Hollywood Icon Reflects on His Childhood Faith as He Prepares to Bring the Nativity Story to Primetime on ABC
As the Christmas season is in full force, Kevin Costner is inviting audiences to revisit the original meaning of Christmas not through glitzy decorations or typical holiday fare, but by returning to the very place where his own journey began: the church. In his upcoming special, Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas on ABC, Costner draws on lifelong faith and early memories to retell the nativity story with heart, humility, and a deeply personal touch.
“Whether you’re a believer or just curious about the tradition, join me for the story of a newborn King,” Costner says in the trailer. “Journey back with me… for the story of the first Christmas like you’ve never seen it before.”
Rooted in Faith and Early Experience
Costner’s connection to the Christmas story goes beyond Hollywood. He grew up in a family deeply involved in church life, laying the foundation for both his personal faith and his creative storytelling. Director David L. Cunningham, who helmed the project, explained in an interview with the
The Collision that Costner’s faith made him the perfect host:
“Kevin grew up in the church and has roots in the faith,” Cunningham said. “When he read our script and he signed on, we just couldn’t believe it… we were super stoked.”
The special was crafted to honor Scripture while remaining accessible to everyone:
“We really want to honor believers who, like myself, believe in every word of this. But we also wanted to be welcoming to those who perhaps aren’t people of faith,” Cunningham explained. “You might be celebrating this holiday every year — why don’t we go back and learn a little history together?”
Faith at the Heart of the Story
The ABC special emphasizes that Mary and Joseph were young, vulnerable people thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Every moment in the script is grounded in Scripture:
“My true north was the Scriptures — just straight up Scripture,” Cunningham said. “We did have some additional historical help from Josephus… but whenever anyone spoke, we tried to make it right out of Scripture as much as we possibly could.”
The filming took place on detailed, immersive sets in Morocco, complete with animals and period-accurate backdrops, bringing viewers into the world of Jesus’ birth.
“We really wanted to bring people back into that world,” Cunningham said. “Camels and goats and chickens and sheep — the whole experience was about immersing people in history and faith.”
Why It Matters
Costner and the filmmakers aim to redirect the focus of Christmas from materialism back to its true meaning, Christ the Savior born of a virgin to redeem mankind from sin.
“It’s pretty basic — it’s the reason for the season. It’s Christ in Christmas,” Cunningham said. “We hope these points people back to why we gather every year. Hopefully, it opens doors for people to look further into the story and hopefully meet the person of Jesus themselves.”
For viewers of faith, this special reconnects viewers with the Gospel message, to celebrate the humility, courage, and hope exemplified in the first Christmas, and to reflect on the timeless relevance of Christ’s birth.
Faith Perspective
Kevin Costner’s special points to the greatest story ever told. It is the foundation for hope, courage, and community. As Christians, revisiting the nativity story can inspire reflection on the ways God’s plan unfolds even in humble, challenging circumstances. This Christmas, Costner’s retelling invites believers to celebrate Christ as the true reason for the season.
When to Watch:
- “Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas”
- Date: Tuesday, Dec. 9
- Time: 8 p.m. ET/PT
- Channel: ABC, available next day on Disney+ and Hulu
