Hallmark Press Release:

Photo: AndieMacDowell - Crown Media Family Networks Photo: Cameron Mathison - Crown Media Family Networks

STUDIO CITY, CA – June 12, 2017 – Hallmark Channel announces the start of production of its newest Hallmark Channel Original Movie, “At Home in Mitford,” starring three-time Golden Globe Nominee Andie MacDowell (“Magic Mike XXL” “Cedar Cove”) and four-time Daytime Emmy Nominee Cameron Mathison (“Entertainment Tonight,” “Murder She Baked”). The World Premiere of “At Home in Mitford” is Saturday, August 19 (9 p.m. ET/PT, 8c) exclusively on Hallmark Channel. *UPDATE: PREMIERE DATE : August 20th at 10pm/9c.!

“At Home In Mitford” is based on the best-selling novel by Jan Karon. The film tells the romantic and inspirational story of best-selling author Cynthia Copperstone (MacDowell), a woman who’s learning there is more to life and love than completing checklists. With her cat (and muse), Violet in tow, Cynthia leaves Boston to spend some time in her late uncle’s small town of Mitford, North Carolina, in hopes of alleviating some career-damaging writer’s block. Cynthia soon finds the heart and soul of the southern town in Father Tim Kavanagh (Mathison), a pastor in Mitford. As the pair works together to help a young boy Dooley (Nicholas Holmes) who has recently lost his family, Cynthia and Pastor Tim find solace, comfort, even romance.

“At Home In Mitford” is a Mitford Films, Inc. production. Andie MacDowell and Howard Braunstein are Executive Producers. Christian Bruyere is Producer. Gary Harvey directs from an original screenplay written by Margaret Oberman and Pam Wallace. Script is based on the beloved novel of the same name by Jan Karon.

At Home in Mitford

My Take:

I am absolutely delighted to see the book At Home in Mitford finally become a movie! (especially a Hallmark Channel movie!) Jan Karon's work is an engaging masterpiece, a grand puzzle of many pieces that fit all together- in the way she beautifully weaves all of these stories to bring together so many of the townspeople, in the fictional town of Mitford, with their unique, run-of-the-mill, yet fascinating everyday lives! It is sincerely amazing! A true gift from God!

Since this is a bestseller, I'm sure many of you are also familiar with these stories. My first introduction to the At Home in Mitford series was from my Momma (several years back!)... who learned about it from Focus on the Family's Radio Theatre! Without any hesitation, after hearing an excerpt on the radio, we ordered the audio set - based on the first book. It was beyond wonderful! In the audio adaption, Dean Jones (popular from the classic Disney Movies, such as: "Herbie, the Love Bug," "Snowball Express," "That Darn Cat," etc...) voices the character of Father Timothy Kavanagh, a single bachelor Episcopal priest. It is certainly more, though, then just a voice... there's a deep warmness in Dean Jones' tone, a gentle spirit, whose faith exudes in his every word. And, then you add in the precocious, abandoned young boy Dooley who winds up at Father Tim's doorstep... well, from there, as you might guess, I was hooked, line and sinker!

For this upcoming Hallmark movie adaptation, I am, however, somewhat surprised by the casting choices. Cameron Mathison has a sweet-tempered quality about him that would fit Father Tim nicely (*However, I agree with comments below - he doesn't fit the age or image we think of for Father Timothy, from the books, who is supposed to be in his 60's and a little over weight) and Andie MacDowell has that honeyed southern charm quality about her that will be interesting to see in the role of author Cynthia Copperstone. (*Not sure, however, how well these two will match up!) (Note: Andie MacDowell is a Southerner and Cynthia Coppersmith (that is her last name in the books) is not. That's why it will be interesting to see Andie portray this non-Southern character in the fictional Southern town/village of Mitford, nestled in the North Carolina mountains.)

Now, I just wonder if Hallmark's famous "Happy the Cat" will portray Cynthia's cat, Violet! In the stories, she is a white fluffy cat, so I don't think that will work, unless they decide to change her character up for the movie, too.

The Mitford book series has been so widely popular... that it has spawned off cookbooks (includes Louella's Cinnamon Rolls, Lottie Greer's Fried Chicken and Country Biscuits, Cynthia's Lasagna, etc...), childrens books (about Violet, Cynthia's cat), plus Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments, etc!!! And, now a Hallmark movie!

I hope you will join me in looking forward to seeing "At Home in Mitford" this August on the Hallmark Channel! Please share your thoughts in comments below! I would love to know... Are you new to these books? Or, have you read this series? If so, where did you learn about them? Or, anything else you would like to share about this upcoming Hallmark Movie!














Click Here for the Jan Karon Mitford Book Series!