Hallmark Just Announced A New Southern-Inspired TV Series Based On Bestselling Book 'The Chicken Sisters'

Hallmark (and fried chicken) fans, we’ve got great news.

The feel-good television network has just announced that they’re adapting KJ Dell’Antonia’s New York Times best-selling novel The Chicken Sisters into a brand-new family drama dipped in Southern charm.

The Chicken Sisters, which was selected as a Reese’s Book Club pick, was called “a charming, hilarious, feel-good story about the kind of bonds and rivalries only sisters can share” by Reese herself. The new Hallmark adaptation, created by showrunner and Executive Producer Annie Mebane, will have eight episodes that detail the drama of a “generations-old rift between dueling fried chicken restaurants—Mimi’s and Frannie’s,” the show’s description states.

Set in the fictional town of Merinac, local fried chicken fans are split between the two restaurants, highlighting the underlying fractured family dynamics. Then, a reality cooking competition show comes to town and threatens to spill all the secrets.

“When I read The Chicken Sisters by KJ Dell'Antonia, I fell in love with these characters,” Executive Producer Mebane said. “On the surface, the show is about two restaurants competing on a reality show, but it’s about the baggage we pass down through the generations and learning to unpack it. I love telling this multigenerational story focused on women: their frustrations, their desires, and ultimately, their healing. We've assembled an incredible cast, and we can't wait to welcome audiences to Merinac.”

The show’s premise feels not-so-far from home, built around the foundation of a good Southern meal, the importance of family, the fierce defense of an heirloom recipe, and finding your way back to what matters most. Plus, fans will love to see the story brought to life by stars Wendie Malick, Lea Thompson, Schuyler Fisk, and Genevieve Angelson.

“Talk about a dream cast!” said Lisa Hamilton Daly, Executive Vice President, Programming, Hallmark Media. “Schuyler, Genevieve, Lea, and Wendie are the perfect actors to lead this witty and heartfelt story. We are confident that each episode is going to leave our viewers craving more and more.”

The Chicken Sisters will be roostin’ on Hallmark later this year. Grab your best fried chicken recipe and your gal pals—we’ll be planning a watch party for the release of this oh-so-Southern drama.