Hallmark Media is prepared to go big for its upcoming 15th Annual Countdown to Christmas. With streaming service Hallmark Movies Now transitioning into Hallmark+ later this year, there will be bigger and better ways to receive holiday programming love. The gift-giving includes big reunions, highly-anticipated sequels, a new holiday scripted and unscripted series, and even a holiday team-up featuring the Kansas City Chiefs. Soap Hub breaks down the 2024 lineup.
2024 Countdown to Christmas Lineup…So Far
Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story (Premiere Date: TBD on Hallmark Channel)
Cast: Hunter King, Tyler Hynes, Ed Begley Jr., Diedrich Bader, Megyn Price, Richard Riehle, and Christine Ebersole
Synopsis: Alana Higman is sure that her family’s lifelong history as Kansas City Chiefs superfans makes them a frontrunner to win the team’s “Fan of the Year” contest. Derrick, Director of Fan Engagement, is tasked with evaluating how Alana and her family stack up against the other two finalists. As the pair spends time together, it’s clear there’s a spark between them, but when her grandfather’s vintage Chiefs, good luck winter hat goes missing, Alana begins to doubt everything she believed about fate and destiny and even questions her future with Derrick – unless that is, a little Christmas magic can throw a Hail Mary.
Soap Connection: Hunter King, who played Summer Newman on The Young and the Restless, has turned into a Hallmark darling.
Fun Facts: This movie goes all-in on the Kansas City Chiefs experience. 1) Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s romance may have inspired this movie. 2) Hallmark teamed up with SuperBowl Champions Kansas City Chiefs for this movie. 3) The film was shot entirely in Kansas City, where the Hallmark Cards corporation is headquartered. 4) One of the KC filming locations is GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, where the Chiefs play. 5) Travis Kelce’s mom, Donna, will play the manager of a KC Barbecue restaurant called Norma & Nic’s. 6) Jenna Bush Hager will also be a guest star, and so will Kansas City Chief players, as well as the team’s coach, Andy Reid.
Santa Tell Me (Premiere Date: TBD on Hallmark Channel)
Cast: Erin Krakow and Daniel Lissig
Fun Fact: Santa Tell Me reunites Krakow and Lissig for the first time since Lissig left Hallmark’s hit series When Calls the Heart. For five seasons, the two made up the show’s main supercouple. Elizabeth and Jack were destined to be together and overcame obstacles to become husband and wife. When Lissig exited the series at the end of season five, his Mountie character was killed off.
Title: The Christmas Quest (Premiere Date: TBD on Hallmark Channel)
Cast: Lacey Chabert and Kristoffer Polaha
Synopsis: An archeologist and her ex-husband, an expert in ancient Norse languages, are sent to Iceland at Christmastime to search for a legendary treasure. When others join the hunt, the pair find themselves swept into a thrilling adventure as they race to keep the treasure from falling into the wrong hands.
Soap Connection: Lacey Chabert played Erica Kane’s daughter, Bianca Montgomery on All My Chidren, from 1992 – 1993.
Fun Fact: In 2024, Chabert will star in another holiday rom-com, this one on Netflix. Her Hot Frosty co-stars include a couple of fellow soap alums, Chrishell Stause and Lauren Holly.
Three Wiser Men & a Boy (Premiere Date: TBD on Hallmark Channel)
Cast: Andrew Walker, Paul Campbell, Tyler Hynes, Margaret Colin
Synopsis: In a crazy turn of events, possibly brought on accidentally by the brothers themselves, the director of Luke’s son Thomas’s school holiday musical steps down. Luke is desperate to make his son’s stage dreams come true, so he enlists the help of his brothers, Taylor and Stephan. Meanwhile, the trio navigates to meet their mom, Barbara’s new boyfriend and the brothers grapple with their own feelings about this relationship. In true Brenner brother fashion, they are all in for a Christmas they will never forget.
Soap Connection: Daytime audiences may know Margaret Colin, who plays the wiser men’s mom, from her stint as Margo Hughes on As the World Turns.
Fun Fact: 1) This movie is a sequel to the original hit movie Three Wise Men & a Baby. 2) In 2022, Three Wise Men was the year’s most-watched TV Movie. 3) Cast member Paul Campbell and Hallmark veteran actress Kimberly Sustad wrote Three Wise Men. On top of that, they co-wrote the sequel along with Russell Hainline.
The Finnish Line (Premiere Date: TBD on Hallmark Channel)
Cast: Kim Matula, Beau Mirchoff, and Nichole Sakur
Synopsis: Inspired by her father’s acclaimed legacy in dog sled racing, Anya decides to follow in his footsteps. After his passing, she heads to Finland to participate in the 40th annual Joulurauha race, her father’s final race, where he fell short of the victory. Following an injury to her lead dog during the qualifying race, Anya finds herself partnered with a new canine companion owned by journalist and former racer Cole, who aims to pen a story about her journey. Struggling to build trust with her new dog and facing her father’s rival, Monty, Anya must navigate many challenges as she strives to win the race.
Soap Connection: Kim Matula starred as one of the Hope Logans on The Bold and the Beautiful. She will also play Jane Curtin in the upcoming Saturday Night Live movie, SNL 1975.
Fun Fact: The production filmed the movie in Finland and Iceland.
Holidazed (Premiere Date: TBD on Hallmark+)
Cast: Ser’Darius Blain, Lindy Booth, Erin Cahill, Osric Chau, Nazneed Contractor, Loretta Devine, Noemi Gonzalez, Ian Harding, Dennis Haysbert, Rachelle Lefevre, Virginia Madsen, John C. McGinley, Holland Rhoden, and Lucille Soong.
Synopsis: The limited series will follow six families from different backgrounds, cultures, and generations, all living on the same cul-de-sac as they gather for the holiday season. During a time when emotions are amplified, each family comes together to celebrate their unique, rich traditions and navigate family eccentricities that ultimately help them discover what they do have in common: Love in all its different forms.
Soap Connection: Loretta Devine played a real angel named Angela on several episodes of the second season of the Days of Our Lives spin-off Beyond Salem. She also brought her character to the mothership for a couple of episodes.
Fun Fact: Holidazed is Hallmark’s first-ever holiday series.
Ready, Set, Glow! (Premiere Date: TBD on Hallmark+)
Host: Wes Brown
Synopsis: According to Brown’s Instagram post, Ready, Set, Glow! is a brand new, unscripted, high-energy travel show. He takes you all over the country “exploring America’s best and brightest Christmas displays.” He’ll encounter “the families, neighborhoods, and cities behind them, and most importantly, why they do it!”
Fun Fact: Brown is one of Hallmark’s favorite go-to actors, especially at Christmas time. He’s starred in the Haul Out the Holly movies, and this year, it was announced that he’s a guest star in the Holiday Touchdown: A Chief’s Love Story movie.
Finding Mr. Christmas (Premiere Date: This Fall on Hallmark+)
Host: Jonathan Bennett, Judge Melissa Peterman, and special guest judges
Synopsis: Finding Mr. Christmas will follow ten promising Hallmark “hunks” who live together and compete against one another for the lead role in an upcoming original holiday movie, premiering later this year during Countdown to Christmas on
Hallmark Channel. The eight-episode reality competition series will feature festive physical challenges and emotional acting scenes.
Soap Connection: Once upon a time, Jonathan Bennett starred on AMC as a recast JR Chandler.
Fun Fact: Finding Mr. Christmas is Hallmark Media’s first reality TV series.
This is just the beginning. Keep checking back here as we announce more Hallmark holiday entertainment. What are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments!
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