Photos: Laura Osnes’ Official Instagram

Laura Osnes and Aaron Tveit are filming a new Christmas movie for Hallmark called “A Royal Holiday”, and now there are officially some photos from set thanks to Laura’s latest Instagram post!

It’s going to be one festive holiday for theater fans because, not only are Aaron and Laura known for their history on the stage, but they will be joined in the movie by Victoria Clark who has a long list of Broadway credits as well, including “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”, “The Light in the Piazza”, “Sister Act” and “Cinderella”, in which she starred in alongside Laura in 2013.

(L-R) Donovan (Crown Media) and Lilley (Headshot)

Trevor Donovan announced that he’s filming a new Hallmark Christmas movie in Wilmington, N.C., which co-stars Jen Lilley, while doing a podcast interview with WECT 6 News.

“As for now the running title is U.S.S. Christmas,” he said. “I’m going to be playing a Navy pilot, working with an actress by the name of Jen Lilley, who I haven’t had the pleasure of working with yet but have heard nothing but great things about her.”

As Donovan said, the working title is “U.S.S. Christmas,“ but it’s very possible that title will change as we get closer to October 23rd, the kick-off of Hallmark’s annual Christmas programming. There’s no official word on which network it will air, but – despite not knowing much of the plot – I personally think we’re looking at a Miracles of Christmas story for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

(Update: 9/20/20) — CelebratingTheSoaps.com reports that the plot is centered around a newspaper reporter (Lilley) – looking for a heartwarming story – who finds love while on an aircraft carrier with a U.S. Navy pilot (Donovan), who doesn’t have the Christmas spirit. In typical Hallmark fashion, we can expect love and a little bit of faith to bring us yet another holiday heartfelt movie.

(Update: 9/22/20) — Considering the duo will be hosting the 2020 Miracles of Christmas Preview Special on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries next month, I think it’s safe to say that’s the network this movie will premiere on.

Stay merry!

L-R: Jessica Lowndes and Chad Michael Murray (Photos courtesy of Crown Media)

It looks like Jessica Lowndes and Chad Michael Murray are your next Christmas movie dynamic duo! The two actors popped up on Jessica’s Instagram story this week from the set of their new festive feature, which is supposedly titled “Too Close for Christmas”.

Considering their filmography history with the Hallmark networks, I believe this movie is set to premiere this holiday season for either Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas lineup, or on its sister network, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries for the Miracles of Christmas event.

Photo: Jana Kramer’s Instagram

Jana Kramer has been filming a new Christmas movie this month and she’s been documenting the production through her Instagram! The Country singer and former “One Tree Hill” actress is starring in “Welcome Home Christmas” alongside Brandon Quinn, who was recently seen in the Netflix film “Sweet Magnolias”.  As for their roles, it’s speculated that Jana will play the role of Chloe and Brandon will play a character named Michael.

Photo: Crown Media

The Good Witch star James Denton was recently a guest on Hallmark Channel’s Bubbly Sesh Podcast (Click here for information on how to listen!) and chatted about the show, of course, but also about some future plans with the network. James mentioned that he was preparing for an upcoming Hallmark Christmas movie with the working title of A Kiss Before Christmas.

“It’s a little bit like It’s A Wonderful Life.. a little bit like Heaven Can Wait,” he said, referring to the 1946 holiday classic starring James Stewart and the 1978 film starring Warren Beatty.

I can’t wait for more details! I’m sure we’ll know more as we get closer to October.

(Update: 09/23/20) — It seems as though A Kiss Before Christmas is not part of the 2020 Countdown to Christmas or Miracles of Christmas lineups. There’s still room for more movies to be added, but I’ll keep you posted.

Stay merry!

L-R: Ryan Paevey and Erin Cahill (Photos: Crown Media)

Getting casting announcements for Hallmark Christmas movies has been pretty rare this year, but today, I bring you news of an exciting pairing for an upcoming movie thanks to the sleuths at RyanPaevey.net. Apparently the movie that Ryan Paevey has been quarantining to film in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada is “A Timeless Christmas”, which is based off the book “A Timeless Christmas: An Enchanting Time Travel Romance” by Alexis Stanton.

It was speculated that Erin Cahill would be co-starring, and the actress confirmed it by responding to a tweet from a fan account with “Woohoo I love being part of the @hallmarkchannel family. Here’s to more Christmas magic! #Hallmarkies” (click here to see the tweet).

(L-R): Haddish, Stoker and Priestley. | Photos courtesy of Lifetime

As we get closer and closer to the holiday season, Lifetime has given us a summer treat with a preview of their upcoming 2020 It’s A Wonderful Lifetime programming slate…and it’s going to be the networks biggest year for Christmas! With 30 new movies and over 1200 hours of programming on the agenda, Lifetime is planning to go full-festive 24/7 from mid-October through December.

There will be many network favorites returning as well as some fresh faces, and the network is committed to include ‘diverse storytelling with its storylines, talent and characters,’ including their first LGBTQ-led Christmas movie, “The Christmas Setup” and a film centered on a Chinese-American Family in “A Sugar & Spice Holiday”, directed by Jennifer Liao and written by Eirene Donohue. Both movies are currently casting and go into production this month.

“We are thrilled to continue our legacy of creating a holiday destination that is welcoming to all at Lifetime,” said Amy Winter, EVP and Head of Programming, Lifetime and LMN. “With more new movies than any one cable network for streamer, I couldn’t be prouder of the incredible talent joining us in front of, and behind the camera, on these new holiday movies.”

As previously reported: Melissa Joan Hart and Mario Lopez are back for this year’s lineup; Hart will team up with Jason Priestley and Robin Givens for “Dear Christmas”, while Betty White will star in her own film, and Kelly Rowland will return for the sequel to the 2019 holiday hit “Merry Liddle Christmas”. Tiffany Haddish is set to executive produce “Christmas Unwrapped” led by Amber Stevens West, Marco Grazzini and Cheryl Ladd, and Tony® award winning actress Ali Stroker will lead her first Christmas movie in “Christmas Ever After”.

While a full programming report will be released in September, check out this sneak peek below!

Photo: Graphic made by LollyChristmas.com with Lifetime images.

Because we could always use a little more Christmas, especially these days, Lifetime got into the Christmas in July mood by offering three original 2019 holiday titles to stream on their website.

“Christmas Unleashed” starring Vanessa Lachey and Christopher Russell, “A Very Vintage Christmas” starring Tia Mowry-Hardrict, Jesse Hutch and Patricia Richardson, and “No Time Like Christmas” starring Kyla Pratt and Ed Ruttle, which premiered last year during the It’s A Wonderful Lifetime programming lineup, will be available to stream throughout the month of July.

Learn more about each film below and enjoy!

Elliott and Drew in a scene from CHRISTMAS IN VIENNA. | Photo: Crown Media

I believe it’s easy to say that “Christmas in Vienna” is one of the most highly-anticipated Hallmark Channel original holiday movies of the year, which is partly due to the fact that we’ve been waiting to see it since last fall! Last November Brennan Elliott and Sarah Drew, who lead the new Yuletide romance, posted on social media about filming the movie on location in Vienna, Austria — and that early prep clearly came in handy when productions had to abruptly halt this spring/summer.

In “Christmas in Vienna”, violinist Jess (Drew) travels to Vienna for a performance and discovers a inspiration in both romance and music, thanks to a little Christmas magic. Hallmark Channel has uploaded the first trailer to give you a real sneak peek! Check it out below.

Yesterday Hallmark announced several new movies and actors joining the network family this Christmas, so if you missed that, get the scoop by clicking here!

(L-R) Sarah Drew, Aaron Tveit & Holly Robinson Peete. | Photos: Crown Media

Ho! Ho! Ho! Major holiday movie news has arrived!

In just 100 days Hallmark will kick off their iconic end of the year holiday programming event, and to celebrate, Crown Media has announced that there are 40 original Christmas movies on the way! Hallmark Channel‘s Countdown to Christmas will premiere 23 all-new original films while Hallmark Movies & Mysteries is set to air 17 all-new original movies for the Miracles of Christmas lineup.

Familiar faces like Candace Cameron Bure (“A Shoe Addict’s Christmas”), Lacey Chabert (“Christmas in Rome”), Andrew Walker (“Christmas On My Mind”), Alicia Witt (“Our Christmas Love Song”), Brennan Elliott (“Christmas at Grand Valley”), Holly Robinson Peete (“Christmas in Evergreen”), Laura Osnes (“A Homecoming for the Holidays”), Nikki DeLoach (“Two Turtle Doves”), Tamera Mowry-Housley (“A Christmas Miracle”), Luke Macfarlane (“The Mistletoe Secret”), Mark Taylor (“Memories of Christmas”), Michael Rady (“Christmas at Pemberley Manor”), Rukiya Bernard (“Christmas in Evergreen”) and Tyler Hynes (“The Mistletoe Secret”) are among the fan-favorites set to return for festive films, but there will also be many new stars you won’t want to miss either.

Sarah Drew (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Aaron Tveit (“Graceland”), Krystal Joy Brown (“She-Ra and the Princesses of Power”), Janel Parrish (“Pretty Little Liars”), Jeremy Jordan (“Supergirl”), Alvina August (“Nancy Drew”), Lucia Micarelli (“Treme”), Marisol Nichols (“Riverdale”), Mallory Jansen (“Shooter”), Rochelle Aytes (“S.W.A.T.”) and Ronnie Rowe (“Star Trek: Discovery”) will join the Hallmark family to lead Christmas movies this year! I’m happy to see that there will be more diversity.

The 24-hour festive programming officially begins on Friday, October 23rd and between now and then, there will be many announcements. Keep checking back at LollyChristmas.com for movie updates and casting news as we get closer to ‘the most wonderful time of the year’!

Check out the slideshow below for a list of the announced movies!