Alison Sweeney talks more about 'Chronicle Mysteries' and 'Hannah Swensen'
Alison Sweeney revealed why she Chronicles Mysteries The movie franchise has taken a backseat at Hallmark, and sorry sleuth lovers, it partly has to do with the Hannah Swensen Mysteries.
“It's tough in the landscape with all the different competing mysteries at Hallmark,” Sweeney, 47, told exclusively We weekly why fans haven't seen more Chronicle Mysteries movies. “And I think they feel like they want to focus on the Hannah Swenson series.”
Sweeney broke into the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries genre by playing baker Hannah Swensen in the film Murder, she baked films in 2015. After starring in six films as a Cookie Jar owner and amateur sleuth, Sweeney's Hannah Swensen adventures temporarily ended in 2017.
However, the actress didn't stop doing mysteries for the network. The Chronicles Mysteries premiered in 2019 and the final episode aired in 2021. Throughout the five films, Sweeney played podcast host Alex McPherson, who works with newspaper editor Drew Godfrey (Benjamin Ayres) to solve crimes when they're not doing their real work.
“Oh my god, we loved working on those films together. It was so much fun,” Sweeney said Us of performing alongside Ayres, 47. “Ben and I really enjoyed working together, and I'm sure we'd love to think of something else to do together again.”
While fans may not be happy that Sweeney and Ayres aren't reprising their mysterious alter egos, the two recently teamed up to star in Hallmark Channel's Love & Jane. The film, part of the network's Loveuary programming, follows Lilly (Sweeney) on her journey to find love with the help of her literary idol Jane Austen.
“I'm a big fan of Jane Austen, so when David Weaverthe writer, presented this idea to me, and I jumped up and grabbed it with both hands, like, 'We have to do this,'” Sweeney said. Us of the project.
Love & Jane is Sweeney's next Hallmark project, but it won't be her last. Earlier this month, Hallmark announced that the actress will return as Hannah Swensen in the upcoming film One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery. The film marks the fourth Hannah Swensen mystery since 2021, the revived film franchise.
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“I think the really crucial thing is for Hannah [that] we work from the books, the beautiful Joannes Fluke books she's written, and she has 30 of them,” Sweeney shared Us of the future of the franchise. “So there are tons of stories and mysteries and adventures for Hannah that matter to her, which is so fun.”
Sweeney teased that her character's future with ex-fiance Mike Kingston (Cameron Mathison) may not be the endgame movie fans want.
“It's a push-pull with Mike, and he's not always the right guy for her every step of the way in those books,” Sweeney said. Hallmark confirmed this Us in February that Mathison, 54, won't be in the next one Hannah Swensen mystery after the network shared that Viktor Webster will be part of the cast for the May release. Mathison's future with the franchise has not been announced.
Meanwhile, Sweeney explained Us that she wants to “focus on” Hannah's desire to “be a better crime solver” in the upcoming films.
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She joked that her father should get “credit” for her new approach to Hannah. “Two or three movies ago my father said, 'That's not enough evidence to convict anyone.' You don't know he did it,” Sweeney said Us, noting that it was a light bulb moment. “[He’s like], 'Well, I'm just saying, that's not real evidence.' And I thought, 'Oh my God, I think he's right. I have to develop the evidence, get the evidence. ''
Love & Jane premieres on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, February 10 at 8pm ET.