“Mean Girls” star Jonathan Bennett and “Superman” star Brandon Routh have been BFFs behind the scenes for years, so much so, people mix them up all the time.
Jonathan Bennett and Brandon Routh have regularly been mistaken for each other over the years. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for MISTR, Free Online PrEP/Jeremy Chan/Getty Images)
The two actors have known each other since the early 2000s and as Brandon explained, “Both being on soap operas and crossing paths and then moving back out to LA kind of around the same time, throughout the years, we’ve shared stories of people thinking each other was each other at times.”
Jonathan, true to his comedy skills, absolutely had fun with the mix up.
“Oh, I sign Superman autographs all the time,” he joked. “Like, if they will come up, [and ask] ‘Were you Superman?’ I’m like, ‘Yes, yes I was. Do you want a picture?’until they get home and see it and realize they’re going to be very disappointed that it’s not Superman.”
But their similarities sparked an idea in Jonathan’s head that he was finally able to bring to life in Hallmark’s “A Keller Christmas Vacation.”
Siblings Dylan, Cal, and Emory are at a crossroads in their lives and have drifted apart. To help, their parents plan a family Christmas river cruise visiting Germany and Austria. Photo: Brandon Routh, Eden Sher, Jonathan Bennett Credit: ©2025 Hallmark Media/Photographer:{ }Adriana Yankulova
In the film, Brandon, Jonathan, and “The Middle” star Eden Sher play siblings on a family vacation touring the European Christmas markets along the Danube.
“We’ve always looked so much alike, and people always mistaken us for each other, and we always said we got to play brothers one day, we got to play brothers one day,” Jonathan said. “So, when I created this movie and created the older brother, I was like, it’s gotta be Brandon Routh. Like, it’s got to be him. And the network was like, Yeah, great, do it.”
He continued, “And we were lucky enough to have him say yes and do the movie. And I think just Brandon elevates the movie in such a way, because he is such a movie star, right? He’s like, a movie star, star, and to put him in a Hallmark movie just elevates the whole film.”
Jonathan, who serves as an executive producer on the film, was also inspired by his own family.
Siblings Dylan, Cal, and Emory are at a crossroads in their lives and have drifted apart. To help, their parents plan a family Christmas river cruise visiting Germany and Austria. Photo: Brandon Routh, Eden Sher, Jonathan Bennett, Nigel Whitmey Credit: ©2025 Hallmark Media/Photographer:{ }Adriana Yankulova
“You know, like many families in the country, I would say mine is semi-highly dysfunctional, and I thought that was such a fun juxtaposition to put in a movie that set in the most beautiful background you can get for Christmas,” the “Finding Mr. Christmas” host said. “So, you put the Vienna Christmas Market, which is quintessentially the most beautiful Christmas market on the planet, and you put three siblings who are fighting in the middle of it?It’s just so funny, because it’s unexpected.”
Brandon was thrilled to film on location at the world-famous Christmas markets.
“I’d only heard about the Christmas markets, like, a couple years before, and I was visiting Germany in the summer, and [people were] like, You got to come to the Christmas markets. I was like, Okay. And then Jonathan invited me and be a part of this movie, and I got [to go].”
Jonathan added with a laugh, “He got paid to go there!”
Siblings Dylan, Cal, and Emory are at a crossroads in their lives and have drifted apart. To help, their parents plan a family Christmas river cruise visiting Germany and Austria. Photo: Jonathan Bennett Credit: ©2025 Hallmark Media/Photographer:{ }Adriana Yankulova
Brandon replied, “ I didn’t get to do a lot of shopping, it was mostly like looking and talking about things and being around it. But still, it was very awesome. I definitely think that it would be a worthwhile trip and fun to do for anybody.”
“A Keller Christmas Vacation” premieres tonight on Hallmark Channel and will be available on Hallmark+.
