In a recent exclusive interview with Us Weekly, actress Alison Sweeney opened up about the reason behind the pause in her popular Chronicles Mysteries movie franchise at Hallmark. And unfortunately for fans of the sleuth-filled series, it seems that part of the reason is related to another one of Sweeney's mystery projects, the Hannah Swensen Mysteries.
Sweeney, who first entered the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries genre as baker-turned-sleuth Hannah Swensen in the Murder, She Baked films in 2015, starred in six movies as the beloved character before taking a temporary break in 2017. However, that didn't mean she stopped making mysteries for the network altogether. In 2019, Sweeney introduced the Chronicles Mysteries, a series that follows her character, podcast host Alex McPherson, as she solves crimes alongside newspaper editor Drew Godfrey (played by Benjamin Ayres).
Working on the Chronicles Mysteries was a joy for Sweeney, who expressed her enjoyment of collaborating with co-star Ayres. She even hinted at the possibility of reuniting with him for another project in the future. But while fans might be disappointed that the Chronicles Mysteries haven't continued, Sweeney and Ayres recently teamed up for Hallmark Channel's Love & Jane, a movie that forms part of the network's Loveuary programming. Love & Jane follows Sweeney's character, Lilly, as she embarks on a journey to find love with the help of her literary idol, Jane Austen.
Despite this exciting new project, Sweeney's future on Hallmark won't solely revolve around Love & Jane. Just a few weeks ago, Hallmark announced that Sweeney will be reprising her role as Hannah Swensen in the upcoming One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery. This will be the fourth movie in the revived Hannah Swensen Mystery franchise, which started in 2021.
Sweeney highlighted that staying true to the essence of the Hannah Swensen books by Joanne Fluke is paramount for the longevity of the franchise, as there is a wealth of source material to draw from. With about 30 books in the series, Sweeney emphasized the ample supply of stories, mysteries, and adventures awaiting Hannah Swensen.
Intriguingly, Sweeney hinted at some potential twists on the romantic front for Hannah, particularly regarding her relationship with ex-fiancé Mike Kingston, played by Cameron Mathison. She explained that there might be a push and pull dynamic with Mike, as he may not always be the right match for Hannah throughout the series. Hallmark previously confirmed that Mathison will not be appearing in the next Hannah Swensen Mystery, with Victor Webster joining the cast for the upcoming release in May.
Looking ahead, Sweeney disclosed that she wants to focus on further developing Hannah's skills as a crime solver in the upcoming movies. In fact, she jokingly credited her dad for inspiring this approach. During a conversation, her dad questioned the sufficiency of evidence in a previous movie, leading Sweeney to realize the importance of presenting solid proof and building a stronger case.
As fans await the return of Hannah Swensen and the resolution of her romantic entanglements, they can tune in to Love & Jane, which premieres on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, February 10, at 8 p.m. ET. And with Sweeney's passion for the character and the abundance of material available from the Hannah Swensen books, it's safe to say that there will be plenty more gripping mysteries to solve in the future.
