Rachel Boston and Brendan Penny Talk About the Unique Journey Behind Their Christmas Movie Collaboration

Brendan Penny and Rachel Boston in Hallmark Channel’s The More the Merrier.
Credit :

Allister Foster/Hallmark Media

NEED TO KNOW

• Rachel Boston and Brendan Penny star in The More the Merrier, premiering on Friday, Nov. 28.
• The actors met on the 2024 Hallmark Cruise and expressed a desire to collaborate.
• The duo continues to share laughs and camaraderie nearly a year later.

In a delightful twist of fate, Hallmark Channel favorites Rachel Boston and Brendan Penny reunite in the upcoming Christmas movie, The More the Merrier, set to air on Friday, Nov. 28. Their connection began during the 2024 Hallmark Cruise, where they quickly bonded over a shared sense of humor.

“We met one year ago on this cruise, and we made each other laugh a lot,” Boston said from a lounge on the 2025 Hallmark Christmas Cruise. Penny added, “We did not know each other before then at all, and we had a really good time on the cruise. It was during a dress-up night that we decided to approach Tatiana [Erasme], head of casting, to express our interest in working together.”

Brendan Penny and Rachel Boston in Hallmark Channel’s The More the Merrier.

Allister Foster/Hallmark Media

“And here we are!” Boston exclaimed. “We made each other laugh the whole time. I don’t know how funny we were, but we made each other laugh.” Penny humorously noted, “I was hilarious.” “You were hilarious,” Boston responded with laughter, recounting an amusing game show they played together. “We created a backstory as newlyweds and suggested we could take on the roles of doctors.”

In The More the Merrier, the two actors indeed portray medical professionals. The plot centers around Alice (Boston), an emergency room doctor in a small rural hospital, who takes on the Christmas Eve overnight shift. During the night, she and Brian (Penny), a newly hired top-rated cardiologist, are thrust into a chaotic scenario when three expectant mothers—including the only OBGYN in the vicinity—go into labor. As they navigate the humorous and heartfelt challenges of their shift, a romantic spark emerges amid the festive chaos of the holiday season.

The actors shared their excitement about the filming process, with Boston noting, “The role was looking for a bumbling fool,” and Penny humorously embracing the characterization. “Yeah, that’s me. That’s right.” Boston further expressed her connection to the medical themes of the film, sharing that her sister-in-law is a nurse in the emergency room. She underlined the film’s unique approach to showcasing intelligent characters who form meaningful connections, stating, “It’s an interesting way to start a Christmas movie.”

Brendan Penny and Rachel Boston in Hallmark Channel’s The More the Merrier.

Allister Foster/Hallmark Media

Penny remarked on the medical jargon, stating, “I had to talk about heart problems with one of the actors, but it was written so well that it actually wasn’t hard to slide the jargon in.” Boston humorously reflected on her expectations prior to filming, “When they called me about this and playing a doctor, I was picturing just page after page of words that I had to research.”

Brendan Penny and Rachel Boston in Hallmark Channel’s The More the Merrier.

Allister Foster/Hallmark Media

With numerous babies on set, Boston shared her delight, saying, “I loved it so much. They were so little.” Penny added, “When they came on set, you could hear a pin drop.” Both actors agreed that working with newborns, despite the challenges, created a special atmosphere on set.

Boston also noted the emotional resonance of portraying characters in a hospital setting, reflecting on her own experiences as a mother. “Reading the script made me think about women in different chapters of their lives and the beauty of creating life,” she said.

The movie will also touch upon themes of connection and support, inspired by real-life programs like Damar Hamlin’s HeartMates, which aims to connect children with similar heart conditions. Sydney and Penny shared their appreciation for being part of such a meaningful project.

The More the Merrier will debut on Friday, Nov. 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Channel, followed by a release on Hallmark+ the next day.