NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n\n- \n\n
Mario Lopez\u2019s son Dominic plays his on-screen son and his wife Courtney performs a song in the film<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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The movie explores family traditions, legacy, and the emotional ties that bring people back to their roots<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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Mario says sharing the screen with his son and Tony Danza made the project deeply personal and meaningful<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Mario Lopez<\/a>\u2019s new Christmas movie \u2014 much like his epic Christmas celebrations at home \u2014 has become a family affair.<\/p>\nIn addition to his son Dominic Lopez<\/a> playing his son in Christmas at The Starlight<\/em><\/a>, PEOPLE can exclusively reveal that his wife, Courtney Lopez, will be performing a song in the film.<\/p>\nThe multi-generational movie, which will premiere on Great American Family later this year, is set at a local supper club filled with family traditions, and its owner, Frank (Tony Danza<\/a>), is preparing to sell the family business after 40 years. The rest of his family, including his son (Mario) and grandson (Dominic), \u201care drawn into an emotional journey that reminds them what is worth preserving \u2014 and how faith, family, and home can quietly lead us back to where we belong,\u201d according to the official synopsis.<\/p>\nIn exclusive first-look photos, Danza, 75, Mario, 52, and Dominic, 12, reveal some of what they have on tap. (See what we did there?)<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\nCourtney Lopez in Christmas at the StarlightCredit: Great American Media \/ Bennett Raglin<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\u201cThe older I get, the more Christmas becomes more about time with family and friends,\u201d Mario tells PEOPLE. \u201cSharing the screen with Tony Danza was an honor, and getting to make those memories alongside my son Dominic \u2014 and having my wife Courtney sing a Christmas song \u2014 made it all the more special and fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope when people watch it, they laugh, they feel something, and it becomes part of their own holiday tradition,\u201d Mario adds.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"Tony](\"https:\/\/hermes.media.static.aol.com\/media\/2026\/07\/07\/acfd2d1a-6fa7-3ad8-bc21-be511052fc13\/78194d5a-3e23-4764-9728-fe3f59e56262.jpg\"\/)
<\/div>\nTony Danza and Dominic Lopez in Christmas at The StarlightCredit: Great American Media \/ Bennett Raglin<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\u201cWorking with Tony Danza as my father in this story is incredibly special, and having Dominic play my son makes it even more personal,\u201d Mario told PEOPLE previously. \u201cChristmas at The Starlight <\/em>is about family, honoring where you come from, and recognizing the traditions and people that shape your life. … I\u2019m proud to be part of a movie that celebrates those values in such a heartfelt way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n![\"Mario](\"https:\/\/hermes.media.static.aol.com\/media\/2026\/07\/07\/acfd2d1a-6fa7-3ad8-bc21-be511052fc13\/ceb7416a-0d54-4ea4-9800-953ad7675467.jpg\"\/)
<\/div>\nMario and Dominic Lopez in Christmas at The StarlightCredit: Great American Media \/ Bennett Raglin<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
Christmas is \u201call about familia. Spending time together, drinking, eating, gambling, listening to music, watching movies and just checking out and focusing on what\u2019s important,\u201d Mario told PEOPLE last year. \u201cNot worrying about all the other stuff, just locking in and being with each other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n![\"Tony](\"https:\/\/hermes.media.static.aol.com\/media\/2026\/07\/07\/acfd2d1a-6fa7-3ad8-bc21-be511052fc13\/b5f7a0a3-5122-4fc5-b00f-aa68992dcdf3.jpg\"\/)
<\/div>\nTony Danza, Mario Lopez and Dominic Lopez in Christmas at The StarlightCredit: Great American Media \/ Bennett Raglin<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
The actor especially loves sharing a mix of traditions with his family, from his favorite Mexican tamales to his wife\u2019s Italian cooking.<\/p>\n
\u201cI get the best of both worlds,\u201d he said. \u201cMy grandmother, rest in peace, she started with tamales, and my mom continues the tradition, and my sister. The thing about tamales too, there\u2019s so many different kinds… you can have them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, incorporate them so you get a little thicker come the holidays.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n![\"Mario](\"https:\/\/hermes.media.static.aol.com\/media\/2026\/07\/07\/acfd2d1a-6fa7-3ad8-bc21-be511052fc13\/aede67da-8670-4913-9e97-a31e191c819b.jpg\"\/)
<\/div>\nMario Lopez and Taylor Kalupa in Christmas at The StarlightCredit: Great American Media \/ Bennett Raglin<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\u201cAt its heart, this film is about legacy \u2014 the lessons passed from father to son, the traditions that anchor families, and the cherished places where memories become part of who we are,\u201d Great American Media president and CEO Bill Abbott said in a statement. \u201cBringing Mario and Tony together as father and son, with Dominic continuing that lineage on screen, gives this story a rare authenticity and emotional resonance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE\u2019s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/p>\n
Mario Lopez\u2019s son Dominic plays his on-screen son and his wife Courtney performs a song in the film<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
The movie explores family traditions, legacy, and the emotional ties that bring people back to their roots<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
Mario says sharing the screen with his son and Tony Danza made the project deeply personal and meaningful<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Mario Lopez<\/a>\u2019s new Christmas movie \u2014 much like his epic Christmas celebrations at home \u2014 has become a family affair.<\/p>\n In addition to his son Dominic Lopez<\/a> playing his son in Christmas at The Starlight<\/em><\/a>, PEOPLE can exclusively reveal that his wife, Courtney Lopez, will be performing a song in the film.<\/p>\n The multi-generational movie, which will premiere on Great American Family later this year, is set at a local supper club filled with family traditions, and its owner, Frank (Tony Danza<\/a>), is preparing to sell the family business after 40 years. The rest of his family, including his son (Mario) and grandson (Dominic), \u201care drawn into an emotional journey that reminds them what is worth preserving \u2014 and how faith, family, and home can quietly lead us back to where we belong,\u201d according to the official synopsis.<\/p>\n In exclusive first-look photos, Danza, 75, Mario, 52, and Dominic, 12, reveal some of what they have on tap. (See what we did there?)<\/p>\n Courtney Lopez in Christmas at the StarlightCredit: Great American Media \/ Bennett Raglin<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n \u201cThe older I get, the more Christmas becomes more about time with family and friends,\u201d Mario tells PEOPLE. \u201cSharing the screen with Tony Danza was an honor, and getting to make those memories alongside my son Dominic \u2014 and having my wife Courtney sing a Christmas song \u2014 made it all the more special and fun.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope when people watch it, they laugh, they feel something, and it becomes part of their own holiday tradition,\u201d Mario adds.<\/p>\n Tony Danza and Dominic Lopez in Christmas at The StarlightCredit: Great American Media \/ Bennett Raglin<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n \u201cWorking with Tony Danza as my father in this story is incredibly special, and having Dominic play my son makes it even more personal,\u201d Mario told PEOPLE previously. \u201cChristmas at The Starlight <\/em>is about family, honoring where you come from, and recognizing the traditions and people that shape your life. … I\u2019m proud to be part of a movie that celebrates those values in such a heartfelt way.\u201d<\/p>\n Mario and Dominic Lopez in Christmas at The StarlightCredit: Great American Media \/ Bennett Raglin<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Christmas is \u201call about familia. Spending time together, drinking, eating, gambling, listening to music, watching movies and just checking out and focusing on what\u2019s important,\u201d Mario told PEOPLE last year. \u201cNot worrying about all the other stuff, just locking in and being with each other.\u201d<\/p>\n Tony Danza, Mario Lopez and Dominic Lopez in Christmas at The StarlightCredit: Great American Media \/ Bennett Raglin<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n The actor especially loves sharing a mix of traditions with his family, from his favorite Mexican tamales to his wife\u2019s Italian cooking.<\/p>\n \u201cI get the best of both worlds,\u201d he said. \u201cMy grandmother, rest in peace, she started with tamales, and my mom continues the tradition, and my sister. The thing about tamales too, there\u2019s so many different kinds… you can have them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, incorporate them so you get a little thicker come the holidays.\u201d<\/p>\n Mario Lopez and Taylor Kalupa in Christmas at The StarlightCredit: Great American Media \/ Bennett Raglin<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n \u201cAt its heart, this film is about legacy \u2014 the lessons passed from father to son, the traditions that anchor families, and the cherished places where memories become part of who we are,\u201d Great American Media president and CEO Bill Abbott said in a statement. \u201cBringing Mario and Tony together as father and son, with Dominic continuing that lineage on screen, gives this story a rare authenticity and emotional resonance.\u201d<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE\u2019s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>