Will Hallmark’s Countdown To Christmas Be Canceled Due To Writer’s Strike?
Hallmark Christmas movie fans have surely seen that the Hollywood writer’s strike is happening now. This has already caused some production delays. Simultaneously, Hallmark has not yet announced how many Christmas movies they will air during Countdown To Christmas 2023.
Should fans be concerned that Countdown To Christmas will be canceled due to the WGA strike?
Hallmark Has Already Filmed Several 2023 Countdown To Christmas Movies
Although Christmas movies won’t start airing for five months, Hallmark Christmas movie fans are already talking about the strike and what will happen to the 2023 season. Should they be concerned that Countdown To Christmas 2023 could be canceled?
For the past few years, the network made 40-something new movies each season. Traditionally, they make a lot of these movies in the summer, or into the fall. However, this year, they have already made about 35 to 40 percent of these movies for 2023. This includes A Biltmore Christmas starring Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha, as well as Christmas Goals starring Kim Matula and Kevin McGarry.
Also already filmed is Where Are You Christmas? starring Lyndsey Fonseca, and Michael Rady, as well as Winter Castle Royal Romance starring Katie Cassidy, and Stephen Huszar.
Exciting Movies Ahead?
Best of all, according to Christmas movie prognosticator, Sleepy Kitty Paw who posts the latest holiday movie news on Twitter, Hallmark is getting ready to film Haul Out The Holly 2, which should star Lacey Chabert and Wes Brown. They are returning to Utah where the first movie was made.
It sounds like 15-20 different movies are in the can. However, because there has not been an announcement or obvious Hallmark connection like Haul Out The Holly 2, we will refrain from mentioning them. That includes Paris Christmas Waltz. This upcoming movie will once again be made by Michael and Janeen Damian, but there is no information on what network will be airing this movie. We can not assume that Hallmark will.
However, Sleepy Kitty Paw has tweeted that there is also going to be a Christmas movie series currently called Holidazed. This stars Erin Cahill, Ian Harding, Jacob Insley, Barry Levy, Lillian Lim, and more. Again, there is very little information on this series. That includes how many episodes and how long each episode will be.
Hallmark's 2023 HOLIDAZED series, starring Erin Cahill, Ian Harding, Lillian Lim, Tim Perez, Barry Levy and Jacob Insley, among others, still filming in Victoria.https://t.co/8PgFPvT5aw
— Ho! Ho! Holiday Viewing! (@SleepyKittyPaw) November 17, 2022
Expect Some New Hallmark Mysteries In 2023
Hallmark has been ramping up their mystery production in 2023. In May, there are two new premieres. The first is Jodie Sweetin in The Jane Mysteries: Inheritance Lost. Second is the long-awaited reunion of Alison Sweeney and Cameron Mathison in Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery.
In June, Hallmark is airing two more new mysteries. Christmas Waltz stars Lacey Chabert and Will Kemp are reunited for the Dancing Detective: A Deadly Tango. Also, Hallmark is reinventing their popular Aurora Teagarden franchise with their new prequel series. Now Skyler Samuels is portraying the younger version of the sleuth in the upcoming mystery Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Something New.
However, there is more planned. Tamera Mowry-Housley filmed a new mystery in Ireland, but we don’t have a name or other details. In addition, Mystery 101 screenwriter John Christian Plummer revealed that he has written a new mystery series called Mystery Island. That movie should start filming soon as they want to film on a Caribbean island and they want to avoid hurricane season.
Lastly, Andrew Walker and Nikki DeLoach have just filmed their third Curious Caterer Mystery called Last Suppers. There is also an upcoming, still untitled Kristoffer Polaha mystery series, and possibly a new Brennan Elliott mystery series coming out in 2023.
Hallmark Is Currently Filming Lots Of Movies
Currently, Hallmark is filming a lot of new movies and has some that will start production soon. Firstly, the PenaVegas are currently in Ottawa filming Double Quince. In addition, Creative BC has shared some upcoming movie productions that should interest Hallmark fans.
The first movie Big Sky River 2, with director Peter Benson is definitely for Hallmark. Peter Benson directed the first Big Sky River movie. This western stars Kavan Smith, and Emmanuelle Vaugier. There is no information on whether this pair of actors will be back for this second movie.
Also, regular Hallmark director David Weaver is getting ready to film Love & Jane. Lastly, Wedding Veil director Terry Ingram is set to start production on Making Waves on May 15.
Meanwhile, Hallmark has just finished production on other summer Hallmark movies. Also, this is just the Vancouver area. Hallmark also films in other Canadian cities, as well as in the States and in other cities around the world. Now that there are no pandemic restrictions, the network is filming a lot of international movies that should entertain fans everywhere.
Put in the mileage at WB this morning with my work wives. Tomorrow = MOW writer meetup at Paramount. #WGAstrike #WGAstrong pic.twitter.com/cb6pS2S4kr
— Julie Sherman Wolfe (@shermwolfe) May 9, 2023
Studios Have A ‘Stack Of Scripts’
Although there is a Hollywood writer’s strike, the network can use any completed script. However, the script has to be followed by every word. However, does Hallmark have some scripts to work with?
Prolific screenwriter Nina Weinman Swift, who has penned 17 Hallmark movies including Just One Kiss reveals the importance of her job on Twitter. She wrote, “They stockpiled scripts before the deadline. If the studios didn’t need us, they wouldn’t have bothered… #WGAstrong.” While Nina Weinman Swift did not specifically mention Hallmark, there are many social media comments revealing that Hallmark has a few scripts under their belt.
In addition, Hallmark may want to buy what they call acquisitions. Production companies like MarVista make movies without any network attached. If this strike goes on for a long time, it may be quite a profitable year as networks will bid for these movies.
Right now, Hallmark has purposely not announced how many new movies they will premiere for 2023 Countdown To Christmas. However, fans should rest assured, there will be many wonderful 2023 Christmas movies to enjoy over the holidays. Countdown To Christmas is not going to be canceled.
Were you concerned about Countdown To Christmas canceling?
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