Kaylah Walton
This Christmas season, fans of Taylor Swift can look forward to two new TV movies that share a connection to the pop icon.
The first movie, “Christmas in the Spotlight,” premieres on Lifetime on Saturday. It features Jessica Lord as a famous singer and Laith Wallschleger as a professional football player, reminiscent of Swift’s relationship with Travis Kelce, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs.
According to Eirene Tran Donohue, a long-time fan who helped write the script, the film draws inspiration from Taylor and Travis’s dynamic, particularly how supportive they are of each other amid the public’s focus on their lives. “I admire how he celebrates her achievements,” she said.
Tran Donohue expressed her intent to cater to fellow Swifties through the film. “I incorporated many subtle references that only hardcore fans would notice,” she explained.
On November 30, Hallmark will premiere another film titled “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” While this film does not feature Swift, it emphasizes family bonding and loyalty to sports teams, aligning with Hallmark’s Kansas City roots.
This story, penned by Julie Sherman Wolfe, revolves around a Kansas City Chiefs employee (Tyler Hynes) who falls for a woman (Hunter King) from a family steeped in Chiefs tradition.
Wolfe recounted that she received the project offer shortly after the Chiefs triumphed over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. “I was still reeling from the loss,” she admitted, adding that Hallmark’s team asked her if she could put her feelings aside to create this movie, to which she joyfully agreed.
Though “Holiday Touchdown” does not directly reference Swift or Kelce, it does feature cameos from a few Chiefs players and includes a small part for Donna Kelce.
Tyler Hynes mentioned how thrilling it was to work alongside Donna Kelce, admitting he had trouble delivering his lines while she was present. “It was an exciting experience,” he said.
The cast also had the unique opportunity to film scenes at Arrowhead Stadium and on the field, with Hunter King expressing her excitement about those memorable experiences. “Those were some of the best moments I’ve had while working on a film,” she shared.
