Lori Loughlin’s first Hallmark Christmas movie in eight years premieres Sunday, October 25 at 8/7c, and it’s one she spent years trying to get made.
It caps a big year back at Hallmark Channel. In September, Lori reunited with her Garage Sale Mysteries cast for the franchise’s 17th movie, Murder Takes the Stage. She has also recently been back in Hope Valley, filming Season 14 of When Calls the Heart as Abigail Stanton.
Now comes What If Christmas, co-starring Tom Cavanagh. It’s her first Hallmark holiday movie since 2018’s Homegrown Christmas with Victor Webster.
One ornament, two lives
Lori plays Erin, who has spent years as the force behind her husband Adam’s career. Adam (Cavanagh) is a heart surgeon, and Erin has always organized his hospital’s Christmas charity galas.
Then Adam moves to a new hospital, and her help is no longer needed. Back in New York City and unsure of her purpose, Erin starts thinking about the dream she gave up: fashion design.
When someone hands her an unusual heart-shaped Christmas ornament, Erin wakes up in another life. In this one, she’s a world-famous designer, and she never married Adam. The dream came true, but success turns out to be lonely.
As Erin looks for ways to bring charity and heart into her fashion empire, she starts to see that the life she wanted may have been right in front of her all along. She just has to find the courage to ask for it.
A story years in the making
“This one is close to me,” Lori told Decider.
The movie started more than four years ago. Lori was looking for a project for another network and asked her friend Cara J. Russell, a screenwriter and producer, whether she had a script tucked away. Russell did, but it was written for a younger couple. Lori read it, saw a story there, and started developing it.
That version never got made, but the idea stayed with her. When Hallmark wanted to do a Christmas movie with her, she called Brad Krevoy, the independent producer behind When Calls the Heart, and suggested they pitch it together.
After Russell reworked the script, veteran Hallmark screenwriter and former Heart in Motion Podcast guest Julie Sherman Wolfe came in to polish it up and make additional changes. Lori is also an executive producer on the film.
She told Decider the movie still follows the Christmas formula fans love, but has a slightly unique twist for Hallmark. Above all, she called it heartwarming and said she’s thrilled they finally got it made.
Lori on Tom Cavanagh
Lori couldn’t say enough good things about her co-star. She told Decider that working with Tom was a dream come true, and praised him as funny, delightful and a fantastic actor.
Hallmark fans know Tom from the Darrow & Darrow mystery movies with Kimberly Williams-Paisley, which ran from 2016 to 2019. He also guest-starred in the first season of Mistletoe Murders in 2024. Many viewers will remember him from Ed and The Flash.
Behind the scenes
What If Christmas was filmed in and around Ottawa, Ontario, in the spring and early summer of 2026. Locations reportedly include the nearby towns of Almonte, Carleton Place and Manotick.
| Role | Who |
|---|---|
| Director | Jerry Ciccoritti |
| Writers | Cara J. Russell (original script), Julie Sherman Wolfe |
| Executive producers | Brad Krevoy, Lori Loughlin and others |
| Also starring | Jonathan Whittaker, Lyla Elliott, Marisa McIntyre |
How to watch
What If Christmas premieres Sunday, October 25 at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel as part of Countdown to Christmas. It streams the next day on Hallmark+.
| Encore airings | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday, Oct. 26 | 6/5c |
| Thursday, Oct. 29 | 10/9c |
| Friday, Nov. 6 | 6/5c |
| Wednesday, Nov. 25 | 10a/9c |
And there’s more Lori ahead. She’ll appear in six episodes of When Calls the Heart Season 14, premiering in January 2027.
So tell me: if you could peek at the life you didn’t choose, would you? Let me know in the comments, and whether you’ll be watching Sunday night.
Oct 19, 2026 · @Stephanie Long