HALLMARK PRESS RELEASE:
STUDIO CITY, CA - May 18, 2021 - Award-winning actress Alison Sweeney ("Days of our Lives") is bringing fan favorite character Hannah Swensen back and reuniting with Cameron Mathison ("Home & Family) and Barbara Niven ("Chesapeake Shores") to reprise their roles in an all-new "Hannah Swensen Mysteries" for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, which begins production this week in Vancouver. Sweeney also serves as executive producer of this movie, which will air in Summer 2021.
"I'm so excited to revisit Hannah Swensen and to again work with Cameron and Barbara on these fun stories that combine romance with intrigue. The fans have been so vocal in their love of these characters and it's exciting to be bringing them back to life and to return to Hannah's bakery where it all began," said Sweeney.
In the new mystery, Hannah (Sweeney) and Mike Kingston (Mathison), enjoy finally being engaged while still managing their busy careers. However, a murder at Hannah's gym may complicate their wedding plans as Hannah's need for sleuthing again impact's Mike's investigation.
This Hannah Swenson Mysteries is produced by Sweeney, Craig Baumgarten and Lighthouse Pictures. The series is based on the Hannah Swensen mysteries series of books by Joanne Fluke.
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My take...
What a delicious treat we have to look forward to this Summer! I'm super excited to share we will have more mysteries from this series, even if they have given it a whole new name! Hope this will be the first of many Hannah Swensen mysteries with Alison Sweeney, Cameron Mathison, and Barbara Niven - and I hope we will see other regular cast members return!
Happy Sleuthing, Everyone! Net
Hmmm...I wonder if there was some type of contract dispute with the author of the books? Happy for the fans of the show. I wish my twin sister was still here to watch it. I know she became a fan of the show.
ReplyDeleteMisty
Misty, That is an interesting thought regarding the new title. I was thinking maybe they switched it up - since some time has passed and they wanted to get people's attention with the new title, but who knows? Or... maybe, because they have the Aurora Mysteries that are popular, Alison wanted to name the show after her character. Whatever, the case, I actually like this better then having Murder in the title.
DeleteAlso, I'm so sorry you can't share this with your twin sister. When you do watch it this Summer, I hope you feel her close to you.
God bless you, Misty. Hugs to you, my friend.
This is great news!!! I had a feeling when I saw her on FB that she was about to announce a new movie that she was very excited about. Can't wait!
ReplyDeleteJoyce, Isn't this great!?!?! I practically jumped out of my chair when I saw the press release - I was so excited! And, Alison has shared a pic on Instagram - with the Cookie Jar apron on! This is going to be soooooo good to see everyone again!!! :)
DeleteYes..I just heard her announce August 8th air date! August is looking good for HMM! I can hardly wait! I hope all the same actors will be back and the theme music is the same! Always loved it...
DeleteJoyce, Me too - on the theme music! In fact, I was humming it as I shared this post. It's quite peppy and fun!
DeleteAlso, I saw the post where Alison mentioned August 8th! It will be here before we know it - right after Christmas in July! I can hardly wait, too!!! I just hope we'll love it as much as the regular series.
Best Hallmark movie news of the year!!!!!! Just don;t let the WCTH writers anywhere near this or they will have her end up with Norman.
ReplyDeleteYes!!!! This is Wonderful Hallmark Movie News! Fans have been asking over and over again for this series to continue - and it sounds like the writers are picking up with Hannah and Mike engaged - just where they left off!
DeleteI think Norman would make a wonderful mounie. So excited for the come back series!! Thanks for the good news Net. WOW! This is just so great!
DeleteHope they give Norman a second chance with someone. Maybe Lisa!??
This makes me happy! Does anyone know if they are still going to make the Chronicle Mysteries movies too?
ReplyDeletePamma, That's a great question; I was wondering the same thing. I checked ratings for "Chronicle Mysteries: Helped to Death," which premiered in February, and it is the second lowest rated mystery of the year, so far. However, I'm also noticing that it premiered opposite of "When Calls the Heart's" first episode for Season 8, so that could have been a major factor for Hallmark viewers.
DeleteHow exciting!! I was afraid they cancelled the series after the engagement. Hope they continue after they are married. I just can't wait! Thanks so much for sharing with us, Net.
ReplyDeleteAlso Norman needs someone special. His character would make a good kind, and honorable mountie wouldn't he!?😍😅
This is some of the best news Hallmark has put out in years. I was watching Plum Pudding Mystery last night and really wanting more movies so this is great great great news. I hope Andrea will be back? And Bill?
ReplyDeleteI saw Ali put something on social media recently saying she was working on something for Hallmark, maybe this was it? Cameron M liked it. I was wishing it was something like this but thought likely no. I hope we get Cameron in more HM movies now that H&F is done, that will be a great trade off cause i love him as an actor. And I ADORE Ali, I think she is my favorite on all of HM.
I really was surprised about this - since I knew Cameron was heading back to doing Soap Opera's and isn't Ali back on Days, too??? She's off & on so much - I can't keep up.
DeleteAnyway... I know the fans have been asking over and over again - so FINALLY they listened. Cameron shared he was beyond excited about them doing more - so I knew he was always game.
Also, I'm hoping, along with you, Sabrina - all the regular cast members are able to return.
I had no idea Cameron was going back to soaps. I havent watched them in forever. i recently was reading about Ali cause i havent watched Days since the 90's. I liked Cameron in the fall movie the one where he was the college professor, and Kelly Rutherford was in (she is so pretty).
DeleteI just thought the last Chronicle Mysteries was ok. I dont know they really waited a long time that i wasn't really interested anymore. I watch Murder she baked almost all the time it is on, and I still wish every time i watch to have more. My favorite was the Peach Cobbler, love when mom is asking where hannah is and she tells Andrea dont tell me she is at Douglas's and Andrea says fine i wont tell you she is at douglas's.
Every time my husband and I see the actor that played Douglas, we always call him "Robert Peters and me" cause that is what Vanessa wrote on the back of the picture she knew hannah would find. Mom is so funny too eating the cookies and Andrea keeps telling her to eat more cookies while her and hannah talk. Just love the movie.
Yeah, I heard after Home & Family ended, Cameron Mathison was offered a job at GH, and he was elated. I'm not geared into that soap world, myself, but that's the news I saw.
DeleteI felt exactly the same about the last Chronicle Mysteries. It was okay, but really didn't grab me like "Murder She Baked" does. Like you, I have watched all of the MSB movies over and over again and just love them all! Love that you & your husband call Douglas - "Robert Peters and me"! That is sooooo cute! It's so fun to repeat various lines from movies - I do that a lot, too!!! :)
Always happy to see a new mystery movie, although these have not been my favorites...but I still enjoy this series....I wonder how people here think about Hallmark forgiving Lori Loughlin ( it still troubles me that not one college President went to jail-the ones at schools where this happened had to know ) ..and let her pick up here Garage Sales series and/or a Christmas movie...forgiveness is a wonderful thing....thanks!
ReplyDeleteMatt, I think forgiveness is a wonderful thing, too. We all need it, and we should extend that same grace to others. From what I've been hearing, lately, Lori is focusing on her marriage and her family right now. I don't know if it's possible for her to return with various legalities or if it's the right time for her personally, but I know I, for one, would love for Lori's character, Abigail Stanton, to come home again to Hope Valley. And, I would absolutely love to see the "Garage Sale Mystery" series come back, as well.
DeleteI agree! They already had three written when they ended it. I hope they will bring her back and continue them too. It was my favorite series song with Emma Fielding.
Deletegreat news!
ReplyDeletedenise
Interesting. All I have to say is they better include Lisa Durupt as her sister too. I figured they do, then I will be excited. We’ve always wanted more of these mysteries. They kind of just ended them.
ReplyDeleteLisa’s character’s Husband named Ben who works with Mike.
DeleteIt’s called (for now) Cream Puff Murder. So it still fits in with the Murder She Baked theme day titles. As I said, though, I hope it includes her sister and brother-in-law!
ReplyDeleteI am so thrilled that Hallmark listened to their viewers who really, really wanted more episodes!! This was, hands down, my favorite mystery series! I actually loved the original title Murder, She Baked because I have a deep nostalgic fondness for Murder, She Wrote. Thank you so much, Net, for relaying this most exciting news!
ReplyDeleteiKneed1, I love hearing your excitement! One thing I thought might be potentially great about the new title - "Hannah Swensen Mysteries" - is that now the mystery doesn't have to be a murder. It could potentially be another crime- stolen artwork, destruction of property, a cupcake thief, anything else!
DeleteSo glad you enjoyed this news, too! I have a feeling ratings are going to be high for this when it returns this August!
Murder, She Baked Mysteries: Cream Puff Mystery
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful news! Those were my favorites of the mysteries series (I really liked Flower Shop Mysteries, too). Now if HM would only do this with Cedar Cove, which I've been watching on Hallmark Drama, then HM would make me happy again lol. But this is definitely great news!
ReplyDeleteSavvy Girl, Glad to hear your excitement, too, over this "Hannah Swensen Mysteries" news! (I think it was always be "Murder, She Baked" to us! right?)
DeleteI think we were all over the moon to hear this series was coming back. I'm hoping since they gave it a new name and all - that it won't be just a one time deal.
I always thought they should've, at least, brought "Cedar Cove" back for one last episode or movie where they finished off some of the main storylines. That would've been extra nice for the viewers. Maybe someday!
I'm glad the series is coming back but it wont be the same or better unless andrea ,bill and norman are also back
ReplyDeleteI am thrilled the show is back and picking up where they left off. I have gone through several jobs, teacher, graduate school student, psychologist, and now author. My husband cheers me on in everything I do. Movies that kill off the spouse deny the successful marriages out here in the real world. So happy to see "Hannah and Mike" may actually find ways to compromise, be successful individually, and more importantly - together. Good for Hallmark!
ReplyDeleteI love this series of movies. I watch Ali on DOOL weekdays and I just LOVE LOVE LOVE Cameron. Hopefully, they will keep these movies coming. I love to watch Hallmark, but they need to get some more shows other than the Golden Girls and Reba.
ReplyDelete