Holiday Movies at Discovery+: On Friday, November 11th, four new scripted features from Food Network and HGTV will debut on discovery+ just in time for the holidays.
Holiday Movies at Discovery: Films with food and home repair plots were made to appeal to viewers of the networks, and the specials showcase glittering seasonal décor, yuletide gastronomic pleasures, and blossoming romance. In addition to numerous well-known actors, network stars including Ben and Erin Napier, Bobby Flay, Hilary Farr, and Duff Goldman will also make appearances in each written title.
We’ve included every title, its lead actor/actress, and when you can expect it below.
A Christmas Open House
Holiday Movies at Discovery: Atlanta property stager Melissa Norwood (Katie Stevens of The Bold Type) teams up with her high school sweetheart, real estate agent David Phelps (Victor Rasuk of Reasonable Doubt), and local artists Henry and Sarah Wright (Ben Napier and Erin Napier of Home Town) to help get her mother’s house ready for sale and sold before the holidays. Melissa and David’s feelings for one another deepen as the stakes increase, but will their divergent life ambitions ultimately prove fatal to their budding romance? The film Emily Moss Wilson, Brian Turner, and Garrett Frawley wrote was directed by Wilson. MarVista Entertainment and Reflecting Pool Productions team together to bring you A Christmas Open House.
Singer Rita Ora bares her chest in a skintight black dress to flaunt her toned abs.
Designing Christmas
Holiday Movies at Discovery: Stella (Jessica Szohr, “Gossip Girl”), an interior designer, and Pablo (Marco Grazzini, “Virgin River”), a contractor, are the stars of this film and the hosts of a successful home improvement program that has won the hearts of millions of viewers. Stella and her fiance Jack (Mykee Selkin) are preparing for their wedding until a sudden change in production requires her and her coworker Pablo to put in extra hours.
Stella confides in her mentor Freddy (Hilary Farr of Love It or List It) about her conflicted emotions for Pablo, which might put everything at risk. Pat Mills helms the film, with Michael J. Murray penning the script. Presented by MarVista Entertainment and Neshama Entertainment, Designing Christmas is a joint production.
A Gingerbread Christmas
Holiday Movies at Discovery: During the holidays, Hazel Stanley (Tiya Sircar of NBC’s The Good Place) visits her father (Sugith Varughese of The Wire) in Chicago, where the Stanley family bakery is failing. Across the street, Hazel notices that her ex-best friend Shelby (Kyana Teresa) has launched a hip new bakery. Aiming to win a $100,000 prize and salvage the family company, Hazel joins a gingerbread house competition hosted by culinary star Mark Clemmons (Holiday Baking Championship’s Duff Goldman).
Holiday Movies at Discovery: Concurrently, she develops feelings for James Meadows (Marc Bendavid, from the TV show Reacher), a family friend who is assisting with the bakery’s restoration. Will Christmas cheer prevail as misunderstandings threaten to derail the season? The script was written by Carley Smale and Blaine Chiapetta, and Pat Kiley directed the film. MarVista Entertainment and Neshama Entertainment collaborated on the production of “A Gingerbread Christmas.”
One Delicious Christmas
Holiday Movies at Discovery: Last but not least, One Delicious Christmas tells the tale of Abby Richmond (Vanessa Marano of Switched at Birth), who inherits the Vermont-based Haven Restaurant and Inn and must get an investment from businesswoman Alexandra Grandfield (Kathy Maloney). After receiving a scathing review from reviewer Tom Kingsley (Bobby Flay, Beat Bobby Flay: Christmas Throwdown), Abby recruits star chef Preston Weaver (Alex Mallari Jr., Dark Matter) to spice up Haven’s holiday menu.
Preston and Abby have obvious chemistry, but the fate of Haven ultimately rests in the hands of Alexandra and Tom, so they must put it to good use. Betsy Sullenger penned the picture, which Stacy N. Harding helms. Meanwhile, MarVista Entertainment and Neshama Entertainment are executives producing One Delicious Christmas.