Crown Media
The Hallmark Channel just concluded its 2021 lineup of Christmas movies, and it’s already working on new Christmas films for 2022. One of these will be filmed in London.
The New Movie Is Called ‘Christmas in London’
According to the Twitter account @SleepyKittyPaw, “Christmas in London” was originally going to air earlier, but production was delayed. Now it is going to be filmed in the UK in early 2022. Ron Oliver wrote the script and Jonathan Wright is directing.
CHRISTMAS IN LONDON, delayed Hallmark 2020 title, set to film in early 2022 in the UK with director Jonathan Wright.
Ron Oliver had been linked to LONDON as recently as November, so not sure if it’s a different movie, or Oliver wrote but not directing.
Oliver confirmed on Twitter that he wrote the movie but is not directing.
Ron Oliver confirmed he penned the script for Hallmark’s CHRISTMAS IN LONDON, set to start filming in January in the UK, but won’t direct. Jonathan Wright (CHRISTMAS CEO, CHRISTMAS NEXT DOOR) will direct the movie, which is likely to be a marquee 2022 project for Hallmark.
He wrote on Twitter, “Just wrote the script, very happy Mr Wright is at the helm!”
He finished writing the first draft of the movie in March 2021.
Many other Christmas films are also about to start being filmed, although not all will air on Hallmark. According to @SleepyKittyPaw, these include “Christmas Lonely Hearts Club,” which will film in Ohio and be directed by Lexi Giovagnoli. Another is Sandra L. Martin’s faith-based Tennessee movie, “It’s Christmas Again.” There’s also a rumored Lifetime movie called “Christmas in Rockwell,” which would film in Ontario.
Crown Media has not officially announced “Christmas in London” yet, so it’s always possible that plans might change.
Ryan Paevey Is Not Starring in the Movie
Details about the movie, including a synopsis and the cast leading the movie, have not been released. However, rumors started early that Ron Oliver might have wanted Ryan Paevey to star, since he tagged Paevey in his post about finishing the first draft.
One fan replied, “Hoping this will be @ryanpaevey next #christmasmovie with you and #hallmarkchristmasmovies 👏👏.”
Another fan wrote, “This is awesome. I hope this is your next movie with @ryanpaevey. You write such great movies and I love A Timeless Christmas. If it is anything like that one, it is going to be fantastic.”
Another person replied, “This is great. The two of you together equals extraordinary. Im excited you get to work together again it will be another winner.”
Hallmark star Erin Cahill replied, “Yes yes yes!”
Oliver gave a brief glimpse of his script while he was working on it, and tagged Paevey in that post too on March 5, 2021.
However, on January 21, 2022, Oliver shared this article on Instagram and confirmed in a hashtag that he would not be directing and Paevey would not be starring.
He wrote: “Sir Ronald’s latest Hallmark screenplay – an homage to Frank Capra’s “It Happened One Night” – is currently underway in London, England. #hallmarkchristmasmovies #hallmarkmovies #christmasinlondon #meandpaeveyaresittingthisoneout.”
A Movie Released on Lifetime in 2020 Was Originally Called ‘Christmas in London’
It’s possible that the movie will change its name by the time it airs. A “Christmas in London” movie was released in 2020, but its title was later changed to “A Christmas Exchange” when it airead on Lifetime, according to IMDb. That movie starred Laura Vandervoort, who has also starred in several Hallmark films, Rainbow Sun Francks, Martin Roach, Nigel Bennett, Rachael Crawford, Conrad Coates, and more. Some London scenes were actually filmed in Scotland.
The synopsis for the 2020 movie read: “This holiday season, Molly Cooper swaps her snow covered farmhouse for Patrick Kensington’s posh London apartment. While enjoying Christmas time in the UK, Molly begins to look forward to every communication with Patrick. Likewise, Patrick finds Molly’s warm emails and texts charming and compelling. Sparks fly between them as they get to know each other and fall in love as they live in each other’s spaces. Coming home for Christmas Day, Molly is greeted to a new life and a new love.”
READ NEXT: Hallmark’s January 2022 Movie Lineup
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An Overseas Hallmark Christmas Movie for 2022 Is Already in the Works