'THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN,' A HALLMARK HALL OF FAME PRESENTATION, STARRING DERMOT MULRONEY, KIMBERLY WILLIAMS-PAISLEY, EMMY(R) WINNER JOAN CUSACK, AND EMMY(R) NOMINEE DANNY GLOVER, BEGINS PRODUCTION FOR PREMIERE EXCLUSIVELY ON HALLMARK CHANNEL, NOVEMBER 25

National and Internationally Renowned Bestselling Author David Baldacci's Novel Adapted for Television by Tippi & Neal Dobrofsky

"The Christmas Train" is a Crown Media Productions Original Film

STUDIO CITY, CA - Wednesday, August 23, 2017 - Hallmark Channel announces the highly-anticipated original film, "The Christmas Train," a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, starring Dermot Mulroney ("Shameless," "My Best Friend's Wedding"), Kimberly Williams-Paisley ("Darrow & Darrow," "Father of the Bride"), Emmy(R) Award-winner and two-time Oscar(R) nominee Joan Cusack ("Shameless," "Toy Story 4"), and four-time Emmy(R) Award nominee Danny Glover ("Lethal Weapon") begins production today and will have its exclusive World Premiere on Hallmark Channel, Saturday, November 25 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C). "The Christmas Train" is a Crown Media Productions original movie and is based on national and international bestselling author David Baldacci's novel of the same name.

In "The Christmas Train," disillusioned, globetrotting journalist Tom Langdon (Mulroney) must get from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles in time for Christmas. Forced to take the intercontinental trip by train, and determined to chronicle his adventure, Tom finds himself westbound with a variety of characters. On the train is renowned movie producer Max (Glover), Max's script doctor and protégé Eleanor (Paisley), and Agnes (Cusack) who occupies the cabin opposite Tom's and seems to know his business better than he does. While all passengers on the Christmas train appear to be headed for the same destination, Tom has no idea that the rugged locomotives taking him across America will instead detour straight into his heart - into rude awakenings, his wildest hopes and dreams, and toward the opportunity for love Tom thought was lost forever.

"It is said, you don't take the Christmas train to get somewhere fast -- you take it for the journey," said Michelle Vicary, Executive Vice President, Programming, Crown Media Family Networks (home of Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, Hallmark Drama, and Hallmark Movies Now).

"TV viewers will embark on the most spectacular, romantic journey filled with characters who have all packed their bags with wisdom, mischief, love and courage, and powered by David Baldacci's timeless story, 'The Christmas Train' is sure to become an instant classic for holiday movie fans," Vicary concluded.

"The Christmas Train" is a Crown Media Productions original film. Karen Spiegel is Executive Producer. Harvey Kahn is Producer. Ron Oliver is Director. David Baldacci's The Christmas Train is adapted for television by Tippy & Neal Dobrofsky.

ABOUT CROWN MEDIA FAMILY NETWORKS

Crown Media Family Networks is the umbrella unit subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Inc., housing cable's leading family friendly networks, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and Hallmark Drama. Hallmark Channel features an ambitious slate of new, original content, including movies, scripted series, annual specials, and a daily, two-hour lifestyle show. Hallmark Channel is also home to the popular annual holiday franchise "Countdown to Christmas," featuring a lineup of 24/7 holiday programming. Hallmark Movies & Mysteries is a 24-hour cable network featuring a unique mix of new, original movies and acquired series focused on the lighter side of the suspense and mystery genres. The network also features its own annual holiday programming franchise, "Most Wonderful Movies of Christmas". Hallmark Drama showcases the rich legacy of the Hallmark Hall of Fame library and with zero duplication, spotlights movies and series from Crown Media's collection of original dramatic content. Crown Media Family Networks is also home to Hallmark Movies Now, the company's SVOD service, which offers wholly distinct content from each network and is available on iOS, Android, Roku and Amazon Fire, among other devices. Crown Media Family Networks' digital publishing extension, Hallmark Publishing, is an eBook division that creates novelizations of previously aired original movie favorites. It also accepts author submissions for original, on-brand manuscripts that can be greenlit as a new movie or series for one of the company's three linear networks. Hallmark Channel on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest Hallmark Movies & Mysteries on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter Hallmark Drama on Social Media: Twitter Hallmark Publishing on Social Media: Twitter