Keshia Knight Pulliam and Patti LaBelle are teaming up on a new film for Lifetime’s “It’s a Wonderful Lifetime” holiday slate.
The two stars have both signed on for roles in the 2022 holiday film A New Orleans Noel from executive producer Whoopi Goldberg, the network announced Monday in a press release.
Additional co-stars in the film include Pulliam’s husband Brad James and veteran actor Tim Reid. This is the second project Goldberg is executive producing for the cable over the past few months. Her film Caught in His Web will be released later this year.
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Lifetime is also prepping two other holiday movies starring Brooke Elliott and Mario Lopez. Elliot returns to the network after starring in comedy-drama series Drop Dead Diva which ran for six seasons. She will be starring in and executive producing the upcoming holiday film A Country Christmas Harmony.
Lopez will star alongside country singer and actress Jenna Kramer in a currently untitled holiday film that will also include his wife Courtney Lopez in the cast.
Below are details on the three new holiday films:
New Orleans Noel
This holiday film follows architects Grace Hill (Pulliam) and Anthony Brown (James) as they reunite after knowing each other during college to work on a project for New Orleans praline icon Loretta Brown (LaBelle.) The two butt heads at first but then start to care for each other as Grace spends the Christmas holiday with Anthony’s family. She then gets a job offer in another city and must decide if love is enough to make her stay. Reid co-stars as a handsome retiree who catches Loretta’s eye. A New Orleans Noel is produced by Evergreen Films with Daniel Lewis, Rick Carter,i Goldberg, Tom Leonardis and Pulliam serving as Executive Producers. Script by Angela Tucker and Alys Murray and directed by Angela Tucker.
A Country Christmas Harmony
Country music star Chrissy Kessler (Elliott) heads to her hometown to perform a live Christmas concert to help her rapidly declining music sales. While she’s there she bumps into Luke Covington’s (Brandon Quinn), her ex-boyfriend and former country music duo partner, who she disappeared on to pursue her solo career. After a tempestuous rainstorm forces the ex-sweethearts to seek shelter in Luke’s ranch home, the two realize that the only way they’ll survive the holidays is with the other one’s help.
A Country Christmas Harmony (wt) is produced by MarVista Entertainment and The Ninth House. Megan Ellstrom, Larry Grimaldi, Hannah Pillemer and Fernando Szew Executive Produce for MarVista Entertainment and Autumn Federici and Jake Helgren Produce for The Ninth House. Elliott also serves as Executive Producer.
Gary Entin and Edmund Entin write and direct.
Untitled Mario Lopez/Jana Kramer Holiday Movie
In this yet-to-be-titled holiday film, former Broadway star, Billy Holiday (Lopez), returns to his hometown for Christmas after being abruptly fired as the host-producer-judge of the hit TV series “Celebrity Dance Off.” While there, he encounters Rae (Kramer), the charismatic owner of the local dance studio, where Billy’s 12-year-old nephew is her standout student. This Christmas, Rae is planning a dance recital fundraiser with the goal of taking her students to see a Broadway show in New York City. Billy volunteers to help her and when their collaboration click, romantic sparks start flying!
Courtney Lopez will also have a role in the film as Joanna, the charismatic host of “Celebrity Dance Off” who has just replaced Billy as executive producer and head judge. Cheri Oteri also stars as Dallas, Billy’s high-powered, fast talking Hollywood agent.
The Untitled Mario Lopez/Jana Kramer Holiday Movie is produced by Via Mar and Roberts Media, LLC. with Jeff Stearns, Mark Roberts, Lopez and Kramer serving as executive producers. David Kendall directs from a script by Aliza Murrieta and Peter Murrieta. Lifetime will announce the premiere dates for the films later.
