Jennifer Love Hewitt Returns To Lifetime For Tentpole Holiday Movie; Brian Hallisay Co-Stars

Nellie Andreeva
·2-min read

EXCLUSIVE: Jennifer Love Hewitt (9-1-1) is starring in, directing and executive producing Lifetime’s The Holiday Junkie (wt). The film, inspired by Hewitt’s personal relationship with the holiday and the loss of her mother, is positioned as a tentpole of the network’s 2024 It’s a Wonderful Lifetime movie slate.

This marks Hewitt’s return to Lifetime. She headlined and produced the hit 2010 original movie The Client List. Its success spawned a TV series, also starring and executive produced by Hewitt, which ran for two seasons.

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The Holiday Junkie (wt) will be a family affair, with Hewitt’s husband, Brian Hallisay, co-starring and their children will also appearing in the film.

It follows the decorating and planning service company run by Andie (Hewitt) and her mother Mimi. After Mimi passes away, Andie is forced to face her first Christmas without her mother and carry The Holiday Junkie torch on her own. Despite the challenges, Andie may also find some love at Christmas along the way!

“Jennifer is beloved by Lifetime and our viewers,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, EVP, Head of Programming Genres for A&E, Lifetime and LMN. “We’re excited to work with her again on this special project near and dear to her and to have it as one of our cornerstones for our It’s a Wonderful Lifetime slate.”

The Holiday Junkie is produced for by Elman Films in association with MarVista Entertainment. Julianna Hays, Larry Grimaldi, Hannah Pillemer and Fernando Szew executive produce for MarVista. Neil Elman and Kate Tumanova produce for Elman Films. Hewitt directs from a script written by Anna White based on a story by Hewitt; Hewitt and White also executive produce.

“To be able to direct and be in this movie with my husband is such a special opportunity. And to be back home with Lifetime feels as right as Christmas magic!” said Hewitt.

Last year, Hewitt launched the marketing and consumer brand The Holiday Junkie. Hewitt is releasing a similarly themed book as the film, titled Inheriting Magic, due out Dec. 10 through BenBella Books.

Hewitt stars in ABC’s 9-1-1. Her TV resume also includes Party of Five, Time of Your Life, Criminal Minds, Hot in Cleveland and the Hallmark film The Lost Valentine. She is repped by Vault Entertainment and Hirsch Wallerstein. Hallisay, whose credits include The Client List series, 9-1-1 and Revenge, is repped by Entertainment 360 and Jackoway Austen.

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