Alison Sweeney<\/a> is pulling double duty for Hallmark<\/a>, leading two new films over consecutive weekends that highlight her range in front of and behind the camera.<\/p>\n The first, Romance at Hope Ranch<\/a><\/em>, is especially close to Sweeney\u2019s heart. Not only does the movie feature her 17-year-old daughter, Megan Sweeney<\/a>, playing her character\u2019s child, but it also incorporates one of their favorite pastimes: horseback riding.<\/p>\n \u201cI have been developing Hope Ranch<\/em> for about two years,\u201d Sweeney begins. \u201cI was working on the concept with the writer, and it had come up in conversation that I had never been in a horse movie. Every time a great horse-themed movie comes out on Hallmark, I\u2019m always like, \u2018Why isn\u2019t that me?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Hallmark Media\/Photographer:\u00a0Courtesy Vault Entertainment<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Inspired by that idea, Sweeney took the reins and tapped her Hannah Swensen Mysteries\u2019<\/em> costar, Gabriel Hogan<\/a>, to collaborate on the story and star as her love interest.<\/p>\n \u201cHe does a series called Heartland<\/em><\/a>, and he has lots of experience working with horses, so he had the interest, and he developed an idea,\u201d she explains. \u201cWe sort of married that all together, and came up with the concept of Hope Ranch<\/em>, which is, in some ways, themed after my family. My character\u2019s name is Hope, my mother\u2019s birth name was Hope, and my grandmother\u2019s name was Hope, so that was a little tribute to my mom and the fact that she brought being obsessed with horses into my family, and my daughter and I both carry that on. I have a dream of wanting to own a ranch, so bringing that to life in this role and this character was super fun.\u201d<\/p>\n The project became even more personal during a conversation with her producing partner, Craig Baumgarten, about casting Hope\u2019s daughter. He suggested hiring Megan. \u201cThere was an awkward silence on the phone where I just was so stunned,\u201d Sweeney admits. \u201cIt literally had not ever occurred to me. I kind of stammered a bit, and then was like, \u2018I mean, yes, of course, that would be amazing.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Hallmark Media\/Photographer:\u00a0Courtesy Vault Entertainment<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Although Megan isn\u2019t currently planning to pursue an acting career, she was eager to take on the role. \u201cMegan was so excited when I asked her if she would be interested in doing it,\u201d Sweeney relays. \u201cAnd she took it really seriously and worked really hard and did a lot of prep in the memorizing and understanding how to do on-camera acting. She\u2019s done theater at school, but performing on a stage is extremely different from how to perform in front on camera. She did a great job, and I am so proud of her.\u201d<\/p>\n Still, Sweeney made sure to establish boundaries before stepping on set. \u201cWe had a little chat before I officially offered her the job,\u201d she shares. \u201cI said, \u2018So, when we\u2019re on set, I\u2019m your producer. This is a different relationship, and when I am being a professional at work, you have to take it seriously.\u2019 She agreed, and we shook hands on it, and she did take it very seriously. When Tailiah [Breon], our director, was giving her notes, I became a total mom and was taking photos behind the scenes of Megan getting directed and working with the camera person, for example. And then I would immediately put down the phone and get invested as the actor or the producer, whatever my responsibility was at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n Hallmark Media\/Photographer:\u00a0Courtesy Vault Entertainment<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Beyond the family connection, the movie also allowed Sweeney to lean into her longtime love of horses, a skill she had already put to use professionally. \u201cI had recently done a guest spot on Jonathan Bennett<\/a>\u2018s show, Finding Mr. Christmas<\/a><\/em>, where there was horseback riding,\u201d she says. \u201cI had to have the horse and then do the scene and then get on a horse and ride away with each contestant. I did it about eight times, and it was a perfect warm-up for me to do this movie, because I got really used to navigating horseback riding and dealing with horses while acting at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n After pouring her heart into Romance at<\/em> Hope Ranch<\/em>, Sweeney\u2019s next film is a return to the world of Hannah Swensen Mysteries<\/em>. Sugar & Vice<\/em><\/a>, premiering March 7, unfolds at a masquerade ball, where a murder and a storm trap everyone inside, leaving the baking sleuth to identify the culprit.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought that a masquerade would be a really fun way to do an Agatha Christie<\/a>-style idea where it all happens in one night and someone inside the building did it,\u201d Sweeney notes. \u201cIt was a fun twist for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Bringing the concept to life required careful planning, particularly when it came to wardrobe, a key element in striking the right tone for the masquerade setting. \u201cThe costumes were big undertaking for our costume designer,\u201d Sweeney says. \u201cOnce you say masquerade, it can fall into Halloween very easily and we didn\u2019t want that and neither did she. We had meetings about how the main characters should be dressed, and it was just really fun coming up with ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n The film marks the fourth movie Sweeney has written for the franchise, in addition to starring and serving as an executive producer, a creative role she continues to embrace. \u201cIt\u2019s different and challenging each time, and I think that\u2019s partially to do with me, because I\u2019m always looking for new ideas,\u201d she explains. \u201cYou want to just keep it fresh and keep the audience surprised and keep the characters challenged in the format. These characters are already so well developed, and I know the actors who play them so well that I can play out the scene in my head of each of them.\u201d<\/p>\n Hallmark Media\/Photographer:\u00a0David Astorga<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Her approach to writing is rooted in advice she received early in her career. \u201cWhen I started on Days of our Lives<\/a><\/em> [as Sami Brady] in 1993, Deidre Hall<\/a> [Marlena Evans] said to me, \u2018The script is a skeleton for the actors to hang their ideas and their character and their performance on,\u2019\u201d Sweeney recalls. \u201cI feel like my favorite moments when we\u2019re filming is when an actor gets a really good idea based on what I wrote and they make it better, like, \u2018What if I do it this way?\u2019 or, \u2018What if I change the line?\u2019 And I\u2019m like, \u2018Yes! I love it!\u2019 It makes me feel proud that I created an opportunity so they could be creative, too. It brings me a lot of joy to be a part of the process in that way.\u201d<\/p>\n Of course, crafting murder mysteries does come with one occupational hazard. \u201cI spend a lot of time Googling,\u201d Sweeney quips. \u201cI mean, I hope nothing bad ever happens to anyone I know, because my search prompts are definitely questionable!\u201d<\/p>\n Romance at Hope Ranch<\/em>, Movie Premiere, Saturday, February 28, 8\/7c, Hallmark Channel<\/strong><\/p>\n Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery<\/em>, Movie Premiere, Saturday, March 7, 8\/7c, Hallmark Channel<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Gabriel](\"https:\/\/www.tvinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/megan-sweeney-romance-at-hope-ranch-855x570.jpg\")
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