Netflix has acquired the film rights to Richard Paul Evan’s New York Times bestselling novel, The Noel Diary, continuing its trend of adapting best-sellers into films. The upcoming adaptation of this holiday-themed story is about a man who gets the best Christmas present he could ever ask for: the ability to rewrite his past.
Charles Shyer, the Oscar-nominated veteran director of Father of the Bride, Private Benjamin, and Alfie, will direct the film. Shyer co-wrote the script for the film with Rebecca Connor (The Family) and David Golden. The producers are Timothy O. Johnson of Johnson Production Group, Margret Huddleston, and Stephanie Slack, with executive producers Hartley and Norman Stephens.
What is the story of The Noel Diary about?
The Noel Diary on Netflix is an adaptation of Richard Paul Evans’ bestselling novel of the same name, and its plot is lengthy:
Jacob Churcher, best-selling romance author, hasn’t been home in nearly two decades, since his mentally ill mother kicked him out when he was sixteen. When a lawyer calls a few days before Christmas to tell him that his estranged mother has died and left him her house, Jacob returns not only to settle the estate but also to try to reconcile with the past and the pain and abuse he endured as a child.
Also, maybe cleaning out her house will be less depressing than spending the holidays alone, watching Christmas classics reruns. However, the house contains more than just painful memories; Jacob’s mother had become a hoarder, and he must sort through two decades of clutter.
As Jacob digs through the debris like an archaeologist, he discovers a diary left by someone named Noel, a young woman he has no recollection of, who stayed with Jacob’s family during her pregnancy. That isn’t the only echoes of the past. Rachel, a woman looking for the mother who abandoned her thirty years ago, pays Jacob an unexpected visit. Jacob and Rachel embark on a search for Noel, united by their desire to make sense of the past and rewrite their futures. Along the way, they discover more than they could have imagined, such as grace, forgiveness, and a chance at love.
Who is in the cast of The Noel Diary?
The Noel Diary’s Jacob Churcher would be portrayed by This is Us actor Justin Hartley, it was announced in August 2020. Bonnie Bedelia (Die Hard, Parenthood), a Golden Globe and Emmy nominee, and Treat Williams will appear with Hartley (Everwood, Hair, Blue Bloods).
Additional cast members consist of:
James Remar (Sex and the City: A Farewell)
Essence Atkins (A Haunted House)
Andrea Sooch (Better Call Saul)
Barrett Doss as Rachel (Iron Fist)
Vivian Full as Shari (The Escape Room)
Aaron Costa Ganis (Lazy Eye)
When will Netflix stream The Noel Diary?
The Stamford Advocate reported in May 2021 that they were actively looking for extras for the production. According to the Hartford Courant, the Manchester Memorial Hospital will be decorated for the holidays in mid-June 2021. The DailyMail also reported several pictures, including Justin Hartley on set, in late June 2022 (just before the movie wrapped). We did originally predict the Christmas movie in holiday season 2021, but that did not come to pass. Instead, the film will be released on Netflix on November 24th, 2022, during the holiday season of 2022. It’s being billed as a “major tentpole Christmas film” for 2022.