colter, widely considered the first “mountain man,” or Joaquin Murrieta, who’s life as an outlaw in what would become California served as an inspiration for the character of Zorro.

“The West” looks at some lesser-known historical figures like Joaquin Murrieta, who inspired the character of Zorro.< >

Costner serves as an executive producer on the series, as well as host and narrator for the episodes.

Much of Costner’s career has been associated with Western history, like “Yellowstone” and “Dances with Wolves.” ©️2025, A&E Television Networks, LLC photo: Carlos Jaramillo

He told Fox News Digital ahead of the show’s premiere, “when we think about the West, if we think about it really honestly, we say it was a dangerous place. All the time, you had to be really resourceful. I know guys that kind of really want to see the truth. Let me see how raw it was. Let me how real it was. Am I that tough?”

Costner explained part of his fascination with the West is whether or not he or his friends could be tough enough to survive. ©️2025, A&E Television Networks, LLC photo: Carlos Jaramillo

Costner continued, “They went in groups, and they sometimes perished as groups, and their humanity was alive. And their worst tendencies came out, and their best tendencies came out.”

“The West” airs on The History Channel and is also available on streaming.