Hollywood star appears on TV with a special program about the birth of Jesus Christ

The Hollywood star, who, after four decades of filmmaking, is coming to television in a new and different way with a special program about the Nativity of Christ, presenting a human narrative of the first Christmas.

Kevin Costner, the renowned American actor and filmmaker who has earned a special place in Hollywood with historical and western works over his four decades of career, has once again attracted attention with a completely different project. He will return to television this Christmas to narrate the documentary "The First Christmas," offering a deep and human look at the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.

The two-hour documentary, which will air on ABC on December 9, is an attempt to blend dramatic reenactments with historical narratives, according to news sources including The Christian Post. Produced by Warm Springs Productions, the show aims to present a narrative that goes beyond simply retelling a sacred story.

Costner, who is best known for his role in the Yellowstone series, recalls in an interview about his first acting experience that his artistic career did not have family or professional roots, but rather began in the church. He says: "Long before I became an actor, I played the role of a shepherd in a Christian play at church. They just told me you are a shepherd and you are not supposed to hit anyone with that long stick."

He explains that although his path later led him to Hollywood, church and faith-based activities have always been an important part of his life.

Costner says his motivation for the project was that he didn't want to play a celebrity who only recites the Bible. He believes that today's audience needs to know that the characters in this divine narrative were real people in difficult circumstances. "My goal was to remind the audience that the characters in this sacred story were real people with great challenges by showing myself as a human being and going into detail," he says.

Costner also points out something that deeply affected him during the production of this work: "The young age of Mary and Joseph, they were two young people on a dangerous journey who had to protect their lives and the child we know as the Son of God, amidst the political chaos of Rome and the dangers of that era."

This human and realistic perspective is one of the highlights that the creators hope today's audience will connect with more. Costner, who has been under pressure from the media and the margins many times throughout his career, has spoken more openly in his interviews about the importance of his personal faith.

“We all get tested,” he says, “but faith is something inside that guides you through crises.” Costner believes the show isn’t just for devout Christians. Skeptics, he says, can also benefit from watching a story that has endured for thousands of years. “Even if you don’t believe, you can’t ignore the persistence of this story over thousands of years,” he adds.

In the final part of his speech, he speaks of the need to return to the original message of Christmas, a message that is often lost in the hustle and bustle of shopping and decorating: "In these days when we are overwhelmed with gift shopping and decorations, we must remember that these appearances should not distract us from the essence of the matter. This is an opportunity to realign ourselves and focus on those we love."

Costner's selection for such a project comes at a time when many Hollywood actors are less vocal about their personal faith; therefore, his appearance on a religious special has attracted the attention of both Christian and secular media outlets.

After the success of the series "Yellowstone" and Costner's return to television superstardom, this program could mark a new path for his collaboration with home networks and spiritual projects. The theme of "human retelling of the Christmas story" is one of the new trends in Christian productions that tries to bring the younger generation closer to the stories of the Bible, and the documentary "The First Christmas" falls into this framework.