Danica McKellar & Oliver Rice To Headline ‘A Royal Christmas Ball’ For Great American Family; ‘DWTS’ Pro Gleb Savchenko To Choreograph

Lynette Rice
·2 min read
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EXCLUSIVE: Danica McKellar (A Royal Date for Christmas, Swing Into Romance) and Oliver Rice (Firefly Lane, Magic In Mistletoe) have booked their next flick for Great American Family. The duo will star in A Royal Christmas Ball, with waltzes choreographed by Dancing With the Stars pro Gleb Savchenko.

Production begins this week on the movie that will premiere this November as part of Great American Christmas 2024.

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In A Royal Christmas Ball, Chelsea Jones (McKellar) is a dance instructor and studio owner in Chicago who inspires kids to find themselves through dance. Just before Christmas, Chelsea discovers a photo she’s never seen before. Chelsea thinks the young woman is her birth mother who passed away when she was only five years old. The woman is in a wedding dress tugging on the hand of a man wearing a wedding ring, but that is all that can be seen of the man Chelsea believes may be her father.

The photo’s handwritten inscription reads, “Our place, Havenshire, December 23, 1984.” With only the internet, a plane ticket, and lifelong determination to go on, Chelsea now has four days in Havenshire to solve the mystery of her birth family. Along the way, she’ll have to sneak into a castle, teach a stubborn Prince how to dance, and be in just the right place on Christmas Eve when the bells toll.

“Royal movies are among our viewers’ favorites,” said Bill Abbott, President & CEO, Great American Media. “Finding love when and where you least expect it is the heart of royal fan fiction and Danica and Oliver do a brilliant job of making heartfelt wishes come true.”

“Oliver Rice exudes a dashing Cary Elwes-vibe,” added McKellar. “Oliver grew up in London and graduated from Oxford School of Drama and brings genuine nobility to the role of Prince Phillip. I cannot wait for fans to see him in the film.”

A Royal Christmas Ball is executive produced by Brad Krevoy, Amy Krell, Vince Balzano, McKellar, Jimmy Townsend, Susie Belzberg Krevoy, and Don McBrearty. Producer is David Anselmo. Supervising producers are Kelly Martin, Michael Shepard, Michael Beard, and James Mou.

A Royal Christmas Ball is written by Marcy Holland. Story is from McKellar and Marcy Holland.

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