Hallmark EVP Lisa Hamilton Daly Reveals Future Of Mysteries

Hallmark Photo: Alison Sweeney Credit: ©2021 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Marcel Williams

If you are a Hallmark mystery fan, the past year has been a challenge. Back in 2022, Hallmark aired the fewest amount of mysteries than they have in years. In addition, a few Signature Mystery Series like Picture Perfect, Hailey Dean, and Matchmaker Mysteries were officially canceled. Therefore, many mystery fans have been concerned about the future of the genre on HMM.

However, Sleuthers should now be happy about what Hallmark Media EVP Lisa Hamilton Daly reveals about the future of mysteries. What seems clear is that there has been a lot of thought into what they are planning for the future.

What did she have to say?

Hallmark Photo: Jill Wagner, Kristoffer Polaha Credit: ©2021 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman
Hallmark Photo: Jill Wagner, Kristoffer Polaha Credit: ©2021 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman

Will Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Start Focusing On Mysteries Again?

On Wednesday, Decider published an interview with Lisa Hamilton Daly, Executive Vice President of Programming at Hallmark Media. She discussed the future of the network’s programming. This includes Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

Firstly, she revealed that “we are leaning back more into the mysteries, which people really liked.” This is the news that Sleuthers have been waiting for!

Hallmark Photo: Sarah Lind, Jesse Metcalfe Credit: ©2020 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Hugh Tull
Hallmark Photo: Sarah Lind, Jesse Metcalfe Credit: ©2020 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Hugh Tull

Next, she declared her love of Only Murders In The Building. After watching this Hulu series, she realized they had an opportunity to tune up HMM’s Signature Mystery Series.

We’re trying to bring back the fan favorites but also freshen them up because — I loved Only Murders in the Building, so we are trying to see how we can feel more modern with our mysteries.

This was a statement with a lot of information. First, Daly revealed that they are trying to bring back fan favorites. We already know that they are reuniting Alison Sweeney and Cameron Mathison in Vancouver for Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery.

However, fan favorites indicate more than one mystery series. What other mysteries will the network resurrect? This should give Mystery 101 fans more hope. These Sleuthers have been waiting nearly two years for the eighth movie.

Hallmark Photo: Dylan Neal, Brooke Burns Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer
Hallmark Photo: Dylan Neal, Brooke Burns Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

John Christian Plummer has confirmed with TV Shows Ace that the script is written. Moreover, he has a relation to the Deadly History cliffhanger.

What other fan favorites could the network bring back? Could The Gourmet Detective return, especially now that star and screenwriter Dylan Neal has been cast in the upcoming rodeo drama series, Ride? What about Lacey and Brennan reuniting for another Crossword Mysteries? Could Jesse Metcalfe finally return to Hallmark and make more Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries?

Her statement certainly opens the door for a cornucopia of mystery options. However, it seems that Daly has more ideas about the future of Hallmark mystery movies.

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Lisa Hamilton Daly Promises ‘Fun Surprises’

In this same interview, the EVP Programming at Hallmark Media was asked about the resurgence of mysteries. They pointed to Netflix’s hit Glass Onion and Peacock’s Poker Face. Lisa Hamilton Daly was quick to reveal that she thinks Natasha Lyonne is “amazing,” but admits she still needs to see more of the hit mystery Poker Face.

However, she does acknowledge that she wants to freshen up Hallmark mysteries. It seems that they have already been brainstorming how to make mysteries with a more modern look, yet still something the family can watch.

I think with our mysteries, it can be a little bit of a dusty attic kind of show but we’re saying, ‘Okay, how do we do something — which still has to be G-rated, PG maybe, especially if it’s murder — but how do we do what works for our audience but is also fresh?’ And that’s what we’re trying and I think that there’s going to be some fun surprises with that, too.

Daly ends her mystery discussion with a fabulous hint of “fun surprises” to come. It is a foregone conclusion that the new Paul Campbell and Aimee Garcia mystery series, The Cases Of Mystery Lane will be comedic. But, what other surprises could Hallmark have in store?

Hallmark Photo: Barbara Niven, Brennan Elliott, Lacey Chabert Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Alexx Henry/ Alexx Henry Studios, LLC
Hallmark Photo: Barbara Niven, Brennan Elliott, Lacey Chabert Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Alexx Henry/ Alexx Henry Studios, LLC

Sounds like Hallmark is doing more than ramping up their mystery production. They are reinventing their mystery brand to increase their audience of Sleuthers.

Which Hallmark mystery series would you like Hallmark to bring back?

Georgia Makitalo

2 Comments

  1. Mystery 101, Hannah Swenson ( Murder she Baked), Gourmet Detective, crossword Mysteries, and Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries… Maybe even Garage Sale Mysteries if you could swing it. OHHH THOSE WERE ALL SO GREAT, AND MY WHOLE FAMILY WOULD SCHEDULE OUR EVENINGS AROUND GETTING TOGETHER AND WATCHING THEM!!!!
    (Aurora Teagarden used to be fun, but we all agreed the Professor just didn’t fit in well and we lost interest. Which was too bad because the books were great and we were all hoping Robin would come back.)
    How can we encourage Hallmark to do the right thing and bring our favorite family mysteries back?!

  2. Totally agree.my absolute favorite
    Is garage sale mystery. Do what it takes to get them back. Jennifer
    Is the best. She’s better than gac
    Also Curious Caterer. Nikki and
    Andrew are great together

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