The holiday season came early in Los Angeles as 3 Diamonds Films rolled out the red carpet at the Harmony Gold Theater for the world premiere of Unexpected Christmas.
Hosted by journalist and media personality Gia Peppers, the evening included a screening and Q&A with the film’s cast and producers.
Among the stars attending were Lil Rel Howery, Tabitha Brown, Reagan Gomez-Preston, Ricco Ross, Howie Bell, Anna Maria Horsford, Cecelia Friday, Ryan Ashley, Romy Flynn, TA Thomas, Terrence Terrell, Eric Bellinger, and GRAMMY nominee Koryn Hawthorne.
Set to hit theaters nationwide on November 7, Unexpected Christmas tells the story of the Scott family’s holiday reunion that takes a few unpredictable turns.
Synopsis: The dream reunion Momma Scott (Anna Maria Horsford) planned quickly turns upside down. Her daughter Marissa (DomiNque Perry) returns home fresh off a breakup with her boyfriend Richard (Lil Rel Howery), and is then shocked when Richard arrives arm in arm with her estranged stepsister Kerry (Reagan Gomez-Preston). Marissa tries to play it cool and invites a surprise guest of her own who has everyone talking, all while Kerry is cooking up a scheme that could ruin the whole celebration.
Tabitha Brown on Why the Film Felt Right
For Tabitha Brown, who not only stars in the movie but also serves as an executive producer, the project felt personal from the start.
“First and foremost, Trell Woodbury is my brother whom I love and adore,” she said. “When he sent it to me, he had a character already in mind for me. He was like, ‘I want you to play this,’ but then he was like, ‘I also would love for you to come on as executive producer.’”
After reading the script, Brown said she immediately connected with it. “It’s enough drama, but not too much that takes us into looking crazy, you know, as Black families and for the culture,” she shared. “But we all know the truth — how the holidays bring about foolishness, right? So, yeah, it was just a great script.”
Brown described her character Debbie as the relatable family member everyone knows and loves. “Honey, Debbie cuts up, OK? You know, Tab, I be lovin’ light. Debbie be like lovin’ light and a little bit of fight, OK? She’s funny. She’s your auntie or cousin that’s at everybody’s house, always got a little something to say.”
As for her favorite Christmas tradition, Brown smiled: “We open one gift every Christmas Eve. Yeah, we all open one. Absolutely.”
Lil Rel Howery on Comedy and Drama
Comedian and actor Lil Rel Howery said he was drawn to Unexpected Christmas because it offered a rare mix of comedy and drama.
“It was actually a lot of the drama in it and the potential of how funny it could be, too,” he said. “We haven’t had a movie like this in a while.”
Howery, who plays Richard, an ex-boyfriend who unexpectedly shows up at the family gathering, teased that audiences might see his character differently than expected.
“It’s interesting because I think men look at it totally differently. I don’t necessarily think he’s a bad guy… but weirdly enough, women are still mad at him, and I don’t know why. I don’t know if that’s fair.”
He also shared that filming a Christmas movie felt surprisingly personal. “When you do those family Christmas movies, just when you see all of us at the dinner table, it kind of felt like home,” he said. “Even with the drama and the talking crap, and all that, it was perfect.”
Growing up, Howery’s family made their own ornaments, a tradition he cherishes to this day. “By the time me and my brothers were 18, every ornament on the tree was what we made,” he recalled. “It was special.”
Ricco Ross on Bringing Balance to the Screen
Actor Ricco Ross, known for his role in Beauty in Black, shared that Unexpected Christmas gave him a chance to play a character closer to who he is.
“It was so nice to play this role, which is the antithesis of that [Beauty in Black] character,” he said. “To be able to give the love to my family and kids that I feel for my personal kids — this was just me being me.”
Howie Bell on the Joy of Collaboration
For Howie Bell, who plays Uncle Earl, joining the film was a no-brainer.
“Lil Rel presented the script to me, so when I read it, I was like, ‘Oh, this is me,” he said. “I brought Uncle Earl to life, man, and I can’t thank him enough for even recognizing that I would be a good fit for that part.”
Bell described filming as “magical,” full of laughter and unscripted moments. “We had multiple magical moments during the making of the movie,” he said. “I can’t wait to see how it turns out.”
A Holiday Film of Our Culture
Unexpected Christmas, directed by Michael Vaughn Hernandez, captures what makes holiday films so timeless: family, forgiveness, and the chaos that comes with love.
As Brown summed up, “That’s our Christmas business.”
Unexpected Christmas premieres November 7 in theaters nationwide. The soundtrack drops on October 24 on all digital platforms.
Photo Credit: 3 Diamonds Films/Getty Images
