Chad Michael Murray Has ‘One Tree Hill’ Fans Falling in Love Again in New Hulu Christmas Movie: ‘Looks So Good’
It’s another Chad Michael Murray Christmas!
One Tree Hill fans are in for a treat this holiday season. Not only is James Lafferty set to star in his first-ever Christmas movie on Lifetime, titled A Pickleball Christmas, opposite Virgin River’sZibby Allen, but Hulu just dropped a trailer for the upcoming Murray-led holiday rom-com, Joy to the World.
“She’s faking the perfect holiday. He’s playing along. But true love doesn’t follow a script,” the synopsis for the film reads.
The trailer gives fans a glimpse of what to expect, with Murray starring as Max, the best friend and driver of Joy Edwards, played by Superman & Lois actress Emmanuelle Chriqui, a lifestyle guru and novelist, who “created the perfect life” by inventing a husband and kids for the public that don’t actually exist to sell her cookbook.
Feeling guilty about living a lie, Joy announces that it will be her “last book,” but she’s blindsided when a TV network announces they will broadcast live from her fairytale country home on Christmas.
“Now she has to create the perfect family,” the trailer teases, as Joy finds herself forced to keep up the charade.
“Too bad you made me you’re driver, could’ve made me your husband,” Max jokes as Joy realizes it’s not a bad idea to recruit him to help sell the narrative.
“Be my husband,” she asks, as Max reveals there’s a history between them that includes “heartburn” and a “broken heart.”
“Just tell me you’ll do it,” she begs, as Max declares, “I do,” in a swoon-worthy moment.
And they seem to pull it off, along with a recruited faux family that points out that Joy and Max have “great on-screen chemistry.”
“We look better than the family in my books,” Joy confirms, but does she pull it off or come clean to the world? And after feelings bubble up to the surface, will Joy and Max make their fake relationship real?
The trailer left quite an impression on fans, even if it did nearly give the whole movie away.
“Exciting!! I always enjoy a holiday movie! 🎄🎁🍪🎅🏾🦌,” someone wrote, as another emphasized, “omg looks so good!!!!” and a third added, “This us so cute!!!!”
“I think Netflix just sprinkled over some of their essence on to Hulu for this movie,” one noted.
“Loving Chad never gets old 🧡” another declared of the Sullivan’s Crossing actor, who is best known for playing Lucas Scott on OTH.
“A Christmas movie starting Chad Michael Murray for the 2nd year in a row 🤩” one said, referring to last year’s Netflix hit, Merry Gentleman.
Others joined in, writing, “Looks good and can’t wait to watch and continue to support you Chad! 🎄♥️” and “Chad is in it? Waaaaatching.”
“Holiday movie’s with @chadmichaelmurray are never disappointing! This is going to be a great Christmas movie! 👍🏼🎄,” someone else stated.
And even if the plot has been done before, with some likening it to Christmas in Connecticut, fans didn’t seem to mind, as one declared, “Please keep these coming! I don’t even care if you repeat plots, just keep them coming.”
Murray wasn’t the only one feeling the love, as one fan shouted out, “OMG my bae Emmanuelle Chriqui is back, still lookin’ as fine as ever like wine and shout out to Ayesha Curry as well ️.
Joy to the World streams Nov. 1 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
