Tag: Good Witch

  • Desperate Housewives star James Denton joins Kimberley Sustad, Lucas Bryant in Hallmark romance The Real West

    Desperate Housewives star James Denton joins Kimberley Sustad, Lucas Bryant in Hallmark romance The Real West

    A single mom finds romance on a working ranch in the new Hallmark romance movie The Real West. Kimberley Sustad co-stars with Lucas Bryant in the film, which also features Desperate Housewives and Good Witch star James Denton.

    Hallmark romance movie

    In The Real West, Kimberely Sustad plays Rebecca, a widowed mom of three who is chasing her dream of becoming a tenured professor. When she takes her children on vacation to a working ranch, she meets former rodeo champion Jake West.

    Sparks fly between the two but Rebecca soon finds out that Jake has been pursuing her sister. According to a synopsis from Hallmark, “As the vacation progresses, Rebecca is torn between her growing feelings for Jake and her dedication to her career and family. Meanwhile, Jake must confront his aversion to settling down. The two navigate family dynamics, career pressures, and their budding romance to discover whether love can overcome the challenges standing in their way.”

    Kimberley Sustad

    Kimberley Sustad is a Hallmark fan favorite. She has appeared in several Hallmark series including The Gourmet Detective, Morning Show Mysteries, Signed, Sealed, Delivered, and Chesapeake Shores. She has starred in the Hallmark movies A Bride for Christmas (2012), The Nine Lives of Christmas (2014), All Things Valentine (2016), Hearts of Christmas (2016), Walking the Dog (2017), Cooking With Love (2018), A Christmas Coincidence (2018), Sense, Sensibility & Snowmen (2019), Wedding Every Weekend (2020), Christmas by Starlight (2020), Spotlight on Christmas (2020), The Nine Kittens of Christmas (2021), North to Home (2022), Lights, Camera, Christmas (2022), Three Wise Men and a Baby (2023), Fourth Down and Love (2023), and To All a Good Night (2023). 

    Kimberley Sustad is also a talented screenwriter. In addition to writing the 2020 film Christmas by Starlight, she co-wrote the 2022 hit Three Wise Men and a Baby and its sequel, Three Wiser Men and a Boy.

    Lucas Bryant

    Lucas Bryant has appeared in the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries films Time For You to Come Home for Christmas, The Angel Tree, and Five More Minutes: Moments Like These.

    James Denton

    James Denton also appears in The Real West and helped produce the Hallmark romance movie. The former Good Witch leading man recently finished up a run as a contestant on the French version of Dancing With the Stars. He and Good Witch co-star Catherine Bell recently finished filming a sequel to the 2023 Countdown to Christmas movie Christmas on Cherry Lane.

  • Good Witch fans get the reunion they’ve been waiting for in the new Hallmark movie Christmas on Cherry Lane

    Good Witch fans get the reunion they’ve been waiting for in the new Hallmark movie Christmas on Cherry Lane

    Good Witch fans will see their favorite couple back onscreen in the new Hallmark movie Christmas on Cherry Lane. Catherine Bell and James Denton play a married couple in the Countdown to Christmas film, which also stars Erin Cahill, John Brotherton, and Jonathan Bennett.

    Bell, who played Cassie Nightingale on the hit Hallmark series Good Witch, promoted the movie on Instagram.

    “Who’s ready for some Christmas magic (not THAT kind of magic!) just the lovely sweet romantic happy @hallmarkchannel kind of magic
    December 9 only on @hallmarkchannel #christmasoncherrylane,” she wrote in the caption.

    New Hallmark movie

    In Christmas on Cherry Lane, Erin Cahill and John Brotherton star as a young couple welcoming their first child when well-meaning relatives descend to help out. Catherine Bell and James Denton play empty nesters preparing for the holidays and Jonathan Bennett and Vincent Rodriguez play a couple dealing with a kitchen remodel.

    “The three couples celebrate Christmas Eve in their own special ways as they navigate these turning points in their lives, become closer in the process and a surprising connection between them all is revealed,” according to a synopsis from Hallmark Channel.

    Good Witch

    Good Witch fans have been posting to social media in anticipation of the movie’s debut using the hashtags #SassieBack, #Countdown2Sassie, and #SAVEGOODWITCH.

    Bell and Denton played husband and wife on the Hallmark series Good Witch. Hallmark Channel canceled the show in 2021 and fans have lodged several campaigns to get the series back on the air.

    Fans became hopeful when a Hallmark exec hinted that the network wasn’t finished with the franchise. During an appearance at the 2022 Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour, Lisa Hamilton-Daly, executive vice president of programming at Hallmark Media, told reporters the network was considering what to do with several of its franchises.

    “As far as Good Witch, I think we’re always interested in thinking about what we can do with our most popular IP,” Hamilton-Daly said.

    The stars of the series began to drop hints that a movie might be in the works.

    “Hopefully we’ll get a movie done here one of these days and bring all those characters back,” said Catherine Bell in a video posted on Cameo. “That is the hope we are working on but we’ll see if it actually happens but working on it.”

    Denton also talked about the possibility of a Good Witch return during an interview with TV Insider.

    “Nobody’s made me an offer,” he clarified. “There’s nothing in the works, but I think the odds are decent just because I know the network respects the franchise. It ran for 14 years between the movies and the series. So I think there’s a decent chance, but I had to say in the same breath there is nothing in the immediate works.”


    Christmas on Cherry Lane will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, December 9 at 8/7c.

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  • Best friends find romance and Christmas magic in new Hallmark movie

    Best friends find romance and Christmas magic in new Hallmark movie

    Cindy Busby and Kat Barrell play best friends who take a Christmas-themed road trip in the new Hallmark movie Everything Christmas. Along the way, they also meet two eligible bachelors and a man who may or may not be the real Santa Claus.

    The film, which will premiere as part of the network’s Countdown to Christmas lineup, also stars Corey Sevier and Matt Wells.

    New Hallmark movie

    In Christmas Everything, Cindy Busby plays LJ, a Christmas-obsessed woman who has finally planned a trip to the town of Yuletide Springs. She and her grandmother always wanted to take part in the town’s tradition of making a wish while placing an ornament on the town’s Christmas tree.

    She asks her best friend, Tory (played by Kat Barrell) to come with her. Tory, who is so obsessed with work that she can barely think about the holidays, agrees to come along.

    As they make the journey, they cross paths with a very friendly town Santa named Kris Kringle (played by George Masswohl), who seems to have a magical ability to appear whenever they need help.

    They also meet Zach (Corey Sevier), a tow truck driver whose passion for everything Christmas rivals LJ’s, and Jason (Matt Wells), who helps Tory see that there is more to life than work.

    About the cast

    Cindy Busby portrayed Ashley Stanton in the CBC series Heartland. She has also appeared in The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, and The Secret Circle.

    From 2014 to 2015 she portrayed Rebecca Jennings on the Hallmark series Cedar Cove. She also appeared in the Hallmark series the Hailey Dean Mysteries alongside Kellie Martin and Viv Leacock.

    She has starred in more than 20 romantic comedies, including the Hallmark movies Unleashing Mr. Darcy (2016), Royal Hearts (2018), Marrying Mr. Darcy (2018), Wedding March 5: My Boyfriend’s Back (2019), A Godwink Christmas: Meant For Love (2019), Love in the Forecast (2020), Romance in the Air (2020), Follow Me to Daisy Hills (2020), Hearts Down Under (2020), Chasing Waterfalls (2021), Marry Me in Yosemite (2022), Crown Prince of Christmas (2022), and Love in Zion National Park: A National Park Romance (2023).

    Kat Barrell

    Kat Barrell played Joy Harper on the Hallmark series Good Witch. She also starred on the TV shows Workin’ Moms, Star Trek: Discovery, and Wynonna Earp. She has starred in the Hallmark movies A Nutcracker Christmas (2016), A Godwink Christmas: Miracle of Love (2021), and A Tale of Two Christmases (2022).

    She also directed the Countdown to Christmas movie Flipping For Christmas, which starred Marcus Rosner and Ashley Newbrough.

    “It was amazing,” Barrell said during a social media appearance. “It was all-consuming between the directing and the trying to be present with my family. It was a mad dash for the past two months but we did it.”

    Everything Christmas will premiere on the Hallmark Channel on Friday, November 10 at 8/7c.

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  • Good Witch star Rebecca Dalton headlines new Hallmark Christmas movie

    Good Witch star Rebecca Dalton headlines new Hallmark Christmas movie

    Good Witch star Rebecca Dalton will headline the new Hallmark Christmas movie Christmas By Design. In the movie, she plays a designer who gets the career opportunity of a lifetime and ends up falling in love.

    “Charlotte (Rebecca Dalton) heads back to her hometown and finds her work, and her heart, inspired by Spencer’s (Jonathan Keltz) love of the holidays in the all-new ‘Christmas by Design,’” reads a promotional post on Hallmark Channel’s Facebook page.

    New Hallmark Christmas movie

    In Christmas By Design, Dalton stars as Charlotte, a luxury fashion designer who works tirelessly to make a name for herself and her New York City boutique, Alastair. She is thrilled when she finds out she is a finalist in a competition to create a Christmas-themed collection for the home and family brand of the prestigious Warwick department store.

    The only problem is, Charlotte is just not that into Christmas. She can barely remember the last time she put aside her work long enough to visit with her family. When a pipe bursts in her apartment, she takes it as a sign that she should go home and experience a family Christmas that to inspire her next design.

    When she arrives in her hometown, she gets dragged into the town’s annual 12-days-of-Elfcapades event. She meets a handsome mechanic (played by Jonathan Keltz), who helps run the festivities.

    Sarah Power, Catherine Bell, and Kat Barrell on Hallmark Channel's Good Witch

    Despite a rocky start, the two form a deep connection. Charlotte gets the creative spark she so desperately needs to inspire a new Christmas design, one that is completely different from anything she’s done before.

    About the cast

    Rebecca Dalton made her professional debut on the Canadian series Unnatural History. She went on to appear in the TV shows The L.A. Complex, Degrassi: Minis, Saving Hope, Suits, and Nurses.

    From 2015 to 2019 she played Tara Russell on the Hallmark series Good Witch. She has also starred in the movies A Perfect Christmas (2016), Christmas Wedding Planner (2017), Christmas in Paris (2019), The Santa Squad (2020), A Honeymoon to Remember (2021), Lemonade Stand Romance (2022), From Italy With Amore (2022), A Tiny Home Christmas (2022), and Dream Wedding (2023).

    Jonathan Letz got his start on the TV series Radio Free Roscoe. He has appeared in Degrassi: The Next Generation, CIS: Miami, Entourage, Murdoch Mysteries, Republic of Doyle, and Reign.

    He starred in the romantic comedies Once Upon a Prince (2018), Love at Look Lodge (2020), and Fit For a Prince (2021).

    Christmas By Design will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Friday, October 27 at 8/7c.

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  • How Hallmark launched one of the most popular Halloween movie franchises in the world

    How Hallmark launched one of the most popular Halloween movie franchises in the world

    Hallmark may be well known for its Christmas movies but the company has also has one of the most popular Halloween movie franchises on TV. In 2008 the company released a movie called The Good Witch. Starring British actress Catherine Bell, the film told the story of a mysterious woman who moved to a small town to live in an old mansion that locals believed was haunted.

    Though the townspeople were wary of the newcomer at first, eventually her kindness and generosity won them over. The movie was so popular with fans that the network made 12 in the series and even launched a TV show based on the characters.

    Halloween movie

    Rod Spence is the creator of the Good Witch characters. In an interview on the Keep Heartland Strong YouTube channel, he talked about how he came to work for Hallmark.

    In 2004, he was trying to sell action-movie screenplays when his agent suggested he take a phone meeting with a Hallmark executive. She told Spence that the network liked to do holiday-themed movies but that they always struggled with Halloween.

    “I said, ‘Well let me take a shot at that, let me see what I can come up with,’” Spence said. “So I hung up the phone and an amazing thing happened. Within 45 minutes I had the I had the basic idea for The Good Witch.”

    Though he finished the script that year, it took another three years before Hallmark brought it to life on the small screen.

    “I kind of think this was divine timing that it just laid there for three years until Catherine Bell came along,” he said. “She was absolutely Cassie Nightingale from day one.”

    Spence said he believes the character of Cassie Nightingale was responsible for much of the franchise’s popularity.

    “The key to Cassie’s character for me, and what made her so unique and successful is very simple: She’s a woman that no matter who comes to her or what situation comes to her she always responds with unconditional love,” Spence said. “That’s the whole key and that’s what makes her so unique. And you can do so much with that.”

    The TV series

    The films proved so popular that in 2015 Hallmark launched a TV series based on the characters. The show ran for seven seasons until Hallmark abruptly cancelled it in 2021. Goodies have been trying to get the show back on the air ever since.

    Though Spence doesn’t believe the series will come back, he said it’s likely that Hallmark will make a movie featuring Cassie Nightingale and her family, he said. Spence even volunteered to write the script.

    “If Hallmark needs a writer for the next Good Witch movie, give me a call!” he said. “I would certainly love to do that.”

    For a complete list of the Good Witch movies, click here.

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  • A complete list of the movies in the Good Witch series (and how to watch them)

    A complete list of the movies in the Good Witch series (and how to watch them)

    Hallmark introduced fans to Cassie Nightingale in the 2008 movie The Good Witch. Played by British actress Catherine Bell, the character developed a loyal fan base and 11 more movies would follow. In 2015, the network created a TV series based on the character, which ran for seven seasons until Hallmark abruptly cancelled it in 2021.

    Here are the movies in order and links to where they can be streamed.

    1. The Good Witch (2008)

    Cassandra “Cassie” Nightingale is a raven-haired enchantress with a hint of magic who moves into the town of Middleton’s haunted Grey House. As if that weren’t unusual enough, she also opens Bell, Book and Candle, a wondrous shop full of unique items. For some, including the captivated Police Chief Jake Russell, Cassie is a breath of fresh air and a love potion that spreads throughout the town. But before she can truly become part of Middleton, she will need to win over some of the more skeptical neighbors who don’t approve of her unique ways.

    2. The Good Witch’s Garden (2009)

    Cassie has settled into Middleton and is busy making a home of Grey House. Her boyfriend, Sheriff Jake Russell, and his kids are happy to have Cassie in the neighborhood, but she has yet to gain the trust of some people in town. Before long, a stranger rolls into town with papers entitling him to legal ownership of Grey House. Before she knows it, Cassie is left without a home and is convinced Middleton isn’t where she belongs. Ultimately, everyone will learn holding on too tightly to something can make it more likely that it will slip through your fingers.

    3. The Good Witch’s Gift (2010)

    Cassandra Nightingale always has a few tricks up her sleeve but is surprised when her handsome sweetheart, Police Chief Jake Russell, proposes. Getting into the spirit of the season, they set their wedding date for Christmas Eve–only six days away! As the two hurry to plan the wedding, trouble clouds their happiness when a mysterious man from Jake’s past returns to town.

    A Good Witch marathon on Hallmark Drama will feature The Good Witch's Garden.
    The Good Witch’s Garden (Image: Hallmark Media)

    4. The Good Witch’s Family (2011)

    Life is going well for Cassie as she settles into marriage with Middleton Police Chief Jake Russell and as stepmom to Brandon and Lori. But evil soon blows into town in the form of Cassie’s long-lost cousin Abigail, who whips up wickedness like a tornado. The once peaceful Russell family bickers night and day; Jake is fired after an argument with the Mayor over a bridge expansion; and Martha, the Mayor’s wife and town busybody, walks out on her long marriage. As the town divides further over neighborhood expansion, Cassie is drafted to run for Mayor. Within her once-happy marriage, her family is unraveling, and Abigail’s diabolical “double, double, toil and trouble” is the apex of Cassie’s misery. What’s a good witch to do?

    5. The Good Witch’s Charm (2012)

    Good Witch Cassie Nightingale is back to her bewitching ways, but this time she’s also juggling a newborn daughter and her job as town Mayor. With such a busy schedule she and her husband, town sheriff Jake Russell, aren’t getting much sleep. Hoping for a break, Cassie plans a much-needed vacation with her new family. But things go awry when a crime wave sweeps through town and an investigative reporter tries to ruin Cassie’s image after a video of her magically disappearing turns up on the internet. Supported by her loyal family and friends, Cassie must rely on her signature charm to put a stop to the troubles before they completely destroy the town, and a Good Witch’s reputation!

    6. The Good Witch’s Destiny (2013)

    All Cassie Nightingale wants for her birthday is for her family and friends to be together. While her husband Jake suggests an intimate dinner at a fancy restaurant in their hometown of Middleton, Cassie would rather have a party at The Grey House, with all her loved ones in attendance. As Cassie’s special day is approaching, her stepdaughter Lori discovers disturbing parallels between Cassie and Cassie’s great aunt, nicknamed the Grey Lady, who disappeared at her own birthday party years before. With signs of a curse looming over her, it’s clear that Cassie needs to conjure up more than a little magic to make things right again. Is there birthday magic in the air or is it a birthday curse?

    Catherine Bell and Chris Potter in the 2010 Hallmark movie The Good Witch's Gift. Screenwriter Rod Spence he believes a new Good Witch movie could be coming to Hallmark. (Image: Hallmark Media)
    The Good Witch’s Gift (Image: Hallmark Media)

    7. The Good Witch’s Wonder (2014)

    Cassie Nightingale finds herself with only days to plan her stepson Brandon’s wedding to Tara when the happy couple unexpectedly pushes up the date for their big day. Meanwhile, Martha, the newly elected mayor of Middleton has roped Cassie into chairing the silent auction to raise much-needed funds for her pet project, the Middleton Botanical Gardens. Audrey, a new arrival in town, stops by Cassie’s store, Bell, Book and Candle, and the two instantly bond. Needing help in the store, Cassie immediately hires Audrey as her new store associate and she even pitches in and helps Cassie organize the auction. But, Audrey is hiding a secret past and suspicions start to swirl around her when the donated auction items are missing. With the use of her “special” powers, as well as some teamwork by the mayor and Jake, her husband and the local chief of police, will they conjure up the truth before it’s too late?

    8. Good Witch Halloween (2015)

    With Halloween fast approaching, Cassie and the town of Middleton are hard at work preparing for the annual Harvest Festival. This year, Cassie is transforming Grey House into a delightful haunted house, and when a handsome stranger checks in, the family members find themselves on edge.
    9. Good Witch: Secrets of Grey House (2016)

    The author of a series of magic-and-romance-filled novels comes to Grey House to celebrate the release of her newest book, titled “The Enchantress Unites.” But it’s Cassie who ends up doing the uniting, bringing together the people of Middleton to put on the special event while also coming to a special realization about Sam.

    A Good Witch marathon on Hallmark this weekend will feature The Good Witch's Wonder
    The Good Witch’s Wonder (Image: Hallmark Media)

    9. Good Witch: Secrets of Grey House (2016)

    The author of a series of magic-and-romance-filled novels comes to Grey House to celebrate the release of her newest book, titled “The Enchantress Unites.” But it’s Cassie who ends up doing the uniting, bringing together the people of Middleton to put on the special event while also coming to a special realization about Sam.

    10. Good Witch: Spellbound (2017)

    Good Witch is back for a magical Halloween 2 part special! A long-forgotten prophecy is unearthed in the basement of city hall and – when the things that were predicted to happen start to come true – the people of Middleton begin to fear that this might be the year of a horrible curse that could change their lives forever. As Halloween night approaches, Cassie comes to realize that she and Sam might be the key to ending the curse and saving their town.

    11. Good Witch: Tale of Two Hearts (2018)

    Cassie and Sam put all their energy into the bicentennial Halloween Harvest Festival. Everyone in town prepares for the festival’s competition with rival town Blairsville, especially Grace and Nick, who realize this is their last Halloween in Middleton. New mayor Abigail tries to outdo former mayor Martha, creating rivalries within the town as well. When a 100-carat ruby known as The Heart of Middleton is stolen from the museum where the festival’s gala is to be held, the town’s Halloween romance suffers, and Cassie suspects a Grey House guest is the culprit. She also believes it will all magically work out during the Halloween gala – one filled with romance and surprises that not even Cassie’s magic intuition can predict.

    12. Good Witch: Curse From a Rose (2019)

    The Good Witch meets her match when Cassie’s long-lost college roommate, Autumn Delaney, makes an unexpected visit to Grey House on a mission to disrupt Middleton’s Halloween festivities.

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  • Kat Barrell just finished directing a Christmas movie starring her Good Witch castmates

    Kat Barrell just finished directing a Christmas movie starring her Good Witch castmates

    In a recent appearance on Instagram, Good Witch star Kat Barrell said she just finished directing a Christmas movie starring some of her castmates from Good Witch.

    “It was amazing,” Barrell said. “It was all-consuming between the directing and the trying to be present with my family. It was a mad dash for the past two months but we did it.”

    Barrell did not share the title or a premiere date. She said she will begin sharing details about the movie and snippets in the coming months.

    Kat Barrell

    A graduate of the George Brown Classical Theatre School in Canada, Kat Barrell had roles on Saving Hope, Reign, and Star Trek: Discovery before landing the role of Officer Nicole Haught on the SyFy series Wynonna Earp. She won People’s Choice Awards in 2018 and 2020 for her work on the series and also received a Canadian Screen Award in 2020.

    Barrell appeared in the Hallmark movie A Nutcracker Christmas (2016) before being cast on Hallmark’s hit series Good Witch in 2020. She joined the cast in Season 6 as Joy Harper, whose mother was a cousin of Cassie Nightingale (played by Catherine Bell). She continued to play Joy until Hallmark abruptly canceled the show during Season 7.

    In 2022, she made two Christmas movies for Hallmark: A Godwink Christmas: Miracle of Love and A Tale of Two Christmases.

    Directing

    Barrell has a production company called Blue Eyed Bandit and has directed and produced several short films, including Dissecting Gwen and Cannonball.

    Her Christmas movie was made with Vortex Media, a company she has worked with before.

    “I knew about 80 percent of the crew,” she said, adding it made for a wonderful experience.

    Vortex makes movies for Hallmark Media, Lifetime, and Heart & Home Super Channel (among others). However, Barrell didn’t say which network would feature the film.

    Balancing work and family

    Barrell took fan questions during the brief appearance and even spoke in French with the help of her husband, actor Ray Galletti, who was off camera. She also talked about her 17-month-old son, Ronin.

    “He is amazing,” she said. “He’s chatting up a storm.”

    We will continue to update this story as more details become available.

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  • Screenwriter Rod Spence says a new Good Witch movie could be coming to Hallmark

    Screenwriter Rod Spence says a new Good Witch movie could be coming to Hallmark

    The man who created Cassie Nightingale said he believes a new Good Witch movie could be coming to Hallmark. In an interview on the Keep Heartland Strong YouTube channel, screenwriter Rod Spence said he doesn’t think the TV series will return but Hallmark will probably make more movies.

    “I think there’s a very good chance it could come back as a movie or a series of movies,” Spence said.

    Two of the show’s stars have made similar comments, leading Goodies to hope they will get to see their favorite characters onscreen again.

    The Good Witch

    Spence wrote the screenplay for The Good Witch back in 2004. He was trying to sell action-movie screenplays when his agent suggested he take a phone meeting with a Hallmark executive. She told Spence that the network liked to do holiday-themed movies but that they always struggled with Halloween.

    “I said, ‘Well let me take a shot at that, let me see what I can come up with,’” Spence said. “So I hung up the phone and an amazing thing happened. Within 45 minutes I had the I had the basic idea for The Good Witch.”

    Though he finished the script that year, it took another three years before Hallmark brought it to life on the small screen.

    “I kind of think this was divine timing that it just laid there for three years until Catherine Bell came along,” he said. “She was absolutely Cassie Nightingale from day one.”

    Catherine Bell in the 2008 Hallmark movie The Good Witch, the first of the Good Witch movies. The actress recently hinted that another Good Witch movie might be in the works. (Image: Hallmark Media)
    Catherine Bell in the 2008 Hallmark movie The Good Witch, the first of the Good Witch movies. The actress recently hinted that another Good Witch movie might be in the works. (Image: Hallmark Media)

    The movie was so successful that Hallmark commissioned a sequel. Spence offered to write a third movie for the series, which Hallmark wanted to make as a Christmas movie. In The Good Witch’s Gift, Cassie Nightingale got married in a Christmas-themed wedding.

    The network made a series of movies featuring the characters Spence created. In 2015, Hallmark premiered a TV series based on the movies.

    The magic of Cassie Nightingale

    Spence said he believes the character of Cassie Nightingale was responsible for much of the franchise’s popularity.

    “The key to Cassie’s character for me, and what made her so unique and successful is very simple: She’s a woman that no matter who comes to her or what situation comes to her she always responds with unconditional love,” Spence said. “That’s the whole key and that’s what makes her so unique. And you can do so much with that.”

    New Good Witch movie

    Hallmark shocked fans when it announced it was canceling the series in July 2021. Goodies have been trying to get the show back on the air ever since, something Spence doesn’t believe will happen.

    “It just doesn’t make any business sense to do that as a series,” Spence said.

    He explained that costs associated with a TV show tend to increase over the years, and without high enough ratings, the network can’t justify keeping it alive. But it’s highly likely that Hallmark will make a movie featuring Cassie Nightingale and her family, he said. Spence even volunteered to write the script.

    “If Hallmark needs a writer for the next Good Witch movie, give me a call!” he said. “I would certainly love to do that.”

    To watch the full interview with Rod Spence on @KeepHeartlandStrong, click here.

  • A trailer for Hallmark’s new TV show The Way Home raises questions among fans

    A trailer for Hallmark’s new TV show The Way Home raises questions among fans

    Hallmark’s new TV show The Way Home is set to debut in January and already fans have some questions. The network released a trailer for the series, which will star Andie MacDowell and Chyler Leigh. When it posted the clip to social media, fans immediately raised questions.

    “Every time we get interested in and devoted to a series it gets canceled,” wrote one fan in the Facebook comments section.

    “No more series for me,” wrote another. “I just start watching then they cancel them.”

    Other fans commented on how similar the show seemed to other Hallmark series.

    “A mysterious and beautiful woman with magical powers? Sounds like Good Witch to me,” wrote another.

    Hallmark’s new TV show

    The Way Home follows the lives of three generations of women – Kat Landry (Leigh), her 15-year-old daughter Alice (Sadie Laflamme-Snow) and Kat’s mother, Del (MacDowell). More than 20 years prior, tragic events prompted Kat to move away from her small, Canadian farm town of Port Haven. She and her mother became estranged for reasons Kat has never shared with her daughter.

    With Kat’s marriage coming to an end and having just been laid off from her job, she decides to return home after receiving an unexpected letter from Del urging her to come back. Although Alice is not happy with the decision, Kat and her daughter arrive at her family’s farm, though the reunion isn’t what Kat had envisioned. As the three generations of women slowly work on finding their footing as a family, they embark on an enlightening – and surprising – journey none of them could have imagined.

    Though Hallmark has been vague with many details, the network shared that time travel is a big part of the story.

    “What if you could see your family before it was broken?” says the narrator in the trailer Hallmark released. “What if the only way forward is to go back?”

    The series is being written by the mother-daughter team Heather Conkie and Alexandra Clarke. The pair, who wrote the script for the Disney Channel movie Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars, have also collaborated on the award-winning series Heartland.

    Andie MacDowell returning to Hallmark Channel in new TV series

    MacDowell’s return to Hallmark

    From 2013 to 2015, MacDowell starred as Judge Olivia Lockhart on the Hallmark series Cedar Cove. Based on the books by Debbie Macomber, the show followed the residents of a small town on Puget Sound in Washington State. The ensemble cast also included Sarah Smyth, Dylan Neal, Teryl Rothery, Brennan Elliott, Barbara Niven, Cindy Busby, and Jesse Hutch.

    Hallmark canceled the series after three seasons. In the past two years, Hallmark has canceled two other series. Good Witch ended after seven seasons. Chesapeake Shores finished after six. Fans have been trying to get both series back on the air.

    “I’m so disappointed the great series we had were canceled,” wrote a fan on Facebook. “I wish another channel would pick them up the actors didn’t want their series to end.”

    “Sounds interesting, looking forward to it. Please give it a chance before canceling,” wrote a fan.

    The Way Home will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Sunday, January 15 at 9/8c.

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  • James Denton says “the odds are decent” for a return of Good Witch

    James Denton says “the odds are decent” for a return of Good Witch

    James Denton thinks there’s a good chance for a return of Good Witch. In a recent interview, the actor said the odds are decent that Hallmark could bring Good Witch back for another movie or another season.

    “I think there’s a chance. I know [with] the popularity of the show and the circumstances under which it ended sort of abruptly that it would not surprise me if we revisit it,” said Denton, who played Dr. Sam Radford in the show and the movies that made up the Good Witch franchise.

    Return of Good Witch

    Fans have been clamoring for a return of Good Witch since the show was abruptly canceled in July 2021. Only three episodes of Season 7 were left to air when Hallmark announced it would not renew it for another season.

    “Good Witch has enchanted viewers for over a decade,” said Randy Pope, Hallmark’s senior vice president of programming and development. “We…extend our gratitude and thanks to the entire cast and crew for their dedication and hard work.”

    Fans felt blindsided by the decision, especially since it seemed to come out of nowhere. They immediately began several petitions on change.org and began sending letters and emails to Hallmark asking the network to keep the show on the air.

    When the series became popular on Netflix, fans asked the streaming platform to consider making the show. Fans also approached Bill Abbott, former Hallmark CEO, asking him to consider reviving the show on Great American Family, a new network he recently started.

    After a year of campaigning, fans thought they had made progress when a Hallmark exec hinted at a return of the franchise.

    During an appearance at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour, Lisa Hamilton-Daly, executive vice president of programming at Hallmark Media, told reporters the network was considering what to do with several of its franchises.

    “As far as Good Witch, I think we’re always interested in thinking about what we can do with our most popular IP,” Hamilton-Daly said.

    Catherine Bell in the 2008 Hallmark movie The Good Witch, the first of the Good Witch movies. The actress recently hinted that another Good Witch movie might be in the works. (Image: Hallmark Media)
    Catherine Bell in the 2008 Hallmark movie The Good Witch, the first of the Good Witch movies. The actress recently hinted that another Good Witch movie might be in the works. (Image: Hallmark Media)

    Catherine Bell weighs in

    Catherine Bell, who played Cassie Nightingale in the movies and the show, sparked excitement in a recent video on the Cameo app in which she said a movie might be in the works.

    “Hopefully we’ll get a movie done here one of these days and bring all those characters back,” Bell said in her message to two fans who recently got married. “That is the hope we are working on but we’ll see if it actually happens but working on it.”

    Denton confirmed the possibility of a Good Witch return during an interview with TV Insider to promote his latest Hallmark film, Perfect Harmony.

    “Nobody’s made me an offer,” he clarified. “There’s nothing in the works, but I think the odds are decent just because I know the network respects the franchise. It ran for 14 years between the movies and the series. So I think there’s a decent chance, but I had to say in the same breath there is nothing in the immediate works.”

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  • Good Witch fans accuse Hallmark Channel of lying for publicity

    Good Witch fans accuse Hallmark Channel of lying for publicity

    Fans of the canceled Hallmark series Good Witch are angry after a network exec mentioned the series in a recent interview but then failed to respond to questions about whether the series was coming back.

    During an appearance at the Television Critics Association summer press tour, Lisa Hamilton-Daly, executive vice president of programming at Hallmark Media, told reporters the network was considering what to do with several of its franchises.

    “As far as Good Witch, I think we’re always interested in thinking about what we can do with our most popular IP,” Hamilton-Daly said. “I can’t announce anything specific about that. And that also holds for Signed, Sealed, Delivered.”

    The comment set off a wave of speculation on social media about whether Good Witch was being brought back. The show was canceled in July 2021. Since then, fans have been petitioning to get the show back on the air. In addition to asking Hallmark to revive the series, members of the Save Good Witch campaign have directed inquiries to Netflix and Great American Family, a new network started by Hallmark’s former CEO Bill Abbott.

    Good Witch fans accuse Hallmark of lying about the show for publicity.
    A fan weighs in on Twitter

    Good Witch publicity

    Following Hamilton-Daly’s comments, fans began contacting Hallmark to see if the show was coming back. But Goodies say they were met with form responses, silence, or even blocking of their emails.

    Now fans are convinced that Hallmark mentioned the show just for publicity.

    “Tired of you hinting around. Make the proper decisions for #Goodies, cast & crew,” one fan wrote on Facebook

    “You cancelled #GOODWITCH because it ‘reached a natural conclusion’ but now you are ‘thinking about what we can do with it’… WHAT ARE YOU PLAYING?!” wrote another.

    Another fan weighs in.

    About the show

    Good Witch ran from 2015 to 2021 on Hallmark Channel. The show was a spinoff of a series of movies the network made starring actress Catherine Bell. In the first of the movies, a mysterious woman moves to a small town named Middleton and takes up residence in an allegedly haunted house. Though the locals are wary of her at first, her kindness and charm win them over.

    For many fans, it was the spiritual message behind the story lines that inspired them. On some social media posts, fans shared their favorite quotes from the series, including, “Taking a step in a new direction doesn’t have to be perfect, it just needs to be a step,” and, “If you spend too much time thinking about what’s bad, you may lose what’s good.”

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  • Hallmark exec hints at return of Good Witch and Signed, Sealed, Delivered

    Hallmark exec hints at return of Good Witch and Signed, Sealed, Delivered

    A top Hallmark executive made a cryptic comment at a recent industry event hinting at the return of Hallmark’s Good Witch and Signed, Sealed, Delivered movie series. During an appearance at the Television Critics Association summer press tour, Lisa Hamilton-Daly, executive vice president of programming at Crown Media Family Networks, told reporters the network was considering what to do with several of its franchises.

    “As far as Good Witch, I think we’re always interested in thinking about what we can do with our most popular IP,” Hamilton-Daly said. “I can’t announce anything specific about that. And that also holds for Signed, Sealed, Delivered.”

    Return of Good Witch?

    Fans were shocked by the comment. In July 2021, Hallmark announced it was canceling the beloved TV series Good Witch with only three episodes left in Season 7.

    “Good Witch has enchanted viewers for over a decade,” said Randy Pope, Hallmark’s senior vice president of programming and development, in a statement from the network. “We…extend our gratitude and thanks to the entire cast and crew for their dedication and hard work.”

    What's on the Hallmark schedule this weekend?Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Vows We Have Made.
    Eric Mabius, Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe, and Kristin Booth are also available for video messaging. (Image: Hallmark Media)

    Since then, fans have worked tirelessly to get the show back on the air. In addition to launching campaigns on social media, they have approached Netflix and even a new network started by former Crown Media CEO Bill Abbott, asking for someone to pick up where Hallmark left off.

    Hamilton-Daly’s comment sent off a wave of speculation among Goodies about whether the network was hinting at bringing the series back.

    “Yes. PLEASE,” wrote one fan on the Facebook page Save Good Witch.

    “There’s an established audience base and built-in anticipation so what are you waiting for?” another wrote.

    Signed, Sealed, Delivered

    Hamilton-Daly’s words also set off speculation among POstables (fans of Signed, Sealed, Delivered) that another movie might be in the works. The latest in the 12-movie franchise, Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Vows We Have Made aired in October 2021.

    Created by Touched By An Angel’s Martha Williamson, the movies followed the work of four employees in the postal service’s Lost Letters Department. The films star Eric Mabius, Kristin Booth, Crystal Lowe, and Geoff Gustafson.

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  • Good Witch fans make heroic efforts to bring back the Hallmark series

    Good Witch fans make heroic efforts to bring back the Hallmark series

    Good Witch fans marked the one-year anniversary of the show’s finale on Saturday, making thousands of posts on social media in support of the series.

    “Good Witch needs a new home!” one fan wrote on Twitter, with photos of the cast.

    Hallmark aired the final episode of its popular series Good Witch on July 9, 2021. The show, which starred Catherine Bell and James Denton, was beloved by fans around the world, who enjoyed its positive messages and uplifting storylines.

    Fans have been working hard to get the series back on the air ever since Hallmark announced — with only three episodes left in the season — that the show was canceled.

    Now, as the series grows in popularity on Netflix, and a new network has joined the cable lineup, Goodies are hopeful that the show can find a new home.

    Fans post in support of Good Witch
    Fans post in support of bringing back the series Good Witch.

    Save Good Witch campaign

    In addition to pages on Facebook, fans have started a Save Good Witch website. (Here’s a link. It’s awesome.) The site shares the thousands of graphics fans have made in support of the show and describes the different campaigns fans have participated in to bring the series back to live television.

    The creators have also come up with a number of storylines for the series moving forward.

    “#GOODWITCH has changed our lives, made us better people and showed us how to get through the many challenges life has to offer,” reads one post on the website.

    The series got its start in a series of movies produced by Hallmark, starring Catherine Bell as a mysterious woman named Cassie Nightingale who helps her friends and neighbors with good advice, kindness, and a little bit of magic. The movies proved so popular that Crown Media created a TV series based on the franchise, which debuted in 2015. The show ran for seven seasons before Crown Media decided to cancel it.

    Moving forward

    Fans have petitioned Hallmark to reinstate the show. They have also asked Netflix and GAC Family, a new network started by former Crown Media CEO Bill Abbott, to bring the series back.

    “At least make a spinoff of the show and base it on Cassie and Sam traveling the world and checking in from time to time in Middleton with everyone in town and maybe with George and the kids and even Grace,” one wrote on social media.

    Catherine Bell caused a stir when she asked fans to name a character she played that they miss the most.

    “Cassie is my absolute favorite,” wrote one fan. “I love this character for all the positivity, resilience and warmth she radiates.”

    “The Good Witch was one of my all-time favorite shows and the movies as well,” another wrote. “I was so sad when they were over!”

    Actress Kyana Teresa also tweeted in support of a convention for Good Witch fans.

    “A #Goodies con would be EPIC! How do we make this happen?!” she wrote.

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  • Catherine Bell shares mysterious photo one year after premiere of final season of Hallmark Channel show Good Witch

    Catherine Bell shares mysterious photo one year after premiere of final season of Hallmark Channel show Good Witch

    Fans of the Hallmark Channel show Good Witch took to social media recently to mark the anniversary of the show’s seventh and final season premiere.

    “Yesterday was one of the worst days since this nightmare began…,” wrote one fan on Instagram. “#GOODIES were all day thinking of what we had last year that we don´t have now: our escape we need more than ever before, our hope, our relax hour, our HOME, our FAMILY!”

    The show ran from 2015 to 2021 on Hallmark Channel. It was a spinoff of a series of movies the network made starring actress Catherine Bell. In the first of the movies, a mysterious woman moves to a small town named Middleton and takes up residence in an allegedly haunted house. Though the locals are wary of her at first, her kindness and charm win them over.

    For many fans, it was the spiritual message behind the story lines that inspired them. On some social media posts, fans shared their favorite quotes from the series, including, “Taking a step in a new direction doesn’t have to be perfect, it just needs to be a step,” and, “If you spend too much time thinking about what’s bad, you may lose what’s good.”

    Catherine Bell posted a photo to social media near the anniversary of the premiere of the Hallmark Channel show Good Witch's Season 7 premiere
    (Image: Instagram)

    Catherine Bell joins in

    Even the star’s show got caught up in the anniversary. On Instagram and Twitter she shared a photo of herself in a witch’s hat holding a broom with the message, “Don’t make me flip my witch switch” painted on it.

    “This made my day!” wrote a fan in the comments section. “Missing our Cassie so much!”

    In response, Bell wrote: “…I guess I was missing her too!”

    A fan responds to Catherine Bell's social media post.
    (Image: Instagram)

    Hallmark Channel show Good Witch canceled

    Hallmark Channel stunned fans when it announced in July 2021 that the seventh season would be the show’s last.

    “Good Witch has enchanted viewers for over a decade,” said Randy Pope, Hallmark’s senior vice president of programming and development. “We…extend our gratitude and thanks to the entire cast and crew for their dedication and hard work.”

    Fans immediately began organizing to keep the show on the air. They began several petitions on change.org and started posting on Instagram and Twitter in an attempt to save the show.

    When Hallmark didn’t respond to the requests, fans turned their attention to Netflix, which had just agreed to produce an additional season of Manifest, an NBC series that had been canceled.

    They also approached former Crown Media CEO Bill Abbott, who had been in charge of programming at Hallmark when Good Witch first aired. They petitioned him to revive the show on his new network, GAC Family.

    Netflix popularity

    The movement to save the show has grown in strength and numbers as the series was released for streaming on Netflix. Viewers from around the world who hadn’t been able to watch the series on Hallmark were able to watch it on the streaming platform. New fans hoping for another season of the show have joined forces with established Goodies, creating even more petitions.

    Neither Netflix nor GAC Media, Abbott’s new company, have said whether they plan on reviving the show. Hallmark has already canceled another one of its series, Chesapeake Shores, which is currently in production for its final season.

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  • Hallmark’s Good Witch finds new legion of fans on Netflix

    Hallmark’s Good Witch finds new legion of fans on Netflix

    The campaign to save Hallmark Channel’s Good Witch grows

    It’s been nine months since Hallmark Channel announced it would no longer produce the series Good Witch. The show, which starred Catherine Bell and James Denton, had been on the air for seven seasons and had attracted a dedicated group of fans who called themselves “Goodies.”

    The show has found a renewed popularity on Netflix, where it continues to trend among the most-watched shows on the streaming service.

    This has encouraged the Goodies who have been working since the series finale to get the show back on the air.

    Fans have also been buoyed by the responses they’ve received from cast members Scott Cavalheiro, Nicole Wilson, and Kyana Teresa to social media posts in support of getting the show back on the air.

    “We have heard even more recently over the last week from the cast and crew via social media likes and acknowledgment to our pleas for support,” said Lisa Gursky-Choi. “With all seven seasons on Netflix, and viewers acknowledging how much they love binging this show, it’s not surprising they are continuing to trend everyday.”

    History of Good Witch

    The franchise got its started with the 2008 movie Good Witch. Starring Catherine Bell, the film followed a mysterious woman named Cassie Nightingale who moves to a small town called Middleton. Though at first the locals are wary of her, she is so kind and helpful that they soon begin seeking her out for advice.

    A TV series based on the characters premiered on Hallmark Channel in 2015, with James Denton playing Cassie’s new neighbor, Dr. Sam Radford. More movies were added to the franchise each season the show aired.

    The Save Good Witch campaign

    Fans were shocked when Hallmark Channel announced on July that the series was coming to an end. Hallmark executives said the show had run its course.

    “Good Witch has enchanted viewers for over a decade,” said Randy Pope, Hallmark’s senior vice president of programming and development. “We…extend our gratitude and thanks to the entire cast and crew for their dedication and hard work.”

    But fans disagreed and started a social media campaign to get the show back on the air. At first, they targeted Hallmark Channel, then turned their attention to Netflix. More recently, they appealed to GAC Media, the company started by former Crown Media CEO Bill Abbott.

    Gursky-Choi, who has spearheaded the Save Good Witch campaign, says Goodies are feeling new optimism thanks to the series trending on Netflix.

    “We have reached a new level in this campaign,” she said.

    Below are some of the graphics shared by the #SaveGoodWitch campaign. They are were put together from comments fans shared on Facebook and in response to articles about the show:

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