During this past week, there has been a lot of news from Hallmark world. That includes Andrew Walker’s big Kentucky Derby movie, a surprise addition to A Grand Biltmore Christmas, the first Hope Valley: 1874 preview, and one magical holiday movie that has wrapped filming.
Here is the latest in Hallmark Production News.
Andrew W. Walker Announces ‘Kentucky Roses’
This week, Hallmark announced Kentucky Roses, starring Andrew W. Walker and Odette Annable. This movie is in collaboration with Churchill Downs for a first-time partnership in a movie “celebrating the pageantry of Kentucky Derby.” They filmed this movie on location at Churchill Downs Racetrack. In addition, there will be a jewelry collection that will be sold exclusively at Hallmark Gold Crown Stores.
This movie includes two timelines, but is not a time travel movie. It takes place in the present day and in 1932. “In present-day, Sadie Moore (Annable) works in the Churchill Downs greenhouse, dreaming of becoming a florist and one day contributing to the Derby’s garland of roses, just like her great-grandmother, Gloria (Ally Ledford). As Derby Day approaches, Sadie meets Ash Taylor (Walker) the son of Churchill Downs’ CEO (Gregg Henry), who’s been asked to do an emergency repair on the iconic Twin Spires after a storm left one damaged. Both Sadie and Ash feel the weight of family legacy and the desire to carve out their own paths. Sparks Fly, and their budding romance is complicated by a long-buried connection between their families–a bittersweet love story from the past that threatens to repeat itself.”
Clare Niederpruem (Mystery Island: House Rules) is the director, and Jamie Pachino (Doctor Odyssey) wrote the script.
The premiere of Kentucky Roses will be on Saturday, May 2, on the Hallmark Channel, and available to stream the next day.
Andie MacDowell Joins ‘A Grand Biltmore Christmas’
The Way Home fans got quite a surprise when they learned that Andie MacDowell, who portrays Del on the pond-jumping, time-travel series, is going to be in the Hallmark time-traveling movie sequel, A Grand Biltmore Christmas.
According to Southern Living, the Groundhog Day star is going to play a real firecracker, Aunt Maysilee, Elizabeth’s (Holland Roden) aunt.
Andie MacDowell plays the prim, somewhat matronly yet spirited Aunt Maysilee, Elizabeth’s aunt who accompanies her to Biltmore House at the holidays. Practical, traditional and somewhat meddling, Aunt Maysilee places importance on societal norms. Sometimes opinionated, she isn’t shy about letting Elizabeth know how she thinks her niece should live her life, which comes from a place of love.
Hallmark should be announcing The Way Home Season 4 premiere soon. Furthermore, the third season is now available to stream on Netflix. Both Netflix and Hallmark+ now have all three seasons available to stream.
Hallmark Releases First Look ‘Hope Valley: 1874’
On Saturday night, Hallmark shared the First Look Hope Valley: 1874 video and premiere date. Firstly, the series will premiere on Saturday, March 21, on Hallmark+. This is the exclusive home of the new When Calls The Heart prequel spinoff.
Next, there will be eight episodes. New episodes will start dropping on Thursdays, starting with the second episode on Thursday, March 26.
This series that is about the origins of Hope Valley stars Bethany Joy Lenz, Benjamin Ayres, Jill Hennessy, Roan Curtis, Lachlan Quarmby, Jedidiah Goodacre, Chelsea Hobbs, and Brad Abramenko.
According to the Hallmark Media press release, this series will be “showcasing themes of perseverance and romance, this series explores the journey of a mother as she discovers a new chapter in her life as she helps forge what starts out as collection of isolated settlers into a small close-knit community during the rugged and hopeful Pioneer Era. This prequel to Hallmark’s historical drama series, When Calls the Heart, will take viewers back in time to follow the early settlers of the community that will one day become the beloved frontier town of Hope Valley. “
‘Holiday Ever After’ Completes Filming
Hallmark’s first collaboration with Disney, Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True, starring Lacey Chabert and Travis Van Winkle, has completed production on January 28.
According to Fantasy Land News, Christy Carlson Romano, the Disney star who is also in this historic movie, revealed that the 2026 Countdown To Christmas movie has wrapped.
Although the network will not be announcing the holiday schedule until September, it is a safe bet that this movie will premiere during Thanksgiving weekend. This is when they premiere the high-profile movies.
Stay tuned for more news on upcoming Hallmark productions.
