A year after the Chiefs went Hollywood with a Christmas movie, the Bills are joining in on the holiday spirit.
Buffalo is collaborating with Hallmark Media, the National Football League and Skydance Sports on the production of Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story, the partners announced Thursday. Bills safety Damar Hamlin delivered the news on social media.
Production will kick off later this year and it will be filmed entirely at locations in and around Buffalo, including Highmark Stadium, home of the Bills. The cast of the film will be announced at a later date. The latest Holiday Touchdown will premiere during Hallmark Channel's 16th annual Countdown to Christmas this winter.
"We were honored to be approached by Skydance Sports to participate in this amazing project that will showcase two powerful brands -- Hallmark and the Buffalo Bills," Bills COO Pete Guelli said in a statement. "This is just another example of how the Bills brand and our amazing fan base continues to grow across the sports and entertainment landscape. This is an incredible opportunity to feature Western New York and Bills Mafia on the Hallmark platform. It is a privilege to be part of this project, and we hope this film will be a hit during the holiday season!"
News of a Bills-themed holiday feature comes after their AFC rivals in Kansas City earned a similar spotlight last year. Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story featured a number of notable Chiefs figures, such as Andy Reid, George Karlaftis, former QB Trent Green and Donna Kelce, mother of star tight end Travis Kelce.
"The incredible success of last year's partnership with the NFL and the Kansas City Chiefs far exceeded our expectations," Hallmark chief brand officer Darren Abbott said in a statement. "We are thrilled to team up with the Bills this year for a new holiday movie filled with heart, family and the classic Hallmark storytelling that our fans know and love, all set against the special community the Bills franchise has nurtured throughout its storied history."
Kansas City made its third straight trip to the Super Bowl after the team's Hallmark debut last winter. Buffalo is hoping its foray into holiday film can spark similar success.
