Kevin Costner Brings a Gritty Nativity Story to TV in ‘The First Christmas’
Kevin Costner is spending the holidays at the manger this year.The actor is hosting and narrating Kevin 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.
Directed 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.
