‘Tis the season for holiday rom-coms! Many indulgent Christmas-set romance flicks become a staple of DVRs every holiday season and they often star popular celebrities who have their own accomplished list of credits. Several of these projects have even borrowed fan-favorite Tree Hill residents to lead, including the likes of Jana Kramer, Bethany Joy Lenz and Chad Michael Murray.
This year’s original holiday movie lineup also features new projects from all three One Tree Hill alums.
“It was so much fun to do. It was awesome to be able to be an executive producer on it and really like, get my hands on it,” the “I Got the Boy” songstress exclusively told Us Weekly of her Lifetime romance The Holiday Fix Up in November 2021. “We were really able to, like, make it as organic as we can, but still using the formula that everyone loves for those Lifetime movies.”
Over the years, several of their OTH costars, including Hilarie Burton, Stephen Colletti and more have also tried their hand at costarring in Christmas movies. Back in 2018, the Rural Diaries author recruited a slew of her former costars for Lifetime’s A Christmas Contract.
“Hilarity ensues and we fall in love,” Burton told the Hollywood Reporter in November 2018. “That’s what happens at the holidays. You fall in love. … We racked up as many One Tree Hill kids as we could down there.”
The film — which also features Robert Buckley, Danneel Ackles, Antwon Tanner, Tyler Hilton and Elizabeth Harnois — follows Burton’s character, Jolie, as she makes a fake-dating deal with her best friend’s brother Jack (Buckley) in exchange for crucial business help.
“The producer, Daniel Lewis, and I had worked together years ago on Christmas on the Bayou with Tyler Hilton and we really hit it off,” she recalled to the magazine. “He’s become a close friend of mine and he had texted me when I was pregnant with my daughter and asked me to come down to Louisiana and do a different movie. I said, ‘Let me have my baby and then give me three months and I’ll come back to work for you.’ And he held me to it. … Robert Buckley and I had been trying to do a Christmas movie together for five years. There was a different production in Vancouver years ago where he was on hiatus from iZombie and he was gonna work for less money. We were trying to get around the Canadian tax incentive and that studio just would not break the rules. It’s almost better that it worked out this way because not only did Robert and I finally get to work together, but we got to bring all of our friends along, as well.”
One year later, several of the former WB stars teamed up once again for Lifetime’s A Christmas Wish.
“We got to do a One Tree Hill reunion last year for The Christmas Contract, so this year we had an even bigger cast, so we got to pull in more of our friends,” Burton told Us in October 2019. “Colin Fickes had played Jimmy Edwards on One Tree Hill and I think he was a really underutilized character and he ended up coming back and making a significant impact on the show. Colin is a wonderful actor and when we were trying to figure out who would play Tyler Hilton‘s brother — they have the same crystal blue eyes! Colin is such a pro and is also such a joy, so it was really great to bring him in.”
She added at the time: “It really becomes an exercise in figuring out which of your friends is available and is right for the part and we’re just so lucky that when we call, people love the genre. It’s fun, so it’s an easy thing to call and ask someone to do.”
Scroll below for a complete guide of the holiday movies led by OTH favorites:
The Michigan native stars alongside Ryan McPartlin and Maria Menounos in this Lifetime flick, set for a December 2021 premiere. In the film, Kramer plays Sam, a popular TV designer, who returns home for the holidays to help renovate the local Bell Harbor Inn alongside her ex and contractor, Coop (McPartlin). Lifetime
The Gilmore Girls alum costars with Cindy Busby in the 2021 Lifetime movie. In the picture, Busby’s Danielle is a workaholic designer who returns to her hometown with her young son, hoping to show off the town’s special holiday traditions. There, she reconnects with former classmate and hobbyist Kevin (Murray) as they attempt to save the beloved town events from cancelation. Lifetime
The country songstress starred in this 2020 flick alongside Brandon Quinn, where her character of Chloe teamed up with veteran Michael to put on the town’s army toy drive. Lifetime
The Grey’s Anatomy alum costarred with Victor Webster in the 2020 Hallmark film where a travel writer unexpectedly arrived at a family-owned bed and breakfast. To make a good impression, the entire Ralston family plot to pose as guests. However, things soon get completed when Lenz’ Lucy starts to fall for real guest Jake but cannot reveal her true identity. ©2020 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman
90210’s Jessica Lowndes plays Hayley, who agreed to spend the holidays with her sister’s in-laws, including her brother-in-law’s brother Paul (Murray) in the 2020 Lifetime film. While Hayley still harbors a grudge against the Riverdale alum's character for his part in ending her last relationship, she is hesitant about spending so much time with him during the duration of her holiday visit. Lifetime
Burton enlisted many of her former costars for this 2019 film, including Hilton, Lee Norris, Antwon Tanner, as well as a throwback musical cameo from Ryan Cabrera. In the film, Ponchatoula, Louisiana, natives often write down their true heart's desire on a piece of paper and leave it in the box, hoping it comes true. At the urging of her sister (Megan Park, Hilton’s real-life wife), Burton’s Faith wishes for true love. The very next day, Faith meets Andrew (Cristian de la Fuente) but also gets a lot closer to childhood friend Wyatt (Hilton). Lifetime
Burton teamed up with Ackles, Buckley and Tanner in this 2018 Lifetime production. Burton played Jolie, who returned home to Louisiana amid her devastating breakup. To help make the festivities bearable, her BFF Naomi (Ackles) suggests Jolie pretends to date her brother Jack (Buckley), even drawing up a professional contract to ensure everything goes smoothly. Lifetime
In 2018, Lenz reunited with fellow WB alum Sharon Lawrence for this Lifetime film set weeks before Christmas. Lenz played Ellie, who is called to come to help with the family’s poinsettia farm despite issues with the season’s crop. There, she rediscovers her roots and finds love with a local botanist (Marcus Rosner). Lifetime
Stephen Colletti starred alongside 7th Heaven’s Beverley Mitchell in 2018’s Hometown Christmas, in which she aspires to bring back the town’s live nativity scene. However, she’ll need the help of her former high school sweetheart (Colletti) to get the job done in time for Christmas. Lifetime
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