Hallmark movie Rip in Time builds on classic American folktale

Hallmark movie Rip in Time builds on classic American folktale

The Hallmark movie Rip in Time will premiere as part of Hallmark Movies and Mysteries May lineup.

Starring Niall Matter and Torrey DeVitto, the movie is a play on the 18th century folktale Rip Van Winkle. In the legendary story, a farmer wanders into the woods and falls asleep for 20 years, waking only once the Revolutionary War has been fought.

In the Hallmark version, DeVitto plays organic farmer Sarah. After a storm tears through her upstate New York farm, she discovers a man in 18th century clothes wandering on her land. Going by the name Rip, he appears not to have any understanding of the modern world and claims that he was born in 1758. Sarah enlists the help of a sheriff’s deputy in figuring out who he is.

Sarah’s son and her father immediately take to Rip, and he helps her solve a variety of problems she has on the farm. In an attempt to help him determine his identity, she takes him to see several doctors in New York City. The only one who has any advice is a quantum physicist, who says it’s possible Rip is from the 18th century and there could be a way to get him back.

Family connection

DeVitto posted a photo on Instagram to promote the movie. In the caption, she shared the news that her father’s band is playing on the movie’s soundtrack.

“Fun fact: we used my dads band @theslimkings song ‘all fired up,’” she wrote.

DeVitto’s father, Liberty DeVitto, played drums for Billy Joel for more than 30 years. He has also worked with Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks, and Carly Simon. He currently plays with The Slim Kings.

About the stars

Torrey DeVitto appeared on the TV shows King of Queens, Drake & Josh, One Tree Hill, The Vampire Diaries, and Pretty Little Liars. She played Natalie Manning on Chicago PD, Chicago Fire, and Chicago Med.

She co-starred with Chad Michael Murray in the Hallmark Channel movie Write Before Christmas, and with Patrick Duffy in the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries film The Christmas Promise.

Niall Matter is well-known to Hallmark audiences as Nick Miller in the Aurora Teagarden mystery series. He also appeared as Shane Cantrell on When Calls the Heart. He has appeared in the Hallmark movies Engaging Father Christmas, Christmas at Dollywood, Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater, and A Christmas Together WithYou.

Rip in Time premieres on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries on Sunday, May 22 at 9/8c.

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