The Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs already played a central role in the of the past year. Now, the team is getting its very own Hallmark Channel Christmas movie.
On Tuesday, that they are partnering with Hallmark 鈥� which is also based in Kansas City 鈥� to produce 鈥淗oliday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story,鈥� starring Tyler Hynes, Hunter King and Ed Begley, Jr.
The film is set to begin production in July, and Kansas City will be on full display: It will be shot exclusively on the Missouri side of the metro, including at Arrowhead Stadium.
鈥淭his partnership unites two passionate fanbases and gives us an opportunity to show Chiefs Kingdom's energy and tradition on one of the most-watched channels during the holiday season,鈥� said Chiefs president Mark Donovan in a press release.
Anyone who鈥檚 been following the saga of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce might be connecting some dots right about now. But unfortunately, the plot is not about a record-breaking, award-winning pop star who fell in love with an amicable podcast-hosting tight-end after he attended her concert, hoping to give her a homemade friendship bracelet.
Here鈥檚 what we know about the story so far:
鈥淎lana Higman (King) is sure that her family's lifelong history as Kansas City Chiefs superfans makes them a frontrunner to win the team's 鈥楩an of the Year鈥� contest. Derrick (Hynes), Director of Fan Engagement, is tasked with evaluating how Alana and her family stack up against the other two finalists.
As the pair spends time together, it's clear there's a spark between them but when her grandfather's (Begley Jr.) vintage Chiefs, good luck winter hat goes missing, Alana begins to doubt everything she believed about fate and destiny and even questions her future with Derrick 鈥� unless, that is, a little Christmas magic can throw a Hail Mary.鈥�
Now that we think about it, though, a Kansas City Chiefs employee who finds himself in an unexpectedly high-profile romance, with football merchandise playing a central role? That鈥檚 starting to sound familiar.
Chiefs merchandise has been a central theme in Kelce and Swift鈥檚 relationship. At nearly every NFL game she鈥檚 attended, Swift has worn vintage or custom Chiefs gear, giving a surge of attention to the local businesses that sold the apparel.
Perhaps the Chiefs hat that Alana holds so dear in the movie will be modeled after the . That piece, made by , sold out almost immediately and brought in a wave of business to the boutique Westside Storey and Cacho鈥檚 own custom crochet shop.
Swift and Kelce made their love story when Swift made a surprise appearance at a Chiefs game. Quickly, their whirlwind romance included and date nights at . Most recently, Kelce at the Eras Tour in London.
All of the buzz around the relationship brought , and even , who won their second Super Bowl in a row in February. Local stores sold out of custom . Ticket sales for all Chiefs home games .
The superstar lovers even inspired an earlier spoof of a football romcom 鈥� perhaps a preview of what鈥檚 to come 鈥� with a That trailer also starred Hynes, who is billed to lead Hallmark鈥檚 real movie.
"By blending the warmth of Hallmark storytelling with the excitement of professional football, we are thrilled to give audiences a front-row seat to this community's spirit, rich traditions and passionate fans that define Kansas City, all wrapped up in the comforting and uplifting Hallmark way," said Hallmark鈥檚 chief brand officer Darren Abbott.
The film is likely also benefiting from Missouri鈥檚 new , which took effect this year, as well as film tax credits from .
offers a 20% tax credit for qualifying expenses, and additional credits for movies that meet other conditions -- including if more than half of it is filmed in Missouri. This is the first film tax credit program in Missouri since 2013, when the last version lapsed. Kansas City also offers up to a 10% rebate on eligible productions.
We also have to wonder: Will either Swift or Kelce make a cameo 鈥� as themselves or in character 鈥� in 鈥淗oliday Touchdown鈥�? After all, both have acting credits on their resumes.
appeared in the movies 鈥淐ats,鈥� 鈥淎msterdam鈥� and 鈥淰alentine鈥檚 Day,鈥� and she's made guest appearances on the TV shows 鈥淣ew Girl鈥� and 鈥淐SI.鈥�
Kelce made . Soon, he'll have his first major acting gig (not counting his short-lived reality dating show ) in the Ryan Murphy FX series 鈥�.鈥� Kelce is also on tap to host a revival of the quiz show on Prime Video.
鈥淗oliday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story鈥� does not have an air date yet, but it鈥檚 slated to run during Hallmark鈥檚 鈥� which begins in October. Maybe you鈥檒l even be able to make it a double-feature with a Chiefs game.
