News

Great American Family is adding some more big names to its impressive roster.

The company today announced Jen Lilley and Jesse Hutch are set to star in Stay for Christmas, an original movie which begins production today and premieres on the network this holiday season.

The movie is part of Great American Christmas, the network’s holiday programming franchise which returns on October 21 with a new slate of original holiday movie premieres every Saturday and Sunday and Christmas movies all day and all night through the end of 2022.

"In Stay for Christmas, renowned luxury travel blogger, Tracey Wise (Lilley) is invited by owner Graham Cooper (Hutch) to a Christmas getaway in exchange for her review of his family’s small bed & breakfast, Silver Peak," the official description reads.

"The bed & breakfast’s biggest concern is a sleek, upscale hotel resort that opened a hilltop away and has been siphoning off guests for several years,...

In Stan Original film Christmas on the Farm, premiering December 1, Poppy Montgomery plays Clementine Jones, an Australian author whose book about getting back to nature on a blissful Queensland farm is snapped up by New York powerhouse publishers London & London. But the truth is, “Clementine” is actually her daughter Emmy Jones, a New Yorker basing the book on her late mother’s journals.

When the publishers announce they want to experience an authentic Australian ‘Clementine’ Christmas before signing the deal, Emmy must race back to the old family farm, roping in her cousin David (Hugh Sheridan) and his husband Miles (Nicholas Brown) to help maintain the ruse. One problem: London & London CEO Ellison London (Jeanette Cronin) shows up with her handsome adult son Jack (Darren McMullen) in tow – and if he remembers the night he met Emmy in New York, the game will be up!

Asmara Felk and Demi Harmon also star.

Stan has announced a slew of new local commissions as it ramps up ambitious plans to have around a third of its first-run slate come from original production.

These include Hoodlum Entertainment feature film Christmas on the Farm, Matchbox Pictures drama Bad Behaviour, and a number of projects with Roadshow Rough Diamond, with whom the Nine-owned streamer has extended its partnership. With the latter it is readying a third season of Bump and a spin-off, Year Of, as well as a Gregor Jordan-helmed crime drama, Ironside.

Last year, Stan flagged it intends to invest in more than 30 productions per year within five years, drawing on Nine’s production facilities and co-productions with international partners including Hollywood studios and international networks.

Earlier this month, the service announced a children’s feature film initiative with the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (Actf), and it has a lengthy list of upcoming local projects...

Marion Ross and McKenna Jones have joined the cast of the Hallmark Channel original movie "Randall Reunion Races."

They join Kayla Ewell, Thad Luckinbill and Roma Downey in the story of a successful Los Angeles children's fashion designer (Ewell) who heads off to meet the family of her fiance (Luckinbill) during its annual gathering, the Randall Reunion Races. That weekend, she must compete against extended family members (Downey, Ross) and her beloved's ex-girlfriend (Jones) in athletic games that test her will and creativity.

David Cass is directing from a script written by Jennifer Notas ("Elevator Girl"). Hallenburg Prods. is producing with Jim Wilberger and Brian Gordon. Larry Levinson is the executive producer.

The movie recently began production and will air next year.

Repped by Leavitt Talent Group, Ross recently appeared in the features "Superhero Movie" and "Smiley Face."

Repped by Abrams Artists Agency and Precision Entertainment, Jones has appeared on "The Bold and the Beautiful.

The Hallmark Channel has wrapped production on two new original movies: "Elevator Girl," starring Ryan Merriman and Lacey Chabert, and "The Three Gifts," headlined by Dean Cain, Jean Louisa Kelly, Mimi Kennedy and Reginald VelJohnson.

"Elevator," from Larry Levinson Prods., revolves around two strangers -- a hot-shot lawyer (Merriman) and a free-spirited artist (Chabert) -- whose instant connection when they are stuck in an elevator sparks an unexpected romance.

Larry Levinson executive produces the movie, written by Jennifer Notas and directed by Bradford May. It is slated to premiere in 2010.

"Three Gifts," from LG Films Prods. and Larry Levinson Prods., centers on a childless couple (Cain, Kelly) who take in three orphan boys to spend Christmas with them and end up trying to adopt them.

The movie, written by Donald Martin and Mitchell Gabourie and directed by Dave S. Cass, will air in December. Levinson is the exec producer.