By Paul Salfen
This Christmas, Academy Award-winner Kevin Costner and acclaimed director David L. Cunningham are stripping away centuries of cozy nativity-scene gloss to reveal the raw, radical, and deeply human story behind the birth of Jesus in the two-hour television event Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas.
Premiering December 12 on ABC (7/8c) and streaming the next day on Hulu and Disney+, the special blends cinematic reenactments, expert commentary, and Costner’s intimate on-set narration to reintroduce audiences to Mary and Joseph’s extraordinary journey of faith, danger, and wonder.
In an exclusive conversation with AMFM Magazine, Cunningham, calling in from his home studio in Kona, Hawaii, shared the heart behind the project that he both wrote and directed.
“We wanted to lean hard on the movie side and not make it feel like a ‘good-for-you documentary,’” Cunningham explained. “It’s a historic retelling that honors the Scriptures and, hopefully, the original intent of the words. We’re taking a little bit of that cozy sheen off so people can truly appreciate the sacrifice, courage, and faith of this teenage couple in a brutal time.”
The result is a fresh yet faithful portrait that challenges long-held assumptions, from the dangerous reality of first-century childbirth to the often-misunderstood timeline of the Magi’s arrival (spoiler: they didn’t show up the same night as the shepherds).
Costner, who insisted on weaving his own personal reflections into the special, serves as both guide and fellow traveler. “We thought, who could be great for that old-school Walt Disney-style introduction vibe?” Cunningham laughed. “When Kevin’s name came up we said, ‘Oh my gosh.’ And then he really wanted to bring his own story in. It became this wonderful ‘let’s watch a movie with Kevin Costner’ feel, with these miniature podcast moments from experts popping in.”
Shot largely in Morocco, the production captures breathtaking visuals that Cunningham describes as “living paintings.” “We had torches everywhere (they let you light anything on fire over there),” he said with a grin. “When Mary and Joseph entered Bethlehem, I looked at the monitor and thought, ‘I could freeze this frame and hang it on a wall.’”
For Cunningham, whose family tree includes seven generations of missionaries and ministers on one side and four on the other, telling Bible stories with cinematic excellence has become more than a career; it’s a calling. After decades of navigating Hollywood while quietly holding to his faith, the director of films like To End All Wars (starring Kiefer Sutherland) and the upcoming series The Chosen: Book Two has reached a turning point.
“I’m just kind of at the place of going, ‘You know what? It doesn’t matter what people paint me with,’” he said. “These stories are too important. We need to get them out now. The two principles I live by on Bible stories are simple: stick to the Scripture and have people at the front who actually believe it.”
That conviction shines through every frame of The First Christmas, a project Cunningham believes can speak to believers and curious skeptics alike.
“We’re not here to hit people over the head,” he emphasized. “But if you celebrate Christmas and wonder, ‘What’s the origin story of this holiday?’ come learn with us. I’m one of those guys who believes every word of it, and we’re going to stay true to the text.”
As the credits roll, Cunningham hopes viewers will walk away freshly awed by what he calls Christianity’s “upside-down kingdom,” where shepherds receive heaven’s light show, a teenage girl from nowhere is chosen for the greatest honor, and God patiently waits years for far-off Magi to find their way to Him.
“This story still brings truth, hope, and answers,” Cunningham said. “Especially now.”
Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas ABC – Thursday, December 12 at 7/8c Streaming December 13 on Hulu and Disney+ Produced by Warm Springs Productions Written and Directed by David L. Cunningham
