Great news for fans of the beloved book and play “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” – the first photo of the youth cast for the upcoming film adaptation has just been revealed! Directed by Dallas Jenkins of “The Chosen” fame and produced through his collaboration between Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company, this highly anticipated project is now in production.
Slated for a Christmas 2024 release, the movie tells the story of the trouble-making Herdman kids who end up taking over the local church Christmas pageant, bringing some unexpected holiday lessons along the way. Starring comedy veterans Judy Greer and Pete Holmes along with exciting young talent like Molly Belle Wright, this first look at the cast brings Barbara Robinson’s iconic characters to life and promises to capture the humor and heart that has made the book a bestseller since its release in 1971.
With over 7 million copies sold, the novel clearly has cross-generational appeal. For Dallas Jenkins himself, directing this film is a dream over 15 years in the making. He has often spoken about his deep personal connection to the charming tale of chaos and redemption.
While this is just the first peek behind the scenes, it’s surely got fans feeling extra merry and bright about what’s to come from Jenkins’ collaboration between Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company. And with Lionsgate recently acquiring rights to distribute Jenkins’ hugely popular series “The Chosen,” there are likely more uplifting projects yet to emerge from this faith-based filmmaking team.
