Another New Project for Katherine: “Love Comes Softly”

Production has just wrapped on Katherine Heigl’s latest project, the lead role of Marty Claridge in “Love Comes Softly,” a new production which will air exclusively on the Hallmark Channel in April 2003. Filming began on November 12th in Northern California and was shot largely in Coloma and Sacramento. The synopsis of the film is as follows:

“The setting is the mid-West, 1850. Young newly weds, Marty and Aaron Claridge come west in covered wagon seeking a place in the wilderness to build a home, raise a family and grow roots. Tragedy strikes as Marty’s husband Aaron is killed in an accident. Left alone, with a child on the way, Marty is taken in by a kind widower, Clint, and his young daughter, Missie. Feelings grow between Marty and Clint, and she finds herself in a dilemma and has to decide whether she wants to stay with Clint and his daughter or return home.”

The two-hour, original world premiere movie event was directed by Michael Landon, Jr. from his original teleplay, co-authored with Cindy Kelley. The movie is based on the first edition of what is a very successful series of eight “Love Comes Softly” books for writer Janette Oke. Most of Ms. Oke’s books are themed around the inspirational message that lives can be planned, but it’s the life that happens during those plans that matters most. Ms. Oke is second only to Laura Ingalls Wilder of “Little House on the Prairie” fame in her genre.

“Love Comes Softly” is executive produced by Robert Halmi, Jr., Hallmark Entertainment, and Larry Levinson of Alpine Productions. Kevin Bocarde and Kyle Clark are the producers, with Brian J. Gordon as supervising producer.

From the Hallmark Channel Official Press Release regarding Katherine’s new film:

HALLMARK CHANNEL ANNOUNCES PRODUCTION WRAP OF
‘LOVE COMES SOFTLY’
TWO-HOUR ORIGINAL WORLD PREMIERE MOVIE EVENT

Directed by Michael Landon, Jr.

Hallmark Channel announces that production has wrapped on “Love Comes Softly,” a two-hour, original world premiere movie event slated to air exclusively on the network April 2003. Michael Landon, Jr. directs “Love Comes Softly.”

Michael Landon Jr. and Cindy Kelley wrote the original teleplay “Love Comes Softly.” The movie is based on the first edition of what is a very successful series of eight “Love Comes Softly” books for writer Janette Oke. Most of Ms. Oke’s books are themed around the inspirational message that lives can be planned, but it’s the life that happens during those plans that matters most. Ms. Oke is second only to Laura Ingalls Wilder of “Little House on the Prairie” fame in her genre.

“Love Comes Softly” stars Katherine Heigl (“Roswell,” “Romy and Michelle: Behind the Velvet Rope”) as “Marty Claridge,” a young woman reluctantly headed west with her husband, “Aaron” played by Oliver MacReady (“The Guiding Light”), to start a new life when a runaway horse accidentally kills him. In the aftermath of tragedy, Marty finds herself wedded to “Clark Davis,” (Dale Midkiff, “Nancy Drew,” “Air Bud”) a man who wants to take care of her until she can care for herself again. In return, Clark needs a mother for his young teen daughter, “Missie” played by Skye McCole Bartusiak (“The Patriot”). In a place where all hope seems lost, Marty will discover that love is found in the most unlikely of places.

“Love Comes Softly” is executive produced by Robert Halmi, Jr., Hallmark Entertainment, and Larry Levinson of Alpine Productions. Kevin Bocarde and Kyle Clark are producers. Brian J. Gordon is supervising producer.