Crown Media’s Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries announced earlier this week a slate of new movies set to premiere in the first quarter of 2022 as part of their “New Year New Movies” January programming event. The five original movies premiering on Hallmark Channel include projects starring Alison Sweeney, Jen Lilley and Maxwell Caulfield, among others, while Barbara Niven and Lyndsy Fonseca team up for an original film for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
First up to bat will be the premiere of “The Perfect Pairing” starring Nazneen Contractor and Brennan Elliott. In the movie, an influential and anonymous food and wine critic named Christina (Contractor) finds herself at a winery she panned in the past. She hopes to leave before anyone finds out who she is, but she instead slips on ice and hits her head. The Hollingbrook family, led by single father Michael (Elliott) graciously takes Christina in while she recovers and tries to jog her memory. In the process, Christina helps the Hollingbrooks prepare for their annual wine tapping party, which includes Michael’s risky passion project, ice wine.
“The Perfect Pairing” premieres Saturday, January 1, 2022 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Channel.
The following week, Hallmark Channel staples Alison Sweeney, Lacey Chabert and Autumn Reeser team up in the “Wedding Veil” (working title), the first installment of an enchanting new trilogy, as three college friends who discover a mysterious antique veil fabled to unite its bearer with her true love. After discovering a long-lost painting, museum curator Avery and successful, new board member Peter investigate the artwork’s origins as they plan a charity fundraiser to unveil its restoration. The movie also stars Kevin McGarry.
“Wedding Veil” (working title) premieres Saturday, January 8, 2022 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Channel.
In “Love is Trending,” Jen Lilley and Christopher Rusell play opposites when New York-based marketing executive Mackenzie Sullivan (Lilley) is struggling to keep her clients. When she returns home to a rural maple farm to help her best friend plan her wedding in just two weeks, Mackenzie learns the hard way that the love and support of family and true friends means more than she’d imagined.
“Love is Trending” premieres Saturday, January 15, 2022 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Channel.
“Butlers in Love” follows Emma and Henry (Stacey Farber and Corey Cott), two individuals working their way through the prestigious butler academy. As the passionate Emma and the rebellious Henry train to become royal butlers their competitive nature turns fierce and sparks begin to fly. Maxwell Caulfield also stars.
“Butlers in Love” premieres Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Channel.
The fifth and final Hallmark Channel original, “Romancing the Birthday Girl” follows Taylor (Emilie Ullerup), who, on her birthday, opens a time capsule left by her deceased mother which contains six envelopes. In each one is a challenge to complete, challenges that her mother – aware of Taylor’s many anxieties that hold her back – knew would expand her horizons and give her the push she needs in life and to help open her mind, and heart, to the possibility of love. Clayton James also stars.
“Romancing the Birthday Girl” premieres Saturday, January 29, 2022 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Channel.
In her second original movie for Crown Media, Lyndsy Fonseca stars in “North to Home,” which finds Suzanne McBride (Barbara Niven) excited to spend her birthday with her family. It will be the first time that her three adopted daughters will be together in years. This seems like a great time for a family reunion, but the sisters are each wrestling with unique challenges that threaten to derail this special occasion. Will their bond be strong enough to survive this time together? The movie also stars Kimberly Sustad and Erica Durance.
“North to Home” premieres Sunday, January 9, 2022 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.