Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas: When and Where to Watch the Holiday TV Event
The season’s buzziest holiday special lands Dec. 9 as Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas premieres on ABC at 8 p.m. ET—blending faith, storytelling, and Costner’s star power—before streaming on Disney+ after the broadcast.
Kevin Costner hosting a two-hour nativity special on network TV? That is very 2025. ABC is rolling out 'Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas' on December 9 at 8 p.m. ET, with a same-season landing on Disney+ and Hulu right after. It is already one of the buzziest holiday swings, and yes, it is exactly what it sounds like: the nativity story, told Costner-style.
What this actually is (and what it is not)
This is a dramatized retelling of Mary and Joseph making their way to Bethlehem, the dangers along the road, and the birth that changes everything. But do not expect a wall-to-wall biblical epic with Costner in robes. He is the host here, not a character. Think of him as the storyteller at the campfire: part history lesson, part spiritual reflection, part cinematic spectacle, guiding you through why this story has lasted and what it still means.
On the red carpet at the Art of Elysium's 2025 Heaven Gala at the Rosewood Miramar in Montecito, California, Costner framed the whole thing to People like this:
"It is a story I think we all think we know. I think maybe some of us know a lot, maybe you know just a little, maybe you are a believer, maybe you are a cynic or maybe - hopefully - you are just curious to find out the real story that is behind the tradition."
That is the intent in a nutshell: accessible whether you are devout, skeptical, or simply curious. The special leans into the hardship and danger of the journey, the hope around the birth, and the whole light-in-darkness theme that Christmas stories trade on.
How and when to watch
The special premieres on ABC on Monday, December 9 at 8 p.m. ET and runs two hours. After the broadcast, it will be available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu. If you are expecting a traditional starring vehicle, adjust your settings: Oscar winner Kevin Costner is your on-screen guide and narrator, steering the storytelling rather than playing Joseph.
Who is involved
Director David L. Cunningham is at the helm, with Costner presenting. The ensemble playing the biblical figures is substantial. Per the production's IMDb listing, here is the lineup. Quick heads-up: IMDb currently lists the role of Asher twice under two slightly different name orders, which looks like a duplicate credit for the same person.
- Kevin Costner - Self, Host
- Gia Patel - Mary
- Ethan Thorne - Joseph
- Corinne Furman - Rachel Young
- Paulina Gálvez - Raya
- Mohamed Zouaoui - Joachim
- Chaouqi Abdellatif - Asher
- Saif Al-Warith - Angel Gabriel
- Anthony Barclay - King Herod
- Alejandro Barrios - Legionnaire
- Abdellatif Chaouqi - Asher
- Robert Goodman - Simeon
- Ché Grant - Antipater
- Kods Joundoul - Anne
- Marco Lo Chiatto - Angel
- Sinan Sicimoglu - Panthera
- Stefano Venturi - Priest
- Alin Wishka - Heli (Joseph's father)
The takeaway
This looks less like a swords-and-sandals spectacle and more like Costner in storyteller mode, framing a classic for a broad prime-time audience. If you are into faith-forward programming, curious about the historical framing, or just want something seasonal with a big-name guide, this is squarely aimed at you.