Lea Michele to Star in Holiday Movie on ABC

ABC announced today that it has picked up a special holiday movie "Same Time, Next Christmas" set to air in December 2019, from Freeform Studios.

The movie stars New York Times bestselling author and singer, Lea Michele, who is known for her role as Rachel Berry on the Fox hit series "Glee."

In "Same Time, Next Christmas," Lea Michele will play the lead role of Olivia Henderson, a young woman who met her childhood sweetheart during her family's annual Christmas visit to Hawaii. After being separated by distance and years, the two reunite at the same Hawaii resort years later and the old chemistry between them flares up anew - but circumstances conspire to keep them apart.

In addition, Lea Michele is set to release her first Christmas album this coming holiday.

"This holiday season holds special importance to me as I get to celebrate both my role in this film and my first-ever holiday album," said Lea Michele. "I'm honored to return to ABC with this movie event, and I am excited to share the holidays with everyone."

"Same Time, Next Christmas" is executive produced by EveryWhere Studios' Tom Mazza and David Culvert Jones, while Stephen Herek ("Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors," "Mr. Holland's Opus and "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure") is set to direct. The movie is produced by Freeform Studios for ABC.

Lea Michele is best known for her performance as "Rachel Berry" on the critically acclaimed, Golden Globe, Grammy, and SAG award-winning FOX television series Glee. She has been nominated for an Emmy, a SAG Award, and multiple Golden Globes. The GLEE Cast recordings have sold over 10 million singles and garnered over 20 top 40 US Billboard Hot 100 hits. Michele also starred on Broadway in the original Broadway production of Spring Awakening.

Lea released her debut album 'Louder' in March of 2014, marketing her step into her career as a solo artist with an incredible vocally-driven record. The album debuted at No. 1 on iTunes and in the Top 5 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. That same year, Lea added best-selling author to her resume when she released her first book, "Brunette Ambition", which was a NY Times Best Seller. She released her second book, "You First," the following year. She recently starred IN THE DARK Ryan Murphy comedy SCREAM QUEENS on FOX.