Two TV Series Coming to the Hallmark Channel, Christmas Movie News, & Much More!

Hallmark Channel News....

There is a lot of interesting News coming out lately regarding the Hallmark Channel.... so I had to create a post and share all the latest! 

CHRISTMAS MOVIES:

Let's start with my favorite.... Christmas Movies!

It may now be - just the first day of Spring... however, there are already many Christmas Movie Projects in the works at the Hallmark Channel.

And, we have some of the Movie Titles & Plot details to share!!! Click on titles for more information.

Christmas Heart

Hitched for the Holidays

Matchmaker Santa

The Wishing Tree

Santa Switch

Plus, also coming... is a sequel to "Jingle All the Way", the Christmas Cartoon starring Jingle the Husky Pup, titled:

Jingle & Bell

SITCOM NEWS:

The Hallmark Channel has purchased the syndication rights to the ABC Sitcom Family Comedy, "The Middle", starring Patricia Heaton.

The Middle follows the life of the Heck family, who live in Middle America - Indiana. They are not your average family - yet, they are always there for each other.

The Sitcom will begin airing on the Network in March of 2014.

DAYTIME:

The daytime line-up is also getting a new look. The Martha Stewart, as we reported, is leaving in September and in it's place - will be a new talk show titled, "Marie", hosted by singer and actress, Marie Osmond. Also, there will another day-time show titled "Home and Family", that will have two hosts (unknown at this time), and will cover subjects, such as: "decorating, DIY projects, balancing a budget, raising a family," etc... Both shows are to premiere later this year (2012).

NEW PRIMETIME DRAMA SERIES:

And now, the Most Exciting News....

The Hallmark Channel will be creating TWO new drama series - that will be based off of books by two well-known writers - Janette Oke and Debbie Macomber.

The Novels-

Janette Oke's "When Calls the Heart",

and

Debbie Macomber's "Cedar Cove"

...will be created into Pilot Movies to launch forward these two new scripted series. They will air within the 2012-2013 season.

When Calls the Heart ...



Wynn Delaney (Stephen Amell) and Elizabeth Thatcher (Maggie Grace)
in When Calls the Heart
(Images above from:  aBridge International)




When Calls the Heart
Book by
Janette Oke



According to the Hallmark Channel, Period drama, "When Calls the Heart" is "a romantic adventure which tells the story of Elizabeth Thatcher, a beautiful, wealthy young woman from the East Coast, who has a passion for teaching, but a fear of leaving the safety of her comfortable world. Inspired by her adventurous aunt, Elizabeth gains the strength to accept a teaching position in a new, frontier town. Despite the hardships, she begins to build a new life, but will Elizabeth allow a handsome lawman into her heart and life, changing her world forever?" The executive producers are Brad Krevoy and Michael Landon, Jr.

Cedar Cove...

The main theme about Cedar Cove, according to the Hallmark Channel, is "community and connection. The small town of Cedar Cove presents fertile ground for relatable stories, big and small."



Cedar Cove
by
Debbie
Macomber



The Hallmark Channel has already adapted both of these writers works into original movies, based on their books. Janette Oke's books were originally made into the Love Comes Softly Movie Series, by Michael Landon, Jr - following the characters - Clark and Marty Davis. There have been 11 Movies in the series - Love Comes Softly, Love's Enduring Promise, Love's Long Journey, Love's Abiding Joy,  Love's Unending Legacy, Love's Unfolding Dream, Love Takes Wing, Love Finds a Home, Love Begins, Love's Everlasting Courage, and Love's Christmas Journey.

Debbie Macomber's books have inspired three Hallmark Christmas Movies - Mrs. Miracle, Call Me Mrs. Miracle, and Trading Christmas.

My thoughts...

I personally think the two "new primetime shows" are the most exciting news of all - next to all the new Christmas Movies Coming - which we always love, but have come to expect from the Hallmark Channel, our dependable family movie network. I've been asking and wondering for years, as I enjoy re-runs of beloved old family series, such as: The Waltons, Little House, Wind at my Back, etc... why no one has created a new family drama. Hopefully, the answer has finally come!

What do you all think?

Have a Wonderful Day, Everyone!

10 New Christmas Movies

Christmas Movies Currently in the Works for 2012 & Beyond...

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*This POST has been updated from 9, to 10 Christmas Movies - added sequel to 12 Dogs of Christmas below! Plus, the Movie Title : Random Acts has been updated to Random Abts of Christmas.

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I'll list all the Movies below and give you all the details I know about each one, for now.

Home Alone 5:

Image from
Christian Martyn's

Facebook Page


According to winnipegfreepress.com, Home Alone 5 will be a Made-for-TV Movie, with a direct-to-DVD release. It will air on ABC Family, during the 25 days of Christmas annual event.

The star of the show, as reported on Talent Inc News, is Christian Martyn, a 12 year old boy.

No news, yet, on additional casting or storyline.

Th original films are: Home Alone, Home Alone 2 : Lost in New York, Home Alone 3, and Home Alone 4 : Taking Back the House.

Can anything top the original? Probably not, but I'm sure this will be a fun film - and a great movie for the family to watch together!


Christmas Heart:


Also, we have more movie information according to winnipegfreepress.com. Christmas Heart is a Made-for-TV Movie - being made for the Hallmark Channel.

Starring in this film will be -
Teri Polo (A Taste of Romance, Straight from the Heart) and
Tess Harper (A Christmas Wish).

One of the Producers of this film is Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond). "The Christmas Heart" was written by Heaton's brother, Michael Heaton.


The cast of the Hallmark movie "The Christmas Heart"
Picture from Cleveland.com



Plot details via Hallmark Channel Press Release:

In "The Christmas Heart," the tight knit neighbors on Arthur Avenue have proudly been lighting Christmas luminaries for 40 years, but that long-standing tradition is cancelled this year when Matt Norman, a boy in the neighborhood, is hospitalized and desperately needs a heart transplant. A donor is found, and Life Flight quickly gets the heart airborne on Christmas Eve, fighting a winter storm with no time left to lose. The neighborhood lights the luminaries in honor of Matt and his family, and their loving exhibition turns out to be the miracle that saves Matt's life.

*Pictured in Image (on the right): Paul Essiembre, Teri Polo, Ty Wood and Cruise Brown
The Cast of the Hallmark Channel Movie, "The Christmas Heart,"
(Click Here for Picture Source - Cleveland.com)


Christmas in Connecticut "Re-make":


It is being reported that Jennifer Garner will be re-teaming with her "13 Going on 30" producers for the remake of the 1945 screwball comedy classic, Christmas in Connecticut.

The original storyline (as reported on aceshowbiz.com) revolves around a cooking writer -- the Martha Stewart of her time -- whom the world believes to be living on a cozy farm in Connecticut with her husband and baby. In reality, she's a single woman living on her own in New York. The ruse is discovered when a holiday meal is planned at her fake farm.

After researching this more on-line - I see that there have been on-going plans to re-create this movie since 2007. I am wondering if it is actually going through now or if this is just on-going buzz of the possibility. I am personally very fond of the Barbara Stanwyck original movie and am not particularly interested in a re-creation of a film that is already well-known, innocent and decent in it's time, and loved!



The Most Wonderful Time:

Per deadline.com, Robert Redford and Diane Keaton are in talks to star in new Christmas movie titled The Most Wonderful Time.

The Yuletide project will feature story lines with multiple characters that overlap, based around the chaos of family Christmases.

Please note: I have no idea, at this time, what this will be rated.



Elf-Man:

According to the film’s website - Wise Acre Films: An Elf is left behind by Santa to help rescue the Harper family from a lousy Christmas. The Elf and family get more than they bargained for when their father is kidnapped by bad guys determined to steal his new invention. After the kids help the Elf discover his special powers, he risks his life to save their father. And along the way, he discovers his true destiny as a budding superhero: Elf-Man!

The film stars Jason Acuna, McKenzie Astin, and Jeffrey Combs.



3 Day Test:

Actor Corbin Bernsen (L.A. Law, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus) is creating a new independent film Christmas movie titled "3 Day Test". According to wkyc.com, "3 Day Test," a light comedy written by Bernsen, is a story of a man who takes extreme measures to get closer to his family during the holiday season. Also according to wkyc.com, Bernsen will have a small role in the movie as a burned-out hippie-turned-underground-cable-show producer.



Random Acts of Christmas

“Random Acts of Christmas,” a family friendly Independent Christmas movie began production March 6, 2012 in Wheeling, W.V. according to http://www.huntingtonnews.net/25203.

The film, scripted by Ty (“Doughboy) DeMartino , has been described as “an uplifting drama that focuses on one family’s struggles to get their life back and the lesson learned through simple acts of kindness.”

News from the Bluefield Daily Telegraph states that actor Kevin Sizemore will be the star of this film.


Lucky Dog

According to Adirondack Daily Enterprise, the film, called "Lucky Dog," stars movie star Paul Giamatti and comedic actor Paul Rudd.  The story centers on a pair of French-Canadian conmen pals who, despite being on the outs with each other, hatch a get-rich-quick scheme to sell Christmas trees in NY. Per Cinamablend.com, English sweetheart Sally Hawkins (Made in Dagenham) is set to co-star.

Please note: I have no idea, at this time, what this will be rated or even if it will be family-friendly.



"Unknown Name" - Sequel to The Dog who saved Christmas


According to pasadenastarnews.com - they are now creating the 4th sequel to the "The Dog who saved Christmas" film series. This article states that this movie is being made for the Hallmark Channel, however all of the other movies in this series were aired on ABC Family - so it would be my guess that this one will also be on ABC Family - during their annual "25 days of Christmas" event. We shall have to wait and see... This movie will also star Dean Cain and Elisha Donovan.

The other films in the series were - The Dog who saved Christmas, The Dog who saved Christmas Vacation, and The Dog who saved Halloween.



"Unknown Name" - Sequel to 12 Dogs of Christmas


This is Breaking News from Disney Dreaming - Alli Simpson (sister of Cody Simpson) Lands Her First Movie Role In The “The 12 Dogs Of Christmas” Movie Sequel. Her involvement in the film was revealed during a ustream chat.

Plot of original movie - 12 Dogs of Christmas: Upon being sent to live with her aunt in the small town of Doverville, 12-year-old Emma O'Conner finds herself in the middle of a 'dog-fight' with the Mayor and town dogcatcher. In order to strike down their 'no-dogs' law, Emma must bring together a group of schoolmates, grown-ups and adorable dogs of all shapes and sizes in a spectacular holiday pageant.

The original 12 Dogs Of Christmas Movie is a fun, heartwarming story - so we hope the sequel will be the same!

No other casting or plot details have been released.



*If you have any more information on these films above- please contact us with more details.

Hopefully there will be some wonderful new Family Christmas Movies to enjoy this year!

Which one do you think - you'll like best?

Are there any - you don't like or think they shouldn't do a remake or sequel to?

Click Comments below and share your thoughts!

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