Danica McKellar to Lead A ROYAL CHRISTMAS BALL with Choreography by DWTS’s Gleb Savchenko
By Movieguide® Contributor
Danica McKellar starred in her first Christmas flick in 2015, and she’s still full of holiday spunk as she performs in her upcoming movie, A ROYAL CHRISTMAS BALL.
“Danica McKellar (A ROYAL DATE FOR CHRISTMAS, SWING INTO ROMANCE) and Oliver Rice (FIREFLY LANE, MAGIC IN MISTLETOE) have booked their next flick for Great American Family. The duo will star in A ROYAL CHRISTMAS BALL, with waltzes choreographed by DANCING WITH THE STARS pro Gleb Savchenko,” Deadline reported Tuesday.
The movie is a part of Great American Christmas 2024 and will premiere in November. Production begins this week.
“In A ROYAL CHRISTMAS BALL, Chelsea Jones (McKellar) is a dance instructor and studio owner in Chicago who inspires kids to find themselves through dance. Just before Christmas, Chelsea discovers a photo she’s never seen before. Chelsea thinks the young woman is her birth mother who passed away when she was only five years old. The woman is in a wedding dress tugging on the hand of a man wearing a wedding ring, but that is all that can be seen of the man Chelsea believes may be her father,” Deadline reported.
The photo’s inscription reads: “Our place, Havenshire, December 23, 1984.” Determined to find the “place” on Dec. 23, Chelsea hops on a plane and sneaks into a castle. And along the way to finding her father, she’ll have to teach a prince how to dance.
“Royal movies are among our viewers’ favorites,” said Bill Abbott, President & CEO, Great American Media. “Finding love when and where you least expect it is the heart of royal fan fiction and Danica and Oliver do a brilliant job of making heartfelt wishes come true.”
“Oliver Rice exudes a dashing Cary Elwes-vibe,” said McKellar. “Oliver grew up in London and graduated from Oxford School of Drama and brings genuine nobility to the role of Prince Phillip. I cannot wait for fans to see him in the film.”
The movie will be executive produced by WHEN CALLS THE HEART’s Brad Krevoy, along with Jimmy Townsend, Susie Belzberg Krevoy, Don McBrearty, Amy Krell, Vince Balzano and McKellar.
Deadline reported that the story is from McKellar and Marcy Holland and is written by Holland.
McKellar said on Instagram Tuesday:
“You guys!! I’m SO excited to announce my next @greatamericanfamily movie – one I’ve been working on for a few years now…! It will be my first (shared) writing credit, and the waltzes were choreographed by my #SwingIntoRomance costar and good friend, @dancingwiththestars ‘ @glebsavchenkoofficial ! 💃🕺
My costar, @olivermrice, has been incredible to work with during rehearsals and I cannot wait to share this magical Cinderella Ball-inspired story with you this holiday season!! 🎄🎬❤️👑
Now known for her Christmas movies, McKellar participated in Christmas Con 2023. She shared clips of signing autographs, meeting fans and posing with other celebrities.
“FBF to last weekend at #ChristmasCon2023! 🎄🥰” she shared. “Impossible to sum up the experience in less than a minute, but take a look for a few of many highlights, meeting incredible fans, meeting the legend @chevychase, and reuniting with friends who make Christmas movies for @greatamericanfamily, @hallmarkchannel, @lifetimetv and more! Thank you to @thats4ent for another amazing event. Hope you can join us next year! 🎄🤗🥰”
Movieguide® recently reported on another royal Great American Christmas 2024 movie, A PRINCE IN PARADISE 2:
Great American Media announced that Rhiannon Fish and Mitchell Bourke are set to return for a sequel to their 2023 movie A PRINCE IN PARADISE.
The sequel, A PRINCE IN PARADISE 2: A ROYAL PROPOSAL, follows Olivia (Fish) and Prince Alexander (Bourke) as they navigate their families, spending Christmas together at the family’s palace. Differences in culture lead to many comedic moments…
“It’s not every day you get to dress up in a prince outfit and put on an accent,” Bourke told Digital Journal after the release of the first movie. “To be given the opportunity to play such a fun and deep character in Prince Alexander was pretty surreal and a huge privilege. Especially given that what Alexander stands for is something I can relate to.”
