It's beginning to look a lot like Super Bowl weekend! Hallmark's Superbowl Warmup: Philly v. Kansas City has arrived to get you and your loved ones prepped for the big game Hallmark-style with an encore presentation of Holiday Touchdown: A Chief's Love Story.
After its Hallmark Channel premiere on Nov. 30 2024, the feature is back for an encore presentation, bringing even more festive football cheer to viewers. Hallmark-favorite Hunter King plays Alana Higman, a die-hard Kansas City Chiefs fan and her family are competing to win the team's Fan of the Year contest, in a process judged by the Chiefs' Director of Fan Engagement, Derrick played by Tyler Hynes. Sparks fly as the two get to know each other but when Alana's grandfather’s vintage Chiefs good-luck winter hat goes missing, she becomes uncertain about her fate, family, and even falling in love. Can she find that faith again? The film is sure to leave you feeling all the warmth you need this winter no matter where you are.
We can't forget about the rest of the cast which includes Ed Begley Jr. as Paul Higman, Megyn Price as Leah Higman, Diedrich Bader as Hank Higman, Christine Ebersole as Norma Young, Richard Riehle as Nicholas Young, Donna Kelce as Barbeque Restaurant Manager, and Jenna Bush Hager as Emcee. Chiefs players Mecole Hardman, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Trey Smith, George Karlaftis, Christian Okoye appear in cameos. The film is directed by John Putch (A Biltmore Christmas) from a teleplay written by Julie Sherman Wolfe.
Culturess sat down with King to chat about her journey to the role, the behind-the-scenes magic, and what it means to her to be a part of this beloved holiday feature.!
Culturess: Hunter, not only are you an accomplished actress, but you're now swept into this world of sports through this film. As you step back into the Christmas film genre, how did this film fall into your lap and stand out to you?
Hunter King: My [talent representatives] had called me with an offer from Hallmark, and all they could tell me at the time was that it was a Christmas movie and it was a football movie because there was a lot of NDAs in place. Immediately, I was like, 'Yes, I'm in. I obviously will read the script, but before I even need to know anything, I'm in.' I have always loved football. I'm a huge fan of Hallmark and our Hallmark family. You put the two together in this beautiful marriage, and I'm like, 'Oh, yes, that sounds like my dream come true.'
Since you were a football fan prior, I don't have to even ask you if you had to be educated on the game prior to the movie! Do you have a tradition that aligns with the theme of the movie, like family gatherings on football game days?
HK: My fiancé, he played football when he was in college so we like to watch football together. That's a really big thing for us now. I felt like I was well-versed in football, but then I realized once I met him, I was not as well-versed as I thought. He's taught me a lot about the game. Really, my favorite thing to do is just sit with him and ask him a bunch of questions, whether it's about the game or about the players on that team. He just knows everything. He's like a walking encyclopedia of every single football player and team there is. Also, I'm always with my family at all times. The two traditions that we have, either now football with my fiancé or just family time.
Your love interest in the film is Tyler Hynes, who plays Derek Taylor. How was working opposite him and forming that heartwarming connection on screen?
HK: It was great! I had been a fan of Tyler's for quite a while, and I have always wanted to work with him. As soon as I met him, it was like we've known each other for a really long time. We immediately started joking around. All three of us are now really great friends. He, myself, and my fiance. He always jokes around that he's going to be my fiance's best man at our wedding. We adore Tyler, and he's just so easy to work with. He's a great scene partner, just very giving in all of our scenes. Really easy to bounce off of and just easy since we have a very natural friendship from start.
You two formed that connection so easily! I also want to shout out the cast: Ed Begley Jr, Christine Ebersole, Megyn Pryce, Donna Kelce, and so many fun cameos. What was it like on set getting to work with such a unique group of actors?
HK: Oh, my gosh. If I could do every movie with this group of actors for the rest of my life, I truly would. It was a dream come true. I love each and every one of them so much. Megan and I text all the time. It feels like we're sisters. Christine Ebersole just kept us all laughing. She's so funny, and has the voice of an angel, obviously. I am obsessed with Ed. I just adore him so much. I feel like he's my grandpa in real life. I just love that man. He's so sweet and so, so talented. Diedrich [Bader] is incredible. He's so funny and just like one of the nicest humans you've ever met. Everybody was just amazing. Richard Riehle is hilarious. He could say one word and it would have everybody dying with laughter. Donna was so amazing to work with and couldn't have been nicer, excited, and happy to be there with us. We were all fan girling over her, and she was just so generous with her time. As we all asked her a million questions, she was amazing.
I would love to have been on that set and just to hear how she responded to your questions.
HK: She was just so chill! We were professional, but we couldn't help her ask her all the ridiculous questions!
The actual film is executed so well. As you're taking direction from John Putch, what was it like on-set working on scenes with him?
HK: Oh, I love John so much. I called him Putchers by the end of it. He is so great. He's just very direct. There's no guessing with him. He tells you exactly what he needs, and he'll do it again and again until he gets to me once. He moves so fast. He moves so fast, and he just comes to set. You know that you can come to set, and everything's going to go smoothly because he comes so prepared, and you feel so safe and well taken care of when you're with John. He just is an amazing director.
He's honestly very fun to be around. He doesn't take things too seriously. He's a funny, very sweet, very hardworking man, and I just feel so grateful to have met him because so many of the cast members had worked with him before or were friends with him before. It felt like they had their own little crew over there, and I felt so lucky to be involved with it now. We're all part of a little family with John. He's so talented at he does and really has a really good eye.
With Holiday Touchdown, A Chief's Love Story, football fans and non football fans alike can really appreciate the love story that's present. What do you think will resonate most with fans when they watch? This will be an encore presentation so people who have seen the film already will be watching, and people who haven't, which I'm sure is equally exciting!
HK: No one does it like Hallmark does Christmas. They rule Christmas and they rule rom-coms. There really is just something for everybody, whether you are or are not a football fan. If you love a rom-com, if you love a movie based on faith and family and community and just love and connection. It's such a heartwarming movie, and it makes me feel so cozy thinking back on it. I'm excited to rewatch it just to watch all of my friends. They're all so amazing and so talented, and I hope everybody likes it as much as we do when we made it.
I hope you have a fantastic Super Bowl weekend with your fiancé and family, and that everybody gets to watch the film and enjoyed it as much as I did!
HK: Thank you so much! I hope you have a great Super Bowl weekend! Fingers crossed, I think it's going to be another Chiefs win. Everybody has to wear the lucky hat, and then we have nothing to worry about.
Check out the trailer for Holiday Touchdown, A Chief's Love Story on Hallmark's official YouTube channel:
See below for Hallmark's Superbowl Warmup: Philly v. Kansas City broadcast schedule:
Friday, Feb. 7
– Christmas on Call at 5 pm ET / 2 pm PT
– Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story at 7 pm ET / 4 pm PT
Sunday, Feb. 9
– SnowComing at 8 am ET / 5 am PT – Love on the Sidelines at 10 am ET / 7 am PT
– Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story at 12 pm ET / 9 am PT
You can watch Hallmark Originals at anytime on the Hallmark TV app, available on Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV.