Great American Family To Launch Its Own Mystery Movie Franchise; Candace Cameron Bure Starrer To Kick Off Series

EXCLUSIVE: Great American Family wants to inject a little mystery into its storytelling.

The network that says it offers content that celebrates family, faith, and country is launching Great American Mysteries, a movie franchise that will star Great American talent. It’s a proven strategy that was first tested at Hallmark, where Crown Media’s former CEO Bill Abbott — who now serves as CEO of GAC Media — oversaw the 2014 rebranding of Hallmark Movie Channel to Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

The first movie in the Great American Mysteries series is The Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker starring Candace Cameron Bure and Aaron Ashmore (Ginny & Georgia). Adapted from bestselling novelist Candace Havens’ book of the same name, The Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker follows Ainsley McGregor (Bure), a former Chicago criminologist who returns to her hometown of Sweet River, Texas. She has chosen to trade full-time crime work to open Bless Your Arts, a market for artisans to sell crafts and wares. But Ainsley cannot deny her first love is crime solving and accepts a position teaching a criminology class at the local community college. Her skills quickly become a major asset to the quaint town, when a murder occurs at a winery owned by her friend, who now stands accused of the crime.

“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 Abbott. “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.”

“There’s nothing more exciting for me than being back in the cozy mystery genre.” added Bure, CEO of Candy Rock Entertainment. “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!”

Great American Family is expected to announce more original movie mysteries in the next few weeks.

The Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker is a Syrup Studios production in association with Candy Rock Entertainment. Costa Vassos serves as Producer and Martin Wood directs a screenplay adapted by Jim Head based on the Candace Havens book of the same name. Executive producers include Bure, Ford Englerth, Jeffery Brooks, Eric Jarboe, Holly A. Hines, Gerald Webb, Martin Wood, Jim Head, and Trevor McWhinney.

Supervising producers include Catherine Kretz and Michael Shepard with Jonathan Shore and Doran S. Chandler serving as associate producers.