Hallmark’s new, original movie Navigating Christmas stars Chelsea Hobbs as a recently divorced mom. She leads opposite Stephen Huszar, who plays the owner of the lighthouse, where they are Navigating Christmas. The movie premieres in November as part of the network’s annual Countdown to Christmas programming event. Read on to find out more about the movie and its cast and see beautiful images taken on the film set.
Navigating Christmas on Hallmark Channel
According to the official synopsis, Melanie (Hobbs) faces spending her first Christmas after her divorce by herself. Her ex-husband was taking their teenage son, Jason (Everett Andres), on a snowboarding trip. When he cancels at the last minute, Jason is left crushed. Melanie then scrambles to make a plan to make the holidays special for her son.
Unfortunately, everything is already booked, except for a charming lighthouse on St. Nicholas Island. The lighthouse even comes complete with lore about guiding good ol’ St. Nick himself on Christmas Eve.
Melanie and Jason’s damp ferry ride to the island gives their holiday a rocky start. However, when they get to the lighthouse they are shocked to see it looks nothing like the photo. Meanwhile, she meets up with Peter, the lighthouse owner at a local café, only to find out he is a smug ferry passenger she met on the way over.
To make things more complicated, Peter informs Melanie that she has booked an immersive experience that includes lighthouse duties. This includes decorating it for the holidays to make sure it is ready for the town’s Christmas festival.
While Peter isn’t fond of the holidays, he helps Melanie and Jason in their efforts to decorate the lighthouse. Having grown up in the lighthouse that has been in his family for decades, Peter teaches Jason Morse code using the spotlight and the pair begins to bond.
Meanwhile, as they continue to decorate the lighthouse and join in the fun, holiday festivities in town, Melanie and Peter grow close. In fact, his dislike of Christmas even seems to soften, although he is harboring a secret about his family’s lighthouse that is weighing on him.
Moreover, when Jason overhears Melanie and Peter talking and learns the true reason his dad canceled their plans, he takes off. As Melanie, Peter and their friends in town search for the teen, the dormant lighthouse may still have some life left in it and helps to navigate a Christmas miracle for everyone.
Where have you seen the cast before?
Chelsea Hobbs, who plays Melanie is known for her roles in Dream Moms and The Holiday Sitter. Meanwhile, Stephen Huszar, who plays Peter, has starred in A Royal Christmas Crush and The Jane Mysteries: Inheritance Lost. Everett Andres plays the role of Jason and has previously starred in Virgin River.
According to the IMDb page for the movie, Tanja Dixon-Warren (The L Word) plays the role of Ruth and Bobby Stewart (I, Robot) stars as Earl. As can be seen from the images, Lochlyn Munro (Scary Movie) plays an uncredited role in the movie.
Behind the scenes of Navigating Christmas
Navigating Christmas hails from Island Light Road Productions Inc. and Front Street Pictures Inc. Executive producers are Jonathan Brownlee, Cameron Larson, Allen Lewis and Rama Diallo. Charles Cooper serves as producer, while Peter Benson directs the movie from a script by Kelly Bowe and Carley Smale.
When does Navigating Christmas premiere on Hallmark Channel?
Navigating Christmas premieres on Friday, November 17 at 8 pm ET/PT on Hallmark Channel as part of the network’s popular Countdown to Christmas programming event.
Readers, are you looking forward to this intriguing movie about a lighthouse and its handsome owner? Let us know by dropping a comment below.