ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A new Hallmark-style holiday film set against the fervor of Bills fandom blends romance, family mystery and a love letter to Western New York in “Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story,” the movie’s stars said in a recent interview with WROC.
The film follows lifelong friends Gabe and Morgan, played by Matthew Daddario and Holland Roden, who grow up as neighbors in a pair of families defined by football devotion. Much of the story is rooted in local Bills traditions: tailgates, local food favorites and the boisterous community known as Bills Mafia.
“It’s the families… the backdrop of the whole film is taking place around two families that are obsessed with the Bills,” Daddario said. The production leaned into regional touchstones, from tailgating culture to appearances by Bills players and staff, the actors said.
The plot mixes a holiday romance with a decades-long family mystery: a Secret Santa who has left gifts for 50 years without revealing their identity. The mystery, and the characters’ ties to a relative who raised them, provide the emotional core of the film.
“My Uncle Tommy,” Rodden said, referring to the character played by Joe Pantoliano, “raised us and really sacrificed a lot in his life … so there is definitely a giving aspect within a loved one, within the family at Christmas.”
Cast and crew also embraced on-set cameos from members of the Bills organization. Rodden described a down-to-earth atmosphere and memorable moments with players, including one anecdote about safety Damar Hamlin recalling a fourth-grade role in “Peter Pan” when asked about acting experience.
The movie is set to double as a farewell to Highmark Stadium in its current form; the stadium’s pending replacement figures into plot details.
“This is the last year for Highmark that’s relevant in the film,” Daddario said, adding that the project felt “serendipitous” to celebrate the stadium and the region that helped shape the production.
The stars said they attended a Bills game ahead of the film’s release and soaked up the tailgating scene and fan energy.
They hope the movie, a mix of Hallmark warmth and football passion, will become a seasonal watch for families who want a feel-good holiday story centered on community and tradition.
“You’re going to get family, you’re going to get love, you’re going to get a nice, joyous ending,” Daddario said. “I just want people to really sit down, watch this movie with their family, enjoy it … feel good.”
“Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story” positions itself as a hometown tribute wrapped in familiar holiday beats: football, family and the small-town rituals that bind communities together.
The film premieres on the Hallmark Channel on Saturday, November 22 at 8 p.m. You can see more of Gio’s interview with Holland and Matthew on “Behind the Curtain” — Friday at 9 p.m. on the RochesterFirst streaming app, available for download on your smart TV.
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