Snow falls in Forest Hills as Hallmark’s ’USS Christmas’ begins filming - StarNewsOnline.com

Local film crews dressed up two Wilmington homes in wintry precipitation Tuesday for filming on the romantic TV movie

WILMINGTON – The bathing suits had barely been put away from Labor Day when the snow began to fall on one Port City neighborhood on Tuesday.

The wintry mix wasn’t real, but it sure looked the part as it covered the lawn of two Forest Hills homes as filming got underway for a new Hallmark Christmas movie, shooting under the title "USS Christmas."

Crews were out and about Monday and Tuesday getting the private residences camera ready for the small production to start what is expected to be a quick shoot in Wilmington, before traveling south to Charleston for scenes aboard the USS Yorktown.

While in Wilmington, it will also shoot scenes at another Forest Hills home and Circa 1922. It will also film on the Battleship North Carolina while in town, battleship spokesperson Stacie Hidek confirmed Tuesday.

Hidek said filming dates had not yet been confirmed, but the battleship wouldn’t be closed to the public during filming. However, the ship’s tour route may be adjusted while production is on board.

Not much is known about the movie besides its title, which alludes to what will likely be a classic Hallmark holiday love story set against the backdrop of the military. The only confirmed casting is Trevor Donovan, who posted on his social media about his imminent arrival to Wilmington and excitement to star in the film.

Donovan is no stranger to Hallmark movies, having starred in several including "Snowcoming," "Marry Me at Christmas," "Nostalgic Christmas," "Love on a Limb," and "Love, Fall and Order."

On Monday, he took to Instagram to show fans he had landed in Wrightsville Beach and spent Labor Day paddleboarding along the Intracoastal Waterway.

This won’t be the first time Christmas came early in the Cape Fear for the sake of Hollywood.

In 2013, Hallmark Hall of Fame, which typically produces slightly higher-profile films to air on networks like ABC, produced "Christmas in Conway" in Wilmington, starring Andy Garcia, Mary Louise Parker, Mandy Moore and Riley Smith.

During that production, Forest Hills was also taken over by Christmas in August with the staging of holiday lawn decorations and even a massive Ferris wheel in the backyard of one home.

"USS Christmas" is not likely to brush shoulders with Wilmington’s other two productions in the pipeline. The latest installment in the "Scream" horror movie franchise is set to begin production later this month, while Starz’s relocated drama "Hightown" isn’t expected to start shooting its second season until later this fall.

Reporter Hunter Ingram can be reached at 910-343-2327 or Hunter.Ingram@StarNewsOnline.com.