Longtime Hallmark fan-favorite Autumn Reeser has gone from filming a sweet, snowy Christmas movie to a post-apocalyptic action thriller. On September 3, 2026, Deadline reported that she and an all-star cast just wrapped filming on “Out of the Ashes” in Kentucky.
Reeser shared the article in her Instagram Stories and wrote over it, “Secret project unveiled :)”
‘Out of the Ashes’ is More Than a Thriller, Producer Says
GettyIn “Out of the Ashes,” Golden Globe nominee Aaron Eckhart plays a former soldier who’s “determined to protect his young daughter,” played by Bella Samman, “as they flee a ruthless band of marauders in a world ravaged by a mysterious pandemic.”
The cast also includes Brenton Thwaites, Don Worley, Michael Regan and Kira Reed. Director Steven C. Miller wrote on Instagram, “Great cast. Great crew. Hot as hell in Kentucky. Out of the Ashes coming soon!🤘”
Fans may be surprised to see Reeser, who will star in “Christmas, Delivered” with Wes Brown this holiday season, diving into such a gritty and tense storyline, given her history of feel-good movies and her work as an advsier in personal growth and spirituality. But according to producer Sagiv Diamant, the movie delivers more than meets the eye.
“From the beginning, I saw ‘Out of the Ashes’ as more than a post-apocalyptic action film,” Sagiv told Deadline. “At its heart, it’s a story about a father fighting to protect his daughter when everything around them has fallen apart. Steven brought a muscularity and authenticity to the action while keeping that relationship at the center of the film. Aaron brings tremendous weight and humanity to the role, and together with Brenton and Bella, we have a cast that really elevates the material. I’m incredibly proud of what we made together.”
In 2025, Reeser told EntertainmentNow she’s drawn to stories that come from the heart, adding, “As far as what projects I choose (to work on), a lot of times it feels like they choose me.”
It’s not known when or where “Out of the Ashes” will be released. The team behind it will be hobnobbing with distributors at TIFF Market, a dealmaking hub for filmmakers and distributors at the Toronto Independent Film Festival.
Autumn Reeser is Still Committed to Working With Hallmark, For Good Reason
This holiday season, Reeser will dabble in much lighter fare with “Christmas, Delivered,” the latest in a string of more than 20 Hallmark movies for the actress, including “The Wedding Veil” franchise with Alison Sweeney and Lacey Chabert, and the 2024 movie “Junebug,” which she developed and brought to life.
Though “The O.C.” and “Entourage” alum may be branching out a bit with “Out of the Ashes,” she’s likely to be part of the Hallmark family for as long as she can.
“The beauty of working with Hallmark is that these are women’s stories,” Reeser told EntertainmentNow. “We’re following our journeys. I’ve always been in a leadership role there, in a heart-centric leadership role, and been given this space to breathe.”
Reeser added, “Also, their support, as a single mother, is part of why I’ve stayed working with Hallmark for so long. Because they saw me. They saw my needs, and they were willing to meet them.”
