Kevin Costner is spending the holidays at the manger this year.
The actor is hosting and narratingKevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas, a new ABC special that walks viewers through the Nativity story with a more grounded, historically aware lens. The two-hour docudrama airs tonight at 8/7c on ABC, with streaming on Hulu and Disney+ starting December 10.
The project blends dramatic reenactments of Mary and Joseph’s journey with Costner’s narration and commentary from Christian scholars. Instead of the usual glossy pageant energy, the special leans into what their circumstances might actually have felt like: young, vulnerable, traveling under Roman rule with real danger around them.
What 'The First Christmas' Is About
According to ABC, the special follows Mary and Joseph through “hardships, trials and triumphs” surrounding the birth of Jesus, with the goal of highlighting “the true meaning of Christmas.”
View this post on InstagramDirected by David L. Cunningham, The First Christmas mixes three main elements: reenactments, Costner’s hosting and voiceover, and input from theologians across Christian traditions who unpack the historical and spiritual context behind the story. Reviewers who have seen early cuts describe the approach as gritty, reverent and more intense than a typical holiday special, including depictions of Herod’s violence that may be too strong for younger kids.
Costner has said he wanted to “get below the surface” of a story that can feel overly familiar and remind viewers that these were real people in dangerous circumstances, not just stained-glass figures.
In recent interviews, Costner has tied the special to his own sense of gratitude, family and faith. Speaking to Fox News Digital, he recalled the first time he was able to buy a big Christmas gift for his father after finding success: a Silverado truck revealed through a series of clues on Christmasmorning. His dad eventually realized what was happening, “fell out of his seat” and cried, which Costner remembers as a defining moment of being able to give back to the man who worked so hard for their family.
In a separate conversation shared by USA Today, Costner said The First Christmas speaks to hope “for all of us,” especially people who feel weary or bruised by life. He points to the Nativity as a story where risk, fear and hardship sit right next to joy, and where the idea of Christmas as a “giving” and “inclusive” moment still matters.
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Who It Is For
The First Christmas is aimed at viewers who want something more reflective than the usual light holiday movie, and who are open to a serious, faith-centered take on the Nativity. Early reviews note that it stays closely aligned with the biblical account while filling in some gaps with informed historical detail, all while keeping “Christ in Christmas” front and center.
If you are in the mood for a Christmas watch that feels more like a thoughtful drama than a background movie, Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas might land right in that sweet spot tonight on ABC, with an easy rewatch on Hulu and Disney+ starting tomorrow.
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