'Same Time, Next Christmas': Release date, plot, cast and everything you need to know about ABC's holiday movie starring Lea Michele

Set in Hawaii, the holiday movie explores what happens when two long-lost childhood sweethearts meet after several years
UPDATED AUG 15, 2019

Christmas, the most exciting holiday of the year, is usually spent in the company of loved ones, with delicious food and good Christmas movies. ABC has picked up a Christmas special movie for the year 'Same Time, Next Christmas', starring actress and singer Lea Michele, to celebrate the season of joy. The festive movie is sure to satiate your romcom movie cravings during the season of holidays. Here is all you need to know about the upcoming holiday movie:

Release date

The film is set to air in December 2019. The official release date hasn't been announced yet, but keep watching this space for further updates.

Plot

Set in Hawaii, the holiday movie explores what happens when two long-lost childhood sweethearts meet after several years. Lea will be playing the role of Olivia Henderson, a young woman who meets her childhood sweetheart during her family’s annual Christmas visit to Hawaii. ABC's official release describes the movie as "After being separated by distance and years, the two reunite at the same Hawaii resort years later and the old chemistry between them flares up anew, but circumstances conspire to keep them apart".

Cast

Lea Michele

Lea Michele attends The Hollywood Reporter's Empowerment In Entertainment Event 2019 at Milk Studios on April 30, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images)

Lea plays the lead role in the movie as Olivia Henderson, who falls in love at a very young age during one of her family's annual Christmas vacations in Hawaii. With distance and time, the relationship fizzles out, until several years later when Olivia bumps into him again during her annual vacation with family in Hawaii. Lea is a New York Times bestseller author and musician. Her role as Rachel Berry in the popular musical series 'Glee' won her several accolades. "This holiday season holds special importance to me as I get to celebrate both my role in this film and my first-ever holiday album," said Michele. "I'm honored to return to ABC with this movie event, and I am excited to share the holidays with everyone."

Charles Michael Davis

Charles Michael Davis attends "Younger" Season 6 New York Premiere at William Vale Hotel on June 04, 2019 in New York City. (Getty Images)

Davis will essay the role of Jeff, Olivia's love interest in the movie. Davis is an actor, model, and producer best known for his role of Marcel Gerard on The CW's popular drama series 'The Originals'. Davis has had recurring appearances in several notable television shows, including 'That's So Raven', 'Switched at Birth', and 'Grey's Anatomy'. In 2011, he landed a recurring role on BET's 'The Game' as Kwan Kirkland, a quarterback for the San Diego Sabers.

George Newbern

George Newbern attends the 2017 ABC Upfront on May 16, 2017, in New York City. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images)

Newbern of 'Scandal' fame has been roped in to play Olivia's father Woody Harrison. Woody is an easy-going guy who is still madly in love with Faye, his wife of over 30 years. Newbern is best known for his role as Charlie in ABC show 'Scandal'. His other notable works include a recurring role on 'Friends', 'Father of the Bride' and also for lending his voice to 'Superman' in several DC Comics. 

Nia Vardalos

Nia Vardalos attends the Los Angeles opening night performance of 'Dear Evan Hansen' at Ahmanson Theatre on October 19, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rachel Luna/Getty Images)

Vardalos will be playing Faye Henderson, Olivia’s mother — a fit, attractive woman who is a vegetarian and does yoga while keeping her husband Woody on a healthy regimen as well. She and Woody are madly in love with each other — even after 30 years of marriage. She hopes her daughter Olivia can find a happy marriage as well.

 Phil Morris ('Doom Patrol') and Dannah Lockett ('The Kenan Show') will appear in supporting roles in the movie.

Creators

Director Stephen Herek poses at the premiere Of MGM Home Entertainment's "Into The Blue 2: The Reef" on April 14, 2009, at the poolside Beverly Hitlon Hotel, Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

'Same Time, Next Christmas' is executive produced by EveryWhere Studios' Tom Mazza and David Culvert Jones.  Stephen Herek ('Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors', 'Mr. Holland's Opus' and 'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure') is set to direct. The movie is produced by Freeform Studios for ABC.

Trailer

The official trailer for the movie hasn't been released yet. Keep watching this space for further updates.

If you liked this, you'll love these:

'The Holiday'

'Love Actually'

'The Perfect Holiday'

'Just Friends'

'A Christmas Prince'

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