Kevin Costner Sets First Post-Yellowstone TV Return For Next Month
After leaving Yellowstone, actor Kevin Costner is returning to the small screen in a brand-new TV project. The Taylor Sheridan-created Yellowstone debuted in 2018 and became a huge hit for the Paramount Network, and the show’s popularity was further amplified when it began streaming on Peacock. Yellowstone‘s cast was led by Costner, who played John Dutton III, but he departed partway through the show’s final season.
Now, Costner is returning to TV in a new holiday special called Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas, which will air Tuesday, December 9 at 8 p.m. EST on ABC. The two-hour show will tell the story of Mary, Joseph and the birth of Jesus, with Costner as host.
The special was announced alongside the rest of ABC’s holiday schedule, which includes Prep & Landing, Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice, Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol, Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, and Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town airing on November 30.
Several other ABC shows will also air holiday-themed episodes, including Celebrity Family Feud (December 4); America’s Funniest Home Videos (December 7); Shifting Gears, Abbott Elementary, Shark Tank (December 10); and Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (December 11).
The Great Christmas Light Fight returns for its 13th season on December 4, with the finale scheduled for December 18. iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2025 airs on December 17, and the annual Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade is set for Christmas morning.
Mary Poppins, The Santa Clause, The Sound of Music and Home Alone will air throughout the holiday season, like in past years.
His character, John Dutton III, was killed off when Yellowstone season 5 returned for the back half of the season. The series finale aired in December 2024.
Sheridan created an entire franchise out of Yellowstone, which includes 1883 and 1923. Spinoffs Y: Marshals and The Madison are currently in production.
As for Costner, he has starred in two movies since Yellowstone: Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 and Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2, although the latter’s theatrical release has been indefinitely delayed after the first installment’s disappointing box office performance.