🎬 An Interview With “A Little Women’s Christmas” Creator And Co-Writer, Dione Sheehan

Photo courtesy of: Dione Sheehan
(from left to right: Charlize Hutch, Laura Osnes,
Jillian Murray, Jen Lilley,
Dione Sheehan, and Julia Reilly)

The new Great American Family Christmas movie “A Little Women’s Christmas” is a contemporary retelling of Louisa May Alcott's 1868 classic, Little Women, originally set in New England during the Civil War. The novel is a coming-of-age story of the four main characters, the March sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy, who grew up together and learned from their mistakes and achievements.

This all-new modernized holiday story, “A Little Women’s Christmas,” was filmed in Tennessee and follows author Jo March (Jillian Murray) as she returns home to celebrate Christmas with her adult sisters Meg (Jen Lilley), Beth (Laura Osnes), and Amy (Julia Grace Reilly). The film also stars Trevor Donovan, Jesse Hutch and his real-life daughter, Charlize, Kyle Kupecky, and legendary singer, Gladys Knight.

I am delighted to share with you all today my interview with Dione Sheehan, the creator and co-writer of “A Little Women’s Christmas.”


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INTERVIEW

Dione Sheehan

“A Little Women’s Christmas”

creator and co-writer

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Net, It’s a Wonderful Movie: Welcome, Dione, to It’s a Wonderful Movie, where we discuss family-friendly & faith-based movies on TV. It is so nice to chat with you today as I am most excited for your upcoming Christmas movie on Great American Family! Please briefly share with us the storyline behind “A Little Women’s Christmas.”

Dione Sheehan: “A Little Women’s Christmas” reimagines Louisa May Alcott’s beloved classic story by taking the four March sisters and dropping them into a modern Christmas rom-com. Now grown up and scattered across the country, Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy return to their Tennessee hometown to celebrate the holiday season, bringing with them secrets and surprises.


Net, It’s a Wonderful Movie: What initially inspired you to write this story?

Dione Sheehan: I began writing the script for “A Little Women’s Christmas” during my sophomore year of college at Stanford University. I was enrolled in a screenwriting class and all students were tasked with writing an entire script in one month – a very exciting but, at the time, daunting assignment. I immediately decided that I would write a holiday romcom because that was the type of content I consumed the most… and who doesn’t love a feel-good Christmas story?!

As I began planning out my script, I thought it would be fun to play with the idea of sisters coming home for the holidays as they each navigate their own romances. I sat down to watch the 1994 Little Women movie as inspiration (because, in my mind, it’s a Christmas movie) and, about halfway through, the lightbulb went off… What if my story wasn’t just about random sisters? What if it was about the actual March sisters? The concept gave me goosebumps. Like so many other women, I grew up alongside Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy, and these characters have felt like my very own sisters for as long as I can remember. The opportunity to once again dive back into the world of the March sisters and imagine new storylines for my beloved friends was everything I’d ever dreamed of. So I reconceptualized my story as “A Little Women’s Christmas.”





Net, It’s a Wonderful Movie: This is the most frequently asked question I have received from my followers about “A Little Women’s Christmas.”…

Of course, Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott, is genuinely a beloved classic for readers, generation after generation. The novel is filled with many delightful stories of the March sisters; however, there are a few things I believe many readers would change if they could, but the main one is dear Beth.

Since you were essentially able, Dione, to recreate anything you like with these characters in your modernized story, does Beth suffer the same ill-fate as the novel, or will we see a brighter side of Beth, portrayed by Laura Osnes, in “A Little Women’s Christmas”?

Dione Sheehan: I love that fans care so much about our dear Beth, and I am delighted to assure everyone that the most kind-hearted March sister is alive and well in “A Little Women’s Christmas.” To be honest, I never once considered excluding Beth from my story or having her succumb to sickness and/or death. I wanted “A Little Women’s Christmas” to be inspirational and uplifting and, in some ways, idealized; it was never my intention to retell the original story but rather to re-imagine it in a lighthearted Christmas type of way.

I hope fans love the new journey I’ve created for Beth March. I promise she is happy, healthy, and perhaps even on the brink of finding love…


Net, It’s a Wonderful Movie: What was your reaction when you first learned Great American Family wanted to turn your story into a movie?

Dione Sheehan: I was overjoyed! The process of getting a script picked up is arduous and long. I wrote eight drafts of the script and pitched it to numerous producers over the course of five years before finally landing a deal with TrueBrand Entertainment and Great American Family.

I’m so excited to finally get to share my story with the world and I have no doubt in my mind that GAF is the perfect home for “A Little Women’s Christmas.”


Net, It’s a Wonderful Movie: What was it like visiting the set during filming and meeting the cast? (And, I must say, what an incredible all-star cast… you must still be pinching yourself to see if it is true!)

Dione Sheehan: It was surreal! I still remember the moment I saw Jillian Murray, Jen Lilley, Laura Osnes, and Julia Reilly walking down the hallway in costume for the first time… It was like my kindred spirits had arrived!

Also, fun fact, Jen Lilley was actually on my original vision board for the story back in college. I thought she would be the perfect “Meg” and she most certainly is!




Net, It’s a Wonderful Movie: Which of the March Sisters do you feel you are most like?

Jo (played by Jillian Murray) - smart, independent, passionate, creative

Meg (played by Jen Lilley) - well-mannered, mature, motherly

Beth (played by Laura Osnes) - sweet, soft-spoken, musically gifted

Amy (played by Julia Grace ) – self-centered, spontaneous, artistic

Dione Sheehan: I love this question even though it’s so hard to answer! I’d say I am a mix of both Jo and Beth.

Like Jo, I am relentless in the pursuit of my dreams. I often know what I want and go after my goals with fierce passion and purpose because I believe we’re each here on earth for a unique reason. But like Beth, I can sometimes be introverted and quiet. I enjoy alone time and need moments of serenity to recenter myself. I also like cheering for others and don’t necessarily want to be the center of attention. Unfortunately though, I am not musically talented!

Net, It’s a Wonderful Movie: Since you now have your own Christmas movie… I must ask, do you have any favorite Christmas Movies that you enjoy watching traditionally every year?

Dione Sheehan: Yes! I love all of these, even though the last few might not technically be considered Christmas movies…

Little Women (1994 version)
Home Alone
The 12 Dogs of Christmas
Love’s Christmas Journey
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
Eight Below


Net, It’s a Wonderful Movie: As viewers gather around the TV to watch your movie, what do you hope they will take away from watching “A Little Women’s Christmas” on Great American Family this Christmas Season?

Dione Sheehan: I hope that, first and foremost, people are reminded of why they love the original Little Women story. The brilliance of Louisa May Alcott transcends time and her ability to craft four dynamic female characters who simultaneously spotlight strengths and weaknesses in each other is truly remarkable.

I hope also that people realize kindred spirits live on. Our beloved imaginary characters are never lost or forgotten; they reside deep in our hearts and can be accessed at any moment.

Finally, I hope people experience true joy when they watch “A Little Women’s Christmas.” This story comes straight from my heart and is a precious gem in a broken world.

Net, It’s a Wonderful Movie: What other creative projects will you be working on next?

Dione Sheehan: I’m thrilled to announce that I am currently writing and producing a brand new reality show called Flipping Farms. This series follows a father-daughter duo as they buy farms in an effort to renovate and flip the entire property. It’s been the adventure of a lifetime! This show will be releasing on major streaming platforms in early 2025, so stay tuned!

In addition to my film projects, I also have two novels in the works. One is a young adult romance and the other is a very special Christmas novella which I will be announcing soon.


Net, It’s a Wonderful Movie: How can people get in touch with you and support you?

Dione Sheehan: Anyone can get in touch with me via my Instagram account @dione.sheehan. I love connecting with fans and fellow writers, so please do reach out!

The best way to support any writer is to watch their work! I am so grateful to everyone who plans on watching “A Little Women’s Christmas” and I hope people will tune into “Flipping Farms” in early 2025.


Net, It’s a Wonderful Movie: Is there anything else you’d like to share with my readers?

Dione Sheehan: I want to invite everyone to approach “A Little Women’s Christmas” with an open mind. As I’ve already mentioned, this is not meant to be a literal retelling of the original story; rather, I specifically chose to re-imagine the story in a modern Christmas way. So I hope fans love this movie for what it is (independent of the novel) and create space for fresh storylines which reacquaint us with the beloved March sisters in a whole new way.

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A warm thank you to Dione for reaching out to do this interview with me for my It's a Wonderful Movie followers. Hearing and sharing her insights into the writing and filmmaking process was a joy. I appreciate Dione for taking the time to share with us behind-the-scenes details of “A Little Women’s Christmas” and the immense enjoyment she took in the creation process of this film.

Briefly, I must share... the two March sisters that Dione chose that she is most alike are precisely the two I would choose for myself. Like Jo, I love being creative, and like Beth, music has always been my passion! 

Many of us who read this book as young women or saw the movies, saw parts of ourselves in these sisters. I would love to hear from you ladies who visit here, too! Which March sister or sisters are you most like?

Likely, it goes without saying that I am always excited to share Great American Family's Christmas TV movies, romantic comedies, and various projects; however, “A Little Women’s Christmas” is one of the most anticipated Christmas movies for viewers this season on the network, so I was especially delighted to give everyone this extra look into this upcoming premiere.

“A Little Women’s Christmas” stars Trevor Donovan, Jillian Murray, Jen Lilley, Laura Osnes, Julia Reilly, Jesse Hutch, a special appearance by Gladys Knight, and more!

Watch the Premiere of

“A Little Women’s Christmas”

Saturday, November 23, 2024

on Great American Family

I hope many of you who visit here will enjoy this new Christmas movie premiere!

God's Blessings to you all,

Net

🚙🎄 Cruise Through The Weekend With New Christmas Movies Starring Candace Cameron Bure, Eric Johnson, Taylor Cole, Kevin McGarry, Maria Menounos, Andrew Walker, And More 🌟 SEE HERE:

'Tis the weekend again, friends, and time for more NEW Christmas movie premieres!

Are you ready to take this ride?

You can see many favorite TV movie actors this weekend in new movies, including Candace Cameron Bure in her first of two new Christmas movies for Great American Family with Eric Johnson, When Calls the Heart's Kevin McGarry stars in a new holiday movie on Hallmark Mystery with Taylor Cole, while Andrew Walker and Ashley Williams are paired together in a new Hallmark Channel Christmas comedy, and Lifetime begins their launch of new Christmas movies this weekend, with one of the films starring Maria Menounos.

See details on these festive Christmas movies and more below...


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Thursday, November 14, 2024:

A Reason for the Season

Storyline: In order to earn her trust fund, Evie (Cole) is tasked with granting Christmas wishes to the people who saved her life on the night of her birth. To aid in her cause, she employs Kyle (McGarry), a handsome local attorney, to track down those who helped and attempts to secretly learn what they might want while maintaining her anonymity. With Christmas fast approaching, the heiress and the attorney can’t resist falling for each other's charms as they ramp up their gift giving efforts. But as time ticks down, will she be able to accomplish the mission and grant all of the wishes by Christmas Eve?

A Reason for the Season

Premieres Thursday, November 14, 2024

at 8pm/7c. on Hallmark Mystery

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Friday, November 15, 2024:

Christmas with the Singhs

Storyline: For Asha Singh, Christmas is the most important time of the year. But when she's stuck working at the hospital during the holidays, she wishes for some much-needed Christmas magic. Enter Jake, her former high school classmate, who unexpectedly reappears in her life. After a magical year together, Jake proposes. But their first Christmas as an engaged couple isn't exactly the fairytale they imagined. When they head home for the holidays, they quickly discover their picture-perfect romance is about to get a serious reality check: their families couldn't be more different! Juggling various holiday traditions, big personalities, cultural differences and complicated family dynamics proves to be a challenge as Asha and Jake have to learn if they can bridge their two families and survive a Christmas with the Singhs.

Christmas with the Singhs

Premieres Friday, November 15, 2024

at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel

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Saturday, November 16, 2024:

Dognapped: Hound for the Holidays

Storyline: When an egotistical social media influencer's dog is kidnapped, her long-suffering assistant teams up with a charming local vet to find the puppy before Christmas. As the two investigate suspects, they form a romantic bond along the way.

Dognapped: Hound for the Holidays

Premieres Saturday, November 16, 2024

at 7pm/6c. on UPtv

Movie Review:

🎄 "Dognapped: Hound for the Holidays. One part early in movie is not family friendly. I deleted the movie so I don't know about the rest of it. The main actress is on a phone call with her mother about coming home for Christmas and bringing a friend to stay. The mother says "[She] can stay in your sister's old room, she can't come home this year because she's headed to Florida with her new girlfriend to meet her family". Main actress says "Ah! It must be serious.". And the mother says "Finally!! And are you seeing anyone special?" ~~Jane


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Saturday, November 16, 2024:

A Christmas Less Traveled

Storyline: A local business owner finds an audio cassette in the player of her recently departed dad’s classic red truck. The message instructs Desi to go on a holiday road trip down memory lane where she meets a man who needs her help and who offers help in return.

A Christmas Less Traveled

Premieres Saturday, November 16, 2024

at 8pm/7c. on Great American Family

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Saturday, November 16, 2024:

Jingle Bell Run

Storyline: Avery (Ashley Williams) is an unadventurous schoolteacher whose sister secretly signs her up for The Great Holiday Dash, a Christmas-themed reality competition show where she's paired with former hockey player Wes (Andrew Walker). Despite clashing at first, Avery's puzzle-solving skills and Wes' physical prowess help them excel as they travel from city to city and compete in festive feats that have a local flavor. It's not long before a real connection between these opposites begins to blossom. But when Avery overhears a conversation between Wes and a show producer it threatens to derail their budding romance. Keeping their eyes on the prize, the duo continues to dash to the finish line but there may be a more personal adventure for them still in store.

Jingle Bell Run

Premieres Saturday, November 16, 2024

at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel

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Saturday, November 16, 2024:

Christmas at Plumhill Manor

Storyline: Margot Stone (Maria Menounos), a beautiful rising architect in New York, discovers a magical Christmas secret in an English countryside manor she unexpectedly inherits. Experiencing Christmas across the pond may make Margot a fish out of water, but an unforeseen romance (Kyle Pryor) and sense of belonging give her a breathtaking new blueprint for love.

Christmas at Plumhill Manor

Premieres Saturday, November 16, 2024

at 8pm/7c. on Lifetime

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Sunday, November 17, 2024:

A Very English Christmas

Storyline: Christmas in the English countryside wasn’t in Emma’s plans until her sister, Amy, plans her wedding for Christmas Eve. Dylan, Amy’s co-Christmas market owner, teams up with Emma to bring order to the whirlwind wedding.

A Very English Christmas

Premieres Sunday, November 17, 2024

at 7pm/6c. on UPtv

Movie Reviews:

🎄 A Very English Christmas. Ugh. No. Couldn’t make it all the way through. This movie had almost everything I dislike about Reel One movies. Frustratingly horrible (!*@!*#!) sound issues – either too soft and muffled or too loud (Reel One needs to fire all their sound people!). Ridiculous story premise (but that could be said about many Hallmark/GAF/UpTv movies, as well). Loud music that, annoyingly, overpowers every scene (seriously, need new sound people). Lack of attention to detail – one minute it’s sunny and the next minute after walking one block away it’s pitch-black nighttime. Editing and filming need some help. Horrible acting, mainly by the lead actress. The whole thing just feels like it was written, directed and produced by a tweenager on an adolescent’s budget. The movie did have some nice Christmassy decorations at the craft market and most of the other actors were okay-ish. I think if they got a new lead actress and a new director, had an adult re-write and tighten up the script, and got rid of the technical issues, it could have been a cute low-budget film good for a one-time watch. Who knows? Maybe it got better in the second half? The part I saw was clean, except the sister getting married is already pregnant (so, oops). ~~Jane

🎄 A Very English Christmas - Dear, oh dear. oh dear. 90 minutes of utter boredom, slower than slow-pace, little happening , poor and stilted dialogue. Originally called Christmas in the Cotswolds (a hilly country region in England). Perhaps a Christmas market in a small settlement could be successful at the weekends with tourists etc but in cold and frosty weather it opened early in the morning - utter nonsense. Little chemistry between the leads and the female lead's half-sister whose wedding she has come to organise is already pregnant so not family friendly. I can only offer one piece of advice - if you get the chance to watch this - DON'T. - Florence's rating


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Sunday, November 17, 2024:

A Cozy Christmas Quilt

Storyline: Firefighter Liam and quilting teacher, Amy, come together to make the perfect quilt for Liam’s sister’s Christmas wedding. Two headstrong people discover the importance of putting personal differences aside to create what is most important at Christmas.

A Cozy Christmas Quilt

Premieres Sunday, November 17, 2024

at 8pm/7c. on Great American Family

Movie Reviews:

🎄 Reel One's A Cozy Christmas Quilt is clean and very sweet. -Maria

🎄 A Cozy Christmas Quilt - This was a surprise - a low budget movie about a fireman and a quilting teacher joining up to make a Christmas quilt for the fireman's sister's wedding. Sounded like a sure-fire recipe for 90 minutes of boredom! But hey, the two leads Kyana Teresa (Amy) and Harmon Walsh (Liam) both previously unknown to me were perfect together with great chemistry.

It was engaging to se Liam try to keep on top of his burgeoning feelings. It started off nicely with friction between Amy and Liam as he had to fail Amy's premises in a fire inspection and there was a side plot of the business threatened with going under.

The movie was full of warmth and humour and the mechanics surrounding the production of the quilt turned out to be fascinating. A little bit different and an unexpected delight - Florence Rating 8.5

🎄 A Cozy Christmas Quilt. Completely agree with Florence - this was a thoroughly enjoyable movie! I was expecting a low-budget movie with typical audio issues and subpar acting, but this turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The acting, writing and directing were well done. (I looked up the director and it turns out he’s been the director on a lot of the bigger-name Hallmark/GAF movies.)

The actors were new to me but I thought they were all good, including side characters. The lead actress, Ferelith Young, was excellent; she was so natural and believable and sincere and warm - I never felt like I was watching someone act. And the lead actor, Harmon Walsh, is a cutie patootie, reminiscent of Kevin McGarry; the chemistry between the two leads felt realistic.

This whole production felt a bit more polished and mature than a lot of the “first-string” movies out there this year (and I appreciated that there was no ridiculous and overblown conflict or big misunderstanding between the couple). The sweet relationship between the brother and sister was a nice bonus.

This one would be a keeper if I had it on my dvr but right now it’s only available via streaming (previously it had been showing on XumoPlay but they took it off and as of January 2nd it’s now playing on the Roku channel – catch this cute movie while you can! Maybe also available on Amazon streaming?). Family friendly. ~~Jane

🎄 A Cozy Christmas Quilt – This movie is like a warm, cuddly blanket… it’s cozy, comfortable, and sweet! And it’s family-friendly, too!

Sparks fly the instant when Liam, a firefighter, and Amy, a quilting teacher, meet. Liam’s sister is getting married and he asks Amy to help him with the task of making a quilt for her wedding present. It’s a traditional wedding gift in their family, and Liam wants to ensure his sister has one on behalf of their deceased mother.

As Liam and Amy work together, it’s plain to see a romance is gently flaring up – as the two are obviously attracted to each other.

Amy is known for working with candles lit around her, which is a terrible fire hazard especially around fabric. I found it to be adorably cute and responsible how Liam would constantly go around blowing them out.

Both characters felt like such real, authentic people. Liam’s the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it, and as far as being kind and giving is concerned, Amy seems to be cut from the same cloth.

This movie is one of those lighthearted, feel-good movies that leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. ~Net


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Sunday, November 17, 2024:

Confessions of a Christmas Letter

Storyline: Settie Rose (Kinsey), a quirky family matriarch, enters her town's annual holiday letter-writing contest but needs help, so she hires struggling novelist Juan (Santos) to craft the perfect letter. When a mix-up leads to the rumor that Juan is engaged to Settie's daughter Lily (Lillian Doucet- Roche, The Cases of Mystery Lane: Death is Listening), the whole family scrambles to keep up the charade. As Juan bonds with the Roses and overcomes his writer's block, Settie learns that embracing her imperfect family is what truly makes her story special. *Features a cameo appearance by Brian Baumgartner (The Office)

Confessions of a Christmas Letter

Premieres Sunday, November 17, 2024

at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel

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Sunday, November 17, 2024:

Holiday in Happy Hollow

Storyline: Real estate developer Gracie's (Tamara Almeida) ambitious new project faces an unexpected roadblock when she stumbles upon a quirky detail from the past: the charming Christmas tree farm she has purchased once raffled off tiny one-foot deeds to local families, each holding a sentimental piece of the land. To salvage her vision, she must team up with local historian Jack (Cody Ray Thompson), embarking on a heartfelt quest to track down these families and persuade them to part with their cherished slices of the farm.

Holiday in Happy Hollow

Premieres Sunday, November 17, 2024

at 8pm/7c. on Lifetime

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Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Please share which Christmas movie you most want to see this weekend in comments below.

The two movies I'm most looking forward to seeing are A Reason for the Season and A Christmas Less Traveled. Both of these Christmas films appear to have an inspirational element, and those are the ones I usually love the most at Christmastime, the movies with depth and meaning that tug just a little at the heartstrings.


Please note: I haven't pre-screened all of the new movies listed above. If you'd like to post a review on whether a film is family-friendly, please share in comments. There are reviews above, however, for three movies: Dognapped: Hound for the Holidays, A Very English Christmas, and A Cozy Christmas Quilt.

Visit the *Christmas TV Schedule* for the dates and times of NEW Christmas movies.

You can find the 2024 Christmas Movie Review post *here*.

Happy Christmas Movie-Watching!

Net 🎄

SHINING HIS LIGHT:

"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."

Matthew 2: 1-2

"When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh."

Matthew 2: 9-11

When we think about Christmas travel these days, we mostly think about busy airports and packed highways, as people take planes, trains, and automobiles home for Christmas, but the first Christmas travel was of the three wise men, who followed the bright star in the sky to find and worship the Christ child bringing with them the first gifts of Christmas.

My prayer this Christmas is that we continue, like the three wise men, to seek the true light of Christmas... Jesus!

Two More Great American Family Stars Added To The Cast Of When Hope Calls Season 2

Is there a new sheriff in town? Or an outlaw?

As if the cast of When Hope Calls Season 2 wasn't impressive enough, with Cindy Busby, Christopher Russell, Nick Bateman, Trevor Donovan, Wendy Crewson, Hanneke Talbot, Morgan Kohan, and Ryan-James (RJ) Hatanaka, today we learned that two more Great American Family stars have joined the all-star cast!

Before I make the reveal, When Hope Calls is currently expected to premiere in January of 2025 on Great American Family. An actual premiere date has not been given.

So, who has joined the cast?

It's Jesse Hutch, star of Christmas Under the Northern Lights, A Little Women's Christmas, A Christmas Blessing, and more!

Jesse shared the image above on Instagram with the caption:

NEW CHARACTER coming at you in the new year. For some real fun swipe to the end. This cast and this team is awesome. Get excited. #actor #jessehutch #whenhopecalls

Another picture that Jesse shared (see above) revealed another Great American Family star... Sarah Fisher, of A Harvest Homecoming and Meet Me Under the Mistletoe.

It should be fun to learn who Jesse and Sarah's characters will be in the series. Are they, perhaps, a couple?

Stay tuned for more details.

Blessings on your day,

Net

Coming Spring 2025 - Danica McKellar And Trevor Donovan To Star In 'Grounded' On Great American Family

Will love blossom next Spring? 

See details below for Danica McKellar and Trevor Donovan's all-new Great American Family movie!

Press Release via Great American Media:

DANICA MCKELLAR AND TREVOR DONOVAN

STAR IN NEW ORIGINAL MOVIE,

‘GROUNDED,’

ADAPTED FROM BESTSELLING NOVEL

BY ANGELA CORRELL,

WRITTEN BY ANDREA CANNING

NEW YORK, NY – November 14, 2024 – Great American Media, the leader in high-quality faith and family linear and streaming entertainment, announces production has wrapped on Original movie, Grounded, starring Danica McKellar (A Cinderella Christmas Ball, Swing Into Romance) and Trevor Donovan (Jingle Bell Princess, Harvest Homecoming), adapted from the bestselling novel of the same name by Angela Correll and written by Andrea Canning (“Dateline,” Love On the Danube), Alex Wright, and Cara J. Russell. The World Premiere of Grounded is slated for Spring 2025.

In Grounded, Annie (McKellar), a career flight attendant who loves her job and traveling the world, is dealt a blow when an airlines merger causes her to be furloughed, a setback further compounded by breaking up with a selfish boyfriend. Looking for a reprieve, Annie drives from Manhattan to her grandmother’s Kentucky farm. After a few character-building days, life on the farm ultimately brings Annie unexpected blessings in the form of rediscovering her faith, and reconnecting with her handsome childhood friend, Jake (Donovan), who has just moved back from the big city to create a more grounded and intentional life for himself.

“The Commonwealth is a great production partner,” said Bill Abbott, President & CEO, Great American Media. “The infrastructure, including historic locations, build ready sites, and a rich legacy of industrious professionals at every level of production makes Kentucky one of the best states in the country to make movies,” Abbott concluded.

“This movie is guaranteed to lift spirits! And it’s extra special to me because it’s my first project where faith plays a central role,” said McKellar.

Grounded is Trevor Donovan’s fourth film shot in Kentucky. “I’ve really enjoyed working here, and I’m hoping we can make it a regular thing because the state has so much to offer filmmakers,” Donovan said.

Executive producers of Grounded are Angela Correll, Jess Correll, Danica McKellar, Trevor Donovan, Ernie Barbarash, Cara J. Russell, and Garrett VanDusen. Producers are Brad Krevoy and Amy Krell on behalf of MPCA, and Emily Blevins. Associate producer is Henry Peterson. Grounded is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Angela Correll. Teleplay by Andrea Canning, Alex Wright., and Cara J. Russell. McKellar is repped by Matt Sherman Management and attorney Dave Ryan. Donovan is repped by Michael Yanni.

Photos: Danica McKellar, Trevor Donovan, ©2024 Great American Media

ABOUT GREAT AMERICAN FAMILY

As the flagship linear TV network of Great American Media, Great American Family is America’s premiere destination for quality family-friendly programming, featuring original Christmas movies, rom-coms and classic series that celebrate faith, family and country. Founded in 2021, Great American Family is home to year-round seasonal celebrations the whole family can enjoy together, including Great American Christmas, the network’s signature franchise featuring holiday themed movies and specials. Great American Family is available in 50 million households via cable and satellite providers; visit https://www.greatamericanfamily.com/channel-finder/ or text FAMILY to 877-999-1225 to find your local channel.


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My Quick Take:

This is such wonderful news today from Great American Media! A few weeks back, Danica and Trevor shared a fun, quick video of the two of them dancing together, and everyone on social media wondered if they were working on something together.

Then, Trevor revealed shortly after, just before he left to film When Hope Calls (which is also premiering next year on Great American Family), that he had just filmed something!

So... now we officially know what they were filming! And I must say, it sounds terrific!

First, I love the fact that they filmed this movie in Kentucky! Yay! I'm all for filming in the good old USA, and Kentucky is such a beautiful state that holds a special place in my heart due to family connections there.

Also, I'm thrilled that this movie will be filled with faith! We need more inspirational films in our world today, and it's a blessing to know Great American Family is creating more of them!

If you'd like to know more about the novel this movie is based upon and read reviews, you can see Grounded, by Angela Correll, at Amazon - click here.

Blessings on your day,

Net

🌟 ChristmasFest Announced by UP Faith & Family 🌟 See Here:

Check out all of the details for UP Faith & Family's ChristmasFest in the press release from the streaming service below.

UP FAITH & FAMILY’S 

“COZY UP FOR CHRISTMAS”

HOLIDAY CELEBRATION 

INCLUDES FIRST EVER 

VIRTUAL “CHRISTMASFEST”

WITH ERIN BETHEA, SHAUN JOHNSTON,

FRANCO LO PRESTI, EMILY ALATALO,

JULIAN HAIG AND BRIGITTE KINGSLEY

ATLANTA (Nov. 12, 2024) – UP Faith & Family, the leading streaming service for commercial-free, faith and family movies and series, has over 200 Christmas favorites as part of “Cozy UP for Christmas” with 32 new titles being added this season including Christmas in Rockwell (Nov. 8), Festival of Trees (Nov. 8), A Very English Christmas (Nov. 15), A Bluegrass Christmas (Nov. 22), 12 Dares of Christmas (Nov. 29), Dial S for Santa (Nov. 29), Country Roads Christmas (Dec. 6), A Novel Christmas (Dec. 6) and Jingle Smells (Dec. 20).

In celebration of the holiday season, UP Faith & Family will hold the first ever virtual ChristmasFest on Monday, Nov. 25 at 2 p.m. ET. Moderated by The Wild Adventure Girls, fans will be able to ask UP Faith & Family stars about their favorite Christmas movies and holiday traditions while also seeing trailers and sneak peeks of new movies. Fans can visit upfaithandfamily.com for more information.

Stars set to appear:

Erin Bethea (Festival of Trees)
Franco Lo Presti/ Emily Alatalo (Christmas Time Capsule)
Shaun Johnston (A Bluegrass Christmas)
Brigitte Kingsley (A Novel Christmas)
Julian Haig (Dial S for Santa)


UP Faith & Family’s holiday season programming highlights include:

Christmas in Rockwell – Begins streaming Nov. 8

When a big town star goes home to her small town to celebrate Christmas, confusion and romance lead the holiday festivities.
Stars: Trish Stratus, Stephen Huszar, Sheila McCarthy


Festival of Trees – Begins streaming Nov. 8

Jacquie Miller is an interior designer desperate to catch a break. The city’s annual Festival of Trees decorating competition, known for putting local artists on the map, may be just the answer! But competing with the city’s top designers is not for the faint of heart. With the help of her quirky assistant, a charming stranger and an inspirational young girl, Jacquie embarks on a humor-filled and heart-warming journey to create a tree that will knock the stockings off Santa himself.

Stars: Kate Miner, Greg Perrow, Josie Davis


A Very English Christmas – Begins streaming Nov. 15

Christmas in the English countryside wasn’t in Emma’s plans until her sister, Amy, plans her wedding for Christmas Eve. Dylan, Amy’s co-Christmas market owner, teams up with Emma to bring order to the whirlwind wedding.

Stars: Kimberly Nixon, Poppy Gilbert, Lewis Griffiths


A Bluegrass Christmas – Begins streaming Nov. 22

Katie’s family’s horse sanctuary is on the brink of closure, and in a last-ditch effort to raise money, Katie must coax her reclusive grandfather, Bluegrass legend, Ben Pendleton, back onto the stage for a Christmas benefit concert.

Stars: Amanda Jordan, David Pinard, Shaun Johnston


12 Dares of Christmas – Begins streaming Nov. 29

A teacher’s quiet holiday season gets a jolt of spice when she accepts a 12 Dares of Christmas challenge from her sister while scrambling to ready her town for a Christmas exchange program with a suave, opinionated French teacher.

Stars: Brittany Underwood, Sean Yves Lessard, Marnie Mahannah


Dial S for Santa – Begins streaming Nov. 29

When insurance investigator Lana Lawton returns home Christmas, her only goal is to spend time with her mom and cheer up her nephew who is upset that his military father won’t make it home for Christmas. When she arrives, however, she discovers that a string of robberies along Main Street has the shop owners scratching their heads over who could have done it. Seeing her chance to earn a big promotion by doing some real P.I. work, Lana puts all her efforts into trying to solve the case by any means necessary. Now, with Christmas Eve approaching and her suspect list narrowing, Lana must convince Nick, the police chief, to let her help on the investigation. As the pair start spending more time together on the case, they begin to see each other as more than co-investigators. Can Lana and Nick solve the case in time for Christmas and will Lana’s lead suspect disappear on Christmas, even with a sleigh full of stolen goods? It may take a lot of faith and a good bit of Christmas magic for a happily ever after!

Stars: Sarah Dugdale, Julian Haig, Lynda Boyd


A Novel Christmas – Begins streaming Dec. 6

When a successful children's book author, Chloe Anderson, heads to the cozy town of Noelville to spend time with her sister's family and help care for her recently widowed father, she didn't expect the instant connection with the local bookstore owner and single dad, Ethan; or find her number one fan in his daughter, Alex. Will the small town's charms be enough to rekindle a grieving family's Christmas spirit, along with Chloe's dreams of writing her first novel - let alone a chance at love?

Stars: Brigitte Kingsley, Landy Cannon, Alys Crocker


Country Roads Christmas – Begins streaming Dec. 6

When the daughter of a country singer loses her job at a record label, she ventures off to become her estranged father’s manager and finds love along the way.

Stars: Lanie McAuley, Bo Yokely, Bailey Chase


Jingle Smells – Begins streaming Dec. 20

War vet Nick Gutman is forced to take a job with his dad's quirky garbage men buddies. When tasked to destroy canceled toys before Christmas, Nick takes on the secret identity Jingle Smells and becomes a Robin Hood for the Holidays.

Stars: Eric Roberts, John Schneider, Victoria Jackson


UP Faith & Family serves over a million families and continues to grow, adding hundreds of thousands of new customers this year. The UP Faith & Family app is available on iOS or Google Play and can be streamed through FireTV, AndroidTV, Roku, Apple TV, Xbox and Samsung. The service can also be purchased through these distributors: AppleTV+, Contour, DirecTV, Dish, Prime Video Channels, Sling, The Roku Channel, Xfinity, YouTube, YouTube TV and +play.


About UP Entertainment UP Entertainment, celebrating its 20th anniversary this October, is the destination for uplifting entertainment for passionate and diverse audiences across the leading cable, satellite and streaming platforms. Brands include UP Faith & Family, UPtv, aspireTV, aspireTV+, GaitherTV+ and Cine Romántico. UP Faith & Family is the leading subscription streaming service in uplifting entertainment. UPtv is the trusted network for adults seeking positive programming with relatable stories about relationships, filled with love and laughter, through exclusive premiere movies, box-office hit films and beloved series. AspireTV is the television network that celebrates and reflects Black culture, life and style in a way that is inspiring, authentic and entertaining. AspireTV+ is a new subscription streaming service for Black culture and urban lifestyle entertainment. GaitherTV+ provides access to Gaither’s renowned and growing library of full-length award-winning Country, Gospel, Bluegrass and Christian concerts and specials, early premieres of new performances and shows, and exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews. UP Entertainment in partnership with PixL Dos, also manages and distributes Cine Romántico, a FAST channel featuring the best of Hollywood TV romance movies in Spanish. Additionally, UP Entertainment also represents partner brands Ovation TV and its AVOD and FAST services including Journy. Ovation is an independent television, production, and digital media company, with an unparalleled commitment to the arts, culture and entertainment. Journy is Ovation’s free ad-supported video on demand channel focused on travel and entertainment. UP Entertainment’s award-winning pro-social initiative, “UPlift Someone,” has inspired over 200 million people to uplift others through its social videos.