Jonathan Bennett Says “The Groomsmen” Trilogy Will Have Gay Wedding as 'Lead Storyline': 'Huge Move' (Exclusive)
"It's literally like paradise, and a dream come true because we got to film a gay love story in Santorini for Hallmark Channel," Bennett tells PEOPLE
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Jonathan Bennett at San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday, July 25Jonathan Bennett knows the importance of representation.
The actor, 43, who will star alongside Tyler Hynes and B.J. Britt in the upcoming The Groomsmen movie trilogy, tells PEOPLE that it will mark "the first time we've had a gay wedding on Hallmark as the lead storyline."
"Playing the character of Danny in The Groomsmen — not only are we telling a story of friendship and love, but...telling a story about a wedding," he explains at San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday, July 25.
"That is the first time we've had a gay wedding on Hallmark as the lead storyline," he continues. "And that's a huge move for the gay community so they can see themselves represented in these stories."
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Jonathan Bennett at San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday, July 25Related: Jonathan Bennett, Tyler Hynes and B.J. Britt to Team Up for Hallmark's The Groomsmen Movie Trilogy
According to Hallmark, Danny is described as "an ex-jock with a heart of gold." His friend Pete (Britt) is a "kind-hearted pediatrician with a penchant for planning," and Jackson (Hynes) is a "stylish and charming social media agent."
The trilogy follows the lives and romantic relationships of the three best friends who are "of different backgrounds, cultures, and sexual orientations" as they each find love in Greece, Italy, and Bulgaria.
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Getting to film in the scenic destination was an unforgettable experience for Bennett.
"We got to shoot my character Danny's storyline in Greece," he shares. "And when you put me Tyler Hynes and B.J. Britt in Santorini, jumping off cliffs, it's literally like paradise, and a dream come true because we got to film a gay love story in Santorini for Hallmark Channel."
"It's all the things that we love. We love destinations, we love friendship, we love romance, and we love Greece. So, like all those things combined for my movie, it blew it out of the water," he adds.
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B. J. Britt, Jonathan Bennett and Tyler Hynes at the Summer 2024 Television Critics Association Press TourBennett — who will also host Hallmark’s first reality competition series, Finding Mr. Christmas, premiering later this year — reflected on "set life" in an Instagram post earlier this month.
"What a ride it has been, and honor it is to make stories that mean something. I hope when you see these stories you find a part of them that you identify with and they mean something to you. Because THAT is our why. Why we do what we do. And sure, we have a little fun in the process. #setlife #movies," he wrote.
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The Groomsmen movies will debut on Hallmark+ this fall.
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