Hallmark favorite Lori Loughlin will star in her first romantic comedy for rival Great American Family in January as part of the network’s annual winter programming event.
The movie, Fall Into Winter, will be her second stint on the network following last year’s broadcast of When Hope Calls Christmas, a one-hour special based on the series When Hope Calls.
Loughlin is best known among Hallmark fans for her role as Abigail Stanton in Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart. When Hope Calls is a spinoff of that series and debuted on Hallmark before switching to rival Great American Family for its second season.
In Fall Into Winter, Loughlin plays Keely, a woman who is upset when her brother sells his half of the family-owned candy shop to his best friend (and her nemesis), Brooks.
“Lori is a genre-defining star that I have had the honor to call a close friend and collaborator for more than 15 years,” said Bill Abbott, president and CEO of Great American Media, the parent company of Great American Family. “We have a shared vision for creating meaningful and memorable movies that resonate with our passionate fans, and I look forward to welcoming her back to Great American Family to anchor our 2023 winter programming slate.”
It is the latest comeback project for Loughlin following her pleading guilty to a college admissions bribery scandal that grabbed national headlines.
Abbott said he believes her fans want her back on television. He told Variety that he talks to her “three times a week” and would like to see her star in more content on Great American Family.
“She’s America’s sweetheart, regardless of whatever happened,” Abbott told Variety. “At the end of the day, she represents all that is positive about entertainment. … She’s beloved, and for good reason. We’re very proud of our association with her and want to make her part of the fabric.”
Another Hallmark favorite, Candace Cameron Bure, signed with Great American Media earlier this year.
Abbott previously served as the president and CEO of Hallmark Media.