With filming underway in Asheville, North Carolina, for Hallmark Channel’s second “A Biltmore Christmas” movie, local media members were invited to the Biltmore Estate on January 20, 2026, for a peek behind the scenes.
Not only were previously announced stars Niall Matter and Holland Roden on hand for interviews, but so was another Hallmark fan favorite, Rachel Boston, who made a cameo in the first movie and confirmed she’s now part of the second installment, too! And she’s not the only star fans are buzzing about being part of the movie, which also has an official title: “A Grand Biltmore Christmas.”
Rachel Boston & Wes Brown Among Stars to Watch For in ‘A Grand Biltmore Christmas’
In 2024’s “A Biltmore Christmas,” a screenwriter named Lucy, played by Bethany Joy Lenz, is tasked with writing a remake of the 1947 Christmas classic “His Merry Wife,” filmed at the historic Biltmore Estate. While touring the massive home for inspiration, she magically travels back in time to the set of the first movie and falls for the 1940s film’s leading man, played by Kristoffer Polaha.
When Lucy returns to the present day, she’s seen on the set of her movie remake as the last scene is filmed, with Boston and Wes Brown playing the movie’s leads — a double cameo that thrilled Hallmark fans. “A Grand Biltmore Christmas” is also a time travel tale, but because Hallmark has said it’s not a true sequel, it’s not clear whether Boston will return as the same modern-day actress or play an entirely different role.
During press interviews, she told local ABC affiliate WLOS that she loved “having these memories and being back with this fabulous cast for ‘A Grand Biltmore Christmas.'” She also called Asheville “such a great town” and said that in their downtime, the cast “really enjoyed exploring.”
Meanwhile, Brown teased his own return by posting a photo in his Instagram Stories on January 19 of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which the Biltmore House overlooks, and writing, “Hello, North Carolina.” Although he wasn’t part of the press interviews the following day, Hallmark’s PR team confirmed January 21 that he, too, is returning for “A Grand Biltmore Christmas.”
As previously announced, “Star Trek” royalty Jonathan Frakes will also return for the second movie as Winston, a Biltmore staff member who seemed somehow privvy to the magical time-traveling properties of the hourglass in the first movie.
Finally, there’s also been buzz that “The Way Home” star and former Asheville resident Andie MacDowell may be a surprise addition to the cast. Jason Sanford of The AsheVegas Hot Sheet reported that he’s “confident that she is a cast member” after talking to multiple sources.
Rachel Boston Says New ‘Biltmore Christmas’ Movie is Going to Be ‘Absolutely Adorable’
According to Hallmark’s synopsis, the new movie will take viewers back to 1895 — the year the Biltmore House was completed — when a visiting 13-year-old named Elizabeth connects with a fellow teen named Michael. The two don’t see each other again until 20 years later, when they’re adults (played by Roden and Matter), back at the Biltmore. The magical hourglass from the first movie is back, too, and transports the duo to the present day — which may be where Michael is from to begin with.
“I’m coming from the modern era in this movie,” Matter told WLOS. “And my character, you get to see my character in two different eras. You also get to see Biltmore at two different eras — actually, three different eras.”
“Our characters are acquaintances in the past,” he continued, looking at Roden. “But maybe they become more in the present.”
Boston, who also starred in Hallmark’s top Christmas movie of 2025 — “The More the Merrier,” told local CBS affiliate WSPA of the new Biltmore movie script, “Having read it, I will say, it is absolutely adorable and very, very, very sweet.”
Roden chimed in, “Not only is it a really wonderful romance front and center, but there’s a lot of comedy that’s unexpected.”
The new movie, produced by Synthetic Cinema, which also was behind the first Biltmore movie, will premiere as part of Hallmark’s 2026 slate of original Christmas movies.
Are the ORIGINAL CAST MEMBERS like Beth Joy Lynz going to be in this movie??? She made the movie and without her it will not be the same.