Great American Family to Launch Mystery Film Franchise with Candace Cameron Bure

Michael Foust CrosswalkHeadlines Contributor
Updated Feb 28, 2024

Great American Family announced Tuesday it is launching its own mystery movie franchise, with Candace Cameron Bure starring in the series’ first title.

The “Great American Mysteries” franchise will be part of the Great American Family lineup and will launch with The Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker, starring Bure and Aaron Ashmore (Ginny & Georgia). Bure is known for her rom-coms such as My Christmas Hero but starred in a series of popular mystery-themed movies for the Hallmark Channel as part of the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries series.

A Case for the Winemaker is based on a book by author Candace Havens. Great American Family will announce more “new original mystery movie series” in the coming weeks, the network said.

“We are thrilled to be in the business of telling fun, light-hearted stories featuring great characters, strong stories and a fun side of the mystery genre that fits perfectly with our licensed series strategy,” said Bill Abbott, president and CEO of Great American Media. “Our cozy mysteries are crafted in the heritage of the classic storytelling that has evolved since Agatha Christie coined the term in the 1930s and set the stage for one of the most popular genres of entertainment.”

In 2014, Abbott -- then CEO of Crown Media -- oversaw the rebranding of Hallmark Movie Channel to Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, according to Deadline.

A Case for the Winemaker follows the story of Ainsley McGregor, an ex-criminologist who moves to her hometown of Sweet River, Texas, to open a crafts market. Soon, though, her crime-solving skills are put to the test when a local murder shocks the small town. A release date for A Case for the Winemaker has not been set. The film is a Syrup Studios production in association with Candy Rock Entertainment, Bure’s company.

“There’s nothing more exciting for me than being back in the cozy mystery genre,” Bure said. “Mysteries are so fun to watch and to try to solve. I hope our faithful fans and audiences fall in love with the townspeople of Sweet River, Texas, and Ainsley McGregor’s keen eye for solving mysteries. In this next-level mystery series, the family dynamics and developing relationships alone should keep you coming back for more!”

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Image credit: ©Great American Family

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.

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