'Happiest Season': Release date, plot, cast, trailer and all you need to know about gay romcom starring Kristen Stewart on Hulu
Bringing in unexpected holiday cheer is Kristen Stewart's new lesbian rom-com, 'Happiest Season', releasing this November. The movie, co-written and directed by 'Veep' actress Clea DuVall, was supposed to release in theaters but will now debut on Hulu instead. “I am beyond grateful to Hulu for providing an incredible home for 'Happiest Season', and I’ll forever cherish my journey with Sony Pictures who felt just as strongly as I did about the value of bringing the first major LGBTQ+ holiday rom-com to audiences,” said DuVall in a statement about the release. “I’m hopeful that this universal story, told through a unique lens, will join the long list of holiday classics that continue to bring all of us so much joy and happiness.” 'Happiest Season' is a holiday romantic comedy that hilariously captures the range of emotions tied to wanting your family’s acceptance, being true to yourself, and trying not to ruin Christmas.
Release date
The film will release on Hulu on November 25.
Plot
Meeting your girlfriend’s family for the first time can be tough. Add to that, Abby (Kristen Stewart) is also planning to propose to her girlfriend Harper at her family’s annual Christmas dinner — but she realizes that they don’t even know she’s gay. When Abby (Kristen Stewart) learns that Harper (Mackenzie Davis) has kept their relationship a secret from her family, she begins to question the girlfriend she thought she knew.
Cast
Kristen Stewart
Kristen Stewart plays Abby who is crushed to know that her girlfriend Harper, who she wants to marry, has been hiding her sexuality from her family. Stewart is best known for playing the lead Bella Swan in the 'The Twilight Saga' franchise. But she was first noticed at the young age of 12 as the daughter of Jodie Foster's character in David Fincher's thriller 'Panic Room'. She also starred in 'Zathura: A Space Adventure' and 'Into the Wild'. After her 'Snow White and the Huntsman' debacle, Stewart went indie. In 2015, she garnered critical acclaim for her performance in Olivier Assayas' drama film 'Clouds of Sils Maria', which won her the César Award for Best Supporting Actress. She returned to mainstream Hollywood with 'Charlie's Angels' and most recently, 'Underwater'.
Mackenzie Davis
Mackenzie Davis plays Harper, who is scared of coming out to her family but also wants their true acceptance. Davis's breakthrough performance came in 2016, when she starred as Yorkie in 'San Junipero', an episode of the anthology series 'Black Mirror'. Soon after, in June 2016, Davis bagged the role of Mariette in 'Blade Runner 2049'. In 2019, she joined the cast of 'Terminator: Dark Fate', in which she played an augmented super-soldier from the future who is sent back in time to protect Dani Ramos. She stars in the upcoming HBO Max miniseries 'Station Eleven'. In 2020, she has also starred in 'The Turning', and 'Irresistible', a film by Jon Stewart.
Daniel Levy
Daniel Levy plays Abby's gay best friend, John, who helps her pick the ring and the person Abby turns to for advice about pretending to be Harper's "straight, orphan" friend. Levy is best known for playing David Rose on 'Schitt's Creek', which he co-created and co-starred with his father. For producing, writing, directing, and acting in the final season of 'Schitt's Creek', Levy became the first person to win a Primetime Emmy Award in all four major disciplines in a single year.
The ensemble film cast also stars Mary Steenburgen, Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Mary Holland, Burl Moseley, and Victor Garber.
Creators
The film is directed by Clea DuVall, who also wrote the story. The screenplay treatment is by Clea DuVall and Mary Holland. The film is produced by Marty Bowen and Isaac Klausner. Wyck Godfrey and Jonathan McCoy serve as executive producers.
Trailer
The first trailer for the romantic comedy aired on November 10. Teasing the storyline, it features some pivotal moments. "I didn’t tell my parents I’m gay," Harper tells Abby, who asks, "So who do they think I am?" Harper's mother Tipper (Mary Steenburgen) tells her husband Ted (Victor Garber), "This is Harper’s orphan friend, Abby." We also see a typical rom-com scene of Harper trying to hide that she had snuck into Abby's room during the night when Harper's mother and then father, followed by some other family members come in to retrieve things they need from the spare room. Harper has to hide behind the door where she is spotted by her sister Sloane's children and she begs them with her eyes to stay quiet. John, Abby's gay best friend, is on call to talk about the weird situation. He asks her, "So her parents believe their straight daughter brought home her lesbian friend for Christmas?" "Not exactly," Abby says before revealing that they think she is straight too. "Have they ever met a lesbian?" he asks, flabbergasted. Abby and Harper also have a huge row about Harper being in the closet for her family. "Do you know how painful it’s been to watch the person I love hide me?" Abby asks, to which Harper responds with tears in her eyes, "I am not hiding you! I am hiding me."
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