Hallmark Channel veteran Candace Cameron Bure has signed a major deal with rival GAC Media to develop, produce and star in movies and television shows, becoming at least the 11th Hallmark star in recent months to agree to appear in projects for the new family-friendly company.
Bure, according to a news release, will take on a prominent executive role at GAC Media to “oversee and curate programming.” She has agreed to develop and produce original content for GAC Media through her venture, Candy Rock Entertainment, and “create year-round seasonal celebration content” for the company.
GAC Media, launched in 2021 by former Hallmark CEO Bill Abbott, is home to two channels: GAC Family and GAC Living. GAC is an acronym for “Great American Channels.”
In recent months at least 10 other Hallmark stars have either appeared in GAC Media projects or signed on to future projects. The list includes Danica McKellar, Jen Lilley, Daniel Lissing, Jessica Lowndes, Merritt Patterson, Neal Bledsoe, Jesse Metcalfe, Sara Canning, Trevor Donovan and Lori Loughlin.
Bure is arguably the biggest name yet.
“I’m very excited to develop heartwarming family and faith-filled programming and make the kind of stories my family and I love to watch,” Bure said. “I am constantly looking for ways that I can inspire people to live life with purpose. GAC fits my brand perfectly; we share a vision of creating compelling, wholesome content for an audience who wants to watch programming for and with the whole family. Great, quality entertainment with a positive message is what my partnership with GAC is all about!”
Abbott said Bure will be a great addition to the company in creating “quality family programming.”
“Candace is adored by generations of fans as one of family entertainment’s most cherished and relatable stars,” he said.
Abbott was CEO of the Hallmark Channel’s parent company in December 2019 when Hallmark faced backlash from fans for airing a Zola commercial featuring a same-sex couple kissing. Hallmark Channel initially pulled the commercial but then reinstated it. With Abbott still CEO, another Hallmark executive, George Zaralidis, released a statement saying future Hallmark projects will feature “LGBTQ storylines, characters, and actors.”
Abbott stepped down about one month later.
Since then, multiple Hallmark movies have included same-sex couples. In April of this year, Hallmark announced it had signed director Jonathan Bennett to an exclusive multi-picture overall deal after he helmed two Hallmark films – The Christmas House and The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls – that included LGBT characters. Bennett, who is gay, noted in the press release he was nominated for two GLAAD Media Awards for the movies. GLAAD is an LGBT advocacy group.
“I’m so fortunate and proud that Hallmark is a champion for representation,” Bennett said. “I can’t wait for all that is ahead.”
Related:
Candace Cameron Bure's Daughter, Natasha, Gets Baptized: 'My Heart Is Overwhelmed by God's Goodness'
Candace Cameron Bure's New Bible Hits #1 Spot on Amazon's Christian Books Chart
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Gabriel Olsen/Stringer
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
