Alison Sweeney Stars Opposite Jane Austen in a New Movie!

In her newest movie for Hallmark Channel, Alison Sweeney (ex-Sami, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) plays an advertising executive who gets a little help in the love department from the iconic author Jane Austen! Titled Love & Jane, the movie debuts Saturday, Feb. 10, as part of the network’s annual “Loveuary” romance programming event… which this year pays tribute to the Regency-era novelist!

The movie once again teams Sweeney with Benjamin Ayres, her co-star from The Chronicle Mysteries series, as Lilly and Trevor. A hopeless romantic, Lilly is a Jane Austen fanatic — aka a “Janeite” — who longs for the simpler life depicted in her favorite novels. Lilly’s life takes a wild turn when her favorite writer (played by Sweeney’s Hannah Swensen co-star, Kendra Anderson) appears in her living room out of nowhere and begins to offer the sage advice in life and love as only Jane Austen could. Flitting in and out at home and at Lilly’s office, Jane helps her navigate the challenges in her life, including how to find inspiration for an ad campaign for her favorite bookstore, which has just been purchased by tech billionaire Trevor.

Love and Jane still — “This movie was such a delight to work on,” Sweeney said, pictured here with Anderson as Austen.David Astorga/Hallmark Media

Sweeney, who also serves as an executive producer on the movie, revealed on Instagram that as an Austen fanatic herself, Love & Jane was a “passion project” from the get-go. “Writer/director David Weaver came up with a brilliant story, and when we pitched it to Hallmark, they felt the same,” the DAYS vet wrote.

The fact that Jessica Callahan, VP of Development at Hallmark, was a fellow Austen fan helped to bring the story to the screen. “We completely bonded to honor Jane as much as we possibly can,” Sweeney confessed.

In another Instagram post promoting Love & Jane, Sweeney opened up about her latest character. “I am beyond thrilled to share this movie with you all,” she said. “The role of Lily is so unique and special to me. I hope you love her as much as I do.”

Check out this preview for Love & Jane below, then tune in to see what Sweeney called “a love letter to Jane and her incredible work” on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 8 p.m. EST!