Mae Whitman to Headline Hallmark's Twelve Dates of Christmas; Mary McDonnell and Jane Seymour Co-Star
Hallmark Channel announced Thursday that Mae Whitman (Parenthood, Good Girls) will headline The Twelve Dates of Christmas, a limited series adapted from the Jenni Bayliss novel of the same name.
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The project reunites Whitman with Mary McDonnell, who played her mom in the '90s sci-fi classic Independence Day. The ensemble also includes Julian Morris (Pretty Little Liars), Toby Sandeman (Running Point), Nathaniel Parker (Midsomer Murders), Lucy Eaton (Staged) and Jane Seymour (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman). The official logline reads as follows:
Talented Saville Row textile pattern designer Kate (Whitman) lives in the quaint village of Blexford, England, next door to her father Mac (Parker), who is long-divorced from Kate's mother Delilah (McDonnell), a globe-trotting American always on an adventure. When not at work, Kate looks after Mac, who's recovering from a motorbike accident and is inclined to spend his days sitting in his recliner.
Unbeknownst to Kate, her best friend Laura (Eaton) signs her up for The 12 Dates of Christmas – a holiday-themed matchmaking program in the days leading up to the holiday featuring carefully curated, yuletide dating experiences — in an attempt to get Kate out of her rut. Lovingly coerced by Laura and longtime best friend Callum (Morris), a reluctant Kate ultimately gets into the spirit of the program and is caught off guard when she meets someone (Sandeman) who reinvigorates her zest for life. But when Delilah unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep – literally – Kate and Mac's life and holiday season get upended. Meanwhile, Mac may be embarking on his own romance with local Evelyn (Seymour), a widow who slowly helps him step outside the confines of his house and open his heart.
As Kate wends her way through the 12 dates, she takes a circuitous route to romance while also making some important discoveries about herself.
Production on The Twelve Dates of Christmas is currently underway in Ireland. The six-hour event will air as part of the cable network's annual 'Countdown to Christmas' event later this year (premiere date TBD), and episodes will stream next day on Hallmark+. Will you be tuning in?
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