Kevin Costner Presents The Christmas Story “Like You’ve Never Seen It Before”
The Christmas season is in full swing! While many get caught up with shopping lists, party plans, and commercial celebrations, award-winning actor Kevin Costner aims to “keep Christ in Christmas” with a new television program.
The Yellowstone actor is set to host The First Christmas, a special created to focus on the true reason for the season – the birth of Jesus Christ. According to a press release, it will follow “the extraordinary journey of Mary and Joseph as they navigate the hardships, trials, and triumphs surrounding Jesus Christ’s birth, offering an inspiring way to experience the true meaning of Christmas.”
The project will present the story with an emphasis on the historical context, depicting the danger and uncertainties that surrounded Jesus’s birth during the time of Herod’s rule. Costner told The Christian Post:
“These were real times, Roman rule, unstable cultures, and the stakes were incredibly high. Life wasn’t valued the way we think of it today. They had to protect their lives and protect their child, whom we proclaim as the Son of God. For them, it was a fight for life at such a young age.”
Known for films like Dances with Wolves, Field of Dreams, and The Untouchables, the 70-year-old reflected on the importance of integrating his faith into his work. He shared:
“I make sports movies, cowboy movies, and dramas; adult movies, if you will, and sometimes you’re not always dealing with your faith. People may not think of me in that way. I wouldn’t have done this if it weren’t important to me, because of how I was raised. I was raised in a Baptist church.”
Kevin Costner Says His Acting Career Began In Church
“I didn’t go through life dreaming of being an actor, but the Church was very much a part of my life,” admits Costner. However, he found himself on stage at his church for a Christmas Nativity performance at a young age. He was cast to be a shepherd when he “didn’t even know what acting was.”
Now, many decades later, the California native is the recipient of two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award, among many other accolades.
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How To Watch The First Christmas
The two-hour special blends a dramatic reenactment of the Nativity story of Mary and Joseph with theological commentary and Costner’s narration. It is produced by Warm Springs Productions and directed by David L. Cunningham.
Fans can watch “The First Christmas” on Tuesday, December 9th, at 8:00 PM ET on ABC. The program will become available to stream the next day on Hulu and Disney+.
Get a sneak peek below!