L-R: Bethany Joy Lenz, Kristoffer Polaha (Photos: Hallmark Media)

Hallmark Channel has officially ‘unwrapped’ their first Christmas movie of 2023, and it stars network favorites Bethany Joy Lenz (An Unexpected Christmas) and Kristoffer Polaha (We Wish You a Married Christmas)!

Production will begin next month for A Biltmore Christmas, which will be part of Hallmark Channel’s iconic Countdown to Christmas lineup next holiday season. The movie will be filmed in Asheville, North Carolina at the historic Biltmore Estate, renowned for its classic holiday traditions since 1895. Although this National Historic Landmark has been home to many productions over the years, this movie marks the first time Biltmore Estate itself serves as the setting.

A Biltmore Christmas Description:

Lucy Collins (Lenz) is a screenwriter who lands the job of a lifetime when she’s hired to write the script for a remake of the beloved holiday movie His Merry Bride! First filmed in 1947 at beautiful Biltmore House, it has long been considered a Christmas classic. As Christmas approaches, Lucy travels to Biltmore Estate for research. She joins a guided tour of the grounds where she gets insights into the history of the location and the filming of His Merry Bride!, and once inside the house, she’s drawn to a beautiful hourglass.

When Lucy accidentally knocks it over, she finds herself transported back in time to 1946 – the Golden Age of Hollywood – as cast and crew prepare to film His Merry Bride! at Biltmore. Lucy does her best to navigate an unfamiliar place as a woman out of time, charming some and raising suspicions of others. It’s not long before Lucy catches the eye of the film’s dashing lead Jack Huston (Polaha) and although she initially rebuffs his advances, their connection soon becomes undeniable.

Lucy’s sudden appearance sets off a chain of events that put the production in jeopardy. Before she can return to the present, she must make things right or threaten to alter the future forever. Lucy has one chance to go home but must say goodbye to the man who might be her soulmate unless some Christmas magic can keep the curtain from closing on their love story.

Dustin Rikert will serve as executive producer and Andrew Gernhard serves as producer. John Putch directs from a script by Marcy Holland.

Lenz’s previous Hallmark holiday movie credits include An Unexpected Christmas (2021) and Five Star Christmas (2020).  Polaha has extensive holiday history with Hallmark, and his credits include We Wish You a Married Christmas (2022), Haul Out the Holly (2022), A Dickens of a Holiday! (2021), Double Holiday (2021), Small Town Christmas (2018), Rocky Mountain Christmas (2017) and Hearts of Christmas (2016).

We can’t wait to see these two on screen together!

Stay Merry,