L-R: Drew and Bruening (Photos: Courtesy)

Christmas in July just ended, but the holiday season pregaming continues with the official detailed announcement of two more movies that are coming to Lifetime‘s beloved It’s A Wonderful Lifetime programming event, which is set to return in October.

For Sarah Drew‘s (Amber Brown) previously announced “Reindeer Games Homecoming”, Lifetime has revealed that the actress will reunite with her former “Grey’s Anatomy” co-star, Justin Bruening (Sweet Magnolias). Drew penned the script for this film, and will also serve as executive producer!

Lifetime’s own ‘Queen of Christmas’, Melissa Joan Hart, will direct “Santa Bootcamp”, her fourth directed picture for the network, which will reunite her with Tony® award winner Marissa Jaret Winokur (Hairspray); the two co-starred in 2018’s “A Very Nutty Christmas”.  The movie will also star Emily Kinney (The Walking Dead), Justin Gaston (Nashville), Patrick Cassidy (Castle) and EGOT award winner Rita Moreno (West Side Story).

“I have always been a holiday person… particularly Christmas. The idea that I’m actually going to participate in this wonderful Lifetime Christmas movie, Santa Bootcamp, just tickles me to no end,” said Moreno. “I have been known, at Christmas time, to decorate anyone in my house who happens to stand still for more than a minute. I will decorate anyone and anything because I turn into a child. Therefore, what a treat for me! Thank you Lifetime. My grandchildren are already celebrating!”

According to a press release from Lifetime, ‘Santa Bootcamp will also showcase the network’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity, as deaf actors Deanne Bray and Zyra Singleton will be joining the cast.’  Read more about the movies below!

Photo: Handout by Lifetime

Lifetime has announced a two-picture deal collaboration with Sarah Drew!  The former “Grey’s Anatomy” star is set to star, write and executive produce holiday films, which will be part of the network’s iconic It’s a Wonderful Lifetime annual programming slate.

One of the films, “Reindeer Games,“ was born from an original script by Drew and follows a fading Hollywood star who returns to his small tight knit hometown post breakup. He’s begrudgingly roped into the town’s holiday fundraising tradition, “The Reindeer Games,” but when he surprisingly falls for (and is competing against) a former classmate he ignored in high school who’s determined to beat him at all costs, he must win the game and win her heart as well.

“I’ve absolutely loved working with Lifetime over the past few years and couldn’t be more thrilled to continue my relationship with them as an actor and now as a writer and producer as well. I’m delighted to announce my screen-writing debut with ‘Reindeer Games,’ a romantic comedy about love, loss, and the importance of true community. I’m looking forward to working with Lifetime to bring more stories like this to life”, Drew said in a statement.

In additional to the Christmas films, Drew will also star in “Stolen Hearts: The Lizbeth Meredith Story” (working title).  We can’t wait to watch her next holiday film with Lifetime; she previously starred in 2019’s “Twinkle All the Way” and “Christmas Pen Pals” in 2018.

Stay Merry,

Need a little bit of holiday cheer to lift your spirits? Christmas Con has you covered!

That’s 4 Entertainment has announced Christmas Con Virtual, a special virtual event with some of your favorite Christmas movie actors that’s launching this weekend!

Scheduled across two weekends (August 22-23 and August 29-30), the virtual convention will feature four types of fan experiences you can purchase — and availability is worldwide! You can have a one-on-one video chat with your favorite Christmas Con star or a personalized recorded message, which can be used as a gift for a fellow fan or a friend. There will also be a celebrity panel hosted by Jonathan Bennett that will be held each day of the virtual con and will be free to all who sign up. Additionally you can purchase an autograph from the participating talent.

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!

That’s 4 Entertainment

IMPORTANT UPDATE (7/14/20): That’s 4 Entertainment announced on Twitter on 7/11/20 that they have officially postponed the Christmas Con California event to next year due to the pandemic. The new dates are June 25th-27th of 2021. Refunds are available if you can not make the event next summer, but if you can, hold onto your tickets as they will be valid for the new dates!

NEW UPDATE ALERT (04/05/21):  With June 2021 being too soon for large gatherings in California, That’s 4 Entertainment announced that they will have to once again push Christmas Con back another year.  The company posted today on Instagram that Christmas Con: California will now take place August, 5th-7th of 2022!

If you weren’t able to attend That’s 4 Entertainment’s first Christmas Con in New Jersey last year, and wanted to attend but you lived on the West Coast, you’ll be excited to know that Christmas Con is coming to California! The event was originally scheduled to be a fun-in-the-sun Christmas in July convention, but due to the current COVID-19 global crisis, they had to push the event to a later date.

Join your favorite actors from beloved Christmas movies (including a whole slew of Hallmark Channel stars!) for a jolly weekend of professional photo ops, special Q&As, and many more surprises, at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, California on August, 5, 6 & 7 of 2022*!

“Christmas Made to Order” star and “Cake Wars” host, Jonathan Bennett, will return as the official host, and his former “Mean Girls” co-star (and Hallmark Christmas movie princess), Lacey Chabert, will be the official headliner. Many of the actors that attended the 2019 event will also take part in the California event, so if you missed out on seeing them last year, here’s another chance!

Elliott (left) and Drew (right). | Photos: Crown Media

We’re in the merry midst of Christmas movie premieres but, we can still talk about what’s coming next holiday season, right? I can’t tell you how many emails I received from fans wanting Brennan Elliott in a new Hallmark Christmas movie, and I’m thrilled to share that he will be… in 2020!

The network favorite shared on Instagram over the weekend that he would soon head to Vienna, Austria to begin filming Christmas in Vienna with Sarah Drew (Lifetime’s “Twinkle All the Way”).

(left) Sarah Drew; (right) Ryan McPartlin. | Photos: IMDb

It’s only the first day of August, and we already have news on FOUR upcoming Christmas movies! Earlier today I told you about Ryan Paevey, Paul Greene, Autumn Reeser and Jesse Metcalfe‘s latest holiday films, and now I have one more festive flick for you from “Grey’s Anatomy” alum Sarah Drew and Ryan McPartlin (“L.A.’s Finest”).

For the past week, the two actors have been posting photos from the Toronto set of their Christmas movie, “Twinkle All the Way”, which can be seen later this year on the Lifetime network as one of the 28 original premieres coming to their annual It’s A Wonderful Lifetime holiday programming.