A Lifetime Christmas movie starring Rita Moreno is in the works. The movie is Melissa Joan Hart’s fourth directorial effort for the channel. Marissa Jaret Winokur (Hairspray), Emily Kinney (The Walking Dead), Patrick Kassidy, Justin Gaston, Deanne Bray, and Zyra Singleton are among the other cast members in addition to Moreno. Hart and Winokur reunite in Santa Bootcamp after working together in A Very Nutty Christmas on Lifetime.
In Santa Bootcamp, event planner Emily Strauss (Kinney) is on a mission to find the best Santa Claus and some holiday spirit in preparation for a Christmas Gala she is throwing for the investors of a mall mogul (Kassidy).
Emily meets Belle (Moreno), a sweet drill sergeant, during her time at Santa Bootcamp. Belle is instrumental in getting Emily into the holiday mood and showing her the romantic side of the season. Moreno is a performer from the heyday of Hollywood’s Golden Age. She has been in several movies, TV shows, and other forms of media throughout the years. Moreno is a veteran of supporting roles in iconic films like West Side Story and its two remakes, as well as other classics like Singin’ in the Rain and The King and I. Her other acting roles include those in Popi, Carnal Knowledge, Slums of Beverly Hills (a cult film), and the recently cancelled One Day at a Time on Netflix.
Moreno is among the few people in the entertainment world to have won two Emmys, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award for her work. Moreno made a public statement regarding her decision to participate in Santa Bootcamp, in which she said: “As far back as I can remember, I have always loved celebrating holidays, especially Christmas. The thought that I’ll be in this great Lifetime Christmas movie, Santa Bootcamp, makes me laugh till I cry. During the holiday season, I have been known to decorate everyone who stays motionless for longer than a minute in my home. When I let my inner child out, I adorn everyone and everything in sight. So this is a real treat for me. For that, we owe a debt of gratitude to Lifetime. My young nephews and nieces are already in high spirits.”
The network’s “It’s a Wonderful Lifetime” Christmas lineup includes Santa Bootcamp as one of two features.
Reindeer Games Homecoming, starring Sarah Drew and co-star Justin Bruening of Grey’s Anatomy, is the other. This September, Lifetime will reveal their whole lineup of Christmas programming. Based on the plot, Hart’s film sounds like it might be a lot of fun, and with an actress as good as Moreno, maybe this Lifetime Christmas movie can stand out from the crowd this year. Hart is no stranger to the Lifetime Channel for the holiday; she has directed three previous films for the channel.