Photo: Seventeen

The popular A Cinderella Story franchise has found its new leading lady.

Laura Marano follows in the footsteps of Hilary Duff, Selena Gomez, Lucy Hale & Sofia Carson taking the reins in A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish which is now filming in Vancouver.

“For 15 years, the A Cinderella Story franchise has enchanted audiences with its emotional storylines, engaging music, and talented young actresses in the key lead role,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Vice President, Family & Animation Marketing. “We know that fans of A Cinderella Story will love this heart-warming holiday tale filled with music and magic.”

The fifth installment in the franchise is a contemporary musical that follows Katherine “Kat” Decker who dreams of becoming a famous singer-songwriter. Her reality, however, is suffocated by her conniving and cruel stepfamily and a demoralizing job working as a singing elf at billionaire Terrence Wintergarden’s Santa Land. When she starts to fall for Nick, the handsome new Santa at the tree lot, things begin to look up. Unfortunately, when her stepmother and stepsisters realize Kat has been invited to the prestigious Wintergarden Christmas Gala, they’ll stop at nothing to procure their own invitation and keep Kat from attending. With the help of an attentive dog, a true friend, and a little bit of magic, Kat may just make it to the gala, discover the true identity of Nick, and learn the real meaning of Christmas.

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Joining Laura Marano in the film are Gregg Sulkin as Dominic Wintergarden and three-time Leo® Award winner and Hallmark Channel favorite Johannah Newmarch as the cruel stepmother Deirdra Decker. Kat’s best friend Isla is played by Isabella Gomez (One Day at a Time), and stepsisters Joy and Grace are played, respectively, by Lillian Doucet-Roche (The Miracle Season) and Chanelle Peloso (Syfy’s Deadly Class). Barclay Hope (Riverdale) plays Terrence Wintergarden.