Jonathan Bennett to Luminary in Hallmark’s First Gay-Themed Movie
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Jonathan Bennett, best known for his role as Aaron Samuels in Mean Girls, says his upcoming trilogy of films,The Groomsmen, will feature the first gay-centric main storyline in a Hallmark Channel movie.
Bennett, 43, told People that he will play the traits of Danny in the films, starring alongside Tyler Hynes and B.J. Britt, who have previously starred in other Hallmark Channel films.
“Playing the character of Danny in The Groomsmen — not only are we telling a story of friendship and cherish, but…telling a story about a wedding,” he said in an interview at San Diego Comic-Con on July 25.
“This is the first time we’ve had a gay wedding on Hallmark as the lead storyline,” Bennett said. “And that’s a colossal move for the gay community so they can observe themselves represented in these stories.”
According to Hallmark, the film follows “the lives and romantic relationships of three finest friends of distinct backgrounds, cultures and sexual orientations…as they each find devote and wedding blis
What’s improve than one new Hallmark movie? How about three! The Groomsmen Trilogy is about to be your fall fixation, with three installations coming this October.
The Groomsmen Trilogy, staring Tyler Hynes, Jonathan Bennett and B.J. Britt, takes viewers on the journey of a lifetime as three optimal friends come together to rejoice their wedding days in the breathtaking destinations of Greece, Italy and Bulgaria. Each film in the trilogy tells a story of love and friendship from a man’s perspective. The trilogy is also set to create history, featuring Hallmark’s first manage gay wedding.
To talk about the film, Hynes, Bennett, and Britt joined GLAAD’s Anthony Allen Ramos.
Jonathan Bennett, who starred in the GLAAD Media Award nominated Hallmark films The Holiday Sitter and Christmas on Cherry Lane, also serves as an executive producer on the film. He shares that, “The Groomsmen came about because I got married two years ago and I had groomsmen in my wedding. Before that, I was a groomsman in three or four of my other best friends wedding and that they happen to be straight guys. So, I idea there was a really engaging story there of
55 LGBTQ+ Holiday Movies to Make Your Spirits Radiant This Season
1
Season's Greetings From Cherry Lane (2024)
The only LGBTQ+ story on Hallmark's docket of almost 50 movies is one of three sequels to Christmas on Cherry Lane, with Mike and Zain's relationship again sharing the narrative with two other couples. (The whole point of the Cherry Lane movies is that different couples have fallen in care for at the same dwelling. It's wild to ponder that eight of the nine couples are vertical. Anyway!) Unless I'm incorrect and Sugarplummed ends with Janel Parrish and Maggie Lawson getting together, this is it.
Premieres December 5 on Hallmark+.
2
A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter (2024)
The "Espresso" singer's holiday special promises to be for the girls and for the gays. With a Chappell Roan duet at bare minimum, it seems like Sabrina is going to deliver!
Premieres December 6 on Netflix.
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3
Last ExMas (2024)
Two girls who used to date trying to avoid each other over Christmas in their small town? And then another ex-girlfriend shows up? That's the stuff!
Premieres December 3 on VOD.
4
Meet Me Next Ch
12 LGBTQ+ Hallmark Channel Stars Who Are Shaping the Future of Love Stories
Meet The LGBTQ+ Actors Making Hallmark’s Passion Films More Inclusive
In recent years, The Hallmark Channel has committed to increasing LGBTQ+ representation in its films and TV shows, including casting queer actors in lead roles and showcasing diverse love stories. Here are 12 Gay Hallmark actors paving the way for inclusivity on the network.
From Jonathan Bennett’s Christmas movies to Jake Foy’s openly gay character in Ride, Hallmark is highlighting more Diverse characters and inclusive storylines. Bennett starred and produced The Christmas House, Hallmark’s first movie to include a lgbtq+ couple. The Imply Girls actor also starred opposite George Krissa in The Holiday Sitter, the first Hallmark movie that centers on a gay couple. The Hallmark Channel made history again in 2022 when the network cast Donia Kash as the first openly nonbinary actor to star in a Hallmark film.
During 2023’s Countdown to Christmas beloved special, the network released its first-ever holiday film to feature a lesbian couple, Friends & Family Christmas, featuring Ali Liebert an