“Best rom-com ever!”: Inside The Holiday’s “surprise” return with Catastrophe star’s “different” TV reboot

For many of us, watching The Holiday is as much a Christmas tradition as eating mince pies and drinking mulled wine. The 2006 romantic comedy, starring Cameron Diaz and Jude Law, is a cosy classic that never fails to deliver those warm, fuzzy feelings. And now, the beloved noughties rom-com – which fans have in fact called “the best rom-com ever”, is getting a surprise - and slightly different - reboot. That's right, Apple TV+ is officially bringing back to our screens in the form of a TV series - and Catastrophe’s Rob Delaney is on board as co-writer.

If you’ve never seen the original (where have you been?), we’ll fill you in: the 2006 classic focuses on two women from the UK and America – Diaz and Kate Winslet – who trade houses for a holiday and also happen to find love across the pond. According to Deadline, the new TV series will also centre on two women – just like in the film, one British and one American – who house-swap. But sadly, it seems unlikely that we’ll get a Law, Diaz and Winslet reprisal: “The series would reportedly focus on different characters than those featured in the film,” Deadline reports.

As well as Delaney, Killing Eve and The Assassin writer Krissie Ducker has been revealed as a writer and executive producer on the series. It seems, however, that The Holiday’s original writer, producer, and director Nancy Meyers won't be involved. Following the announcement of the show, the 75-year-old filmmaker posted her reaction on her Instagram Stories. “News to me," she wrote, adding a thinking face emoji. "Imagine my surprise when I opened Instagram and this was the first post I saw.”

Want to know more? Ahead of its arrival on our screens, here's everything you need to know about the TV reboot of The Holiday, including the plot and who's involved.

What is The Holiday about?

In the original film, heartbroken London newspaper columnist Iris (Kate Winslet) swaps homes with the newly single Hollywood mogul Amanda (Cameron Diaz) in a bid to escape their messy personal lives. Iris gets the keys to Amanda’s luxurious California pad, while Amanda retreats to Iris’s quaint, snow-covered Surrey cottage. As they settle into their new surroundings across the Atlantic, both women unexpectedly find love – Iris with charming composer Miles (Jack Black) and Amanda with single father Graham (Jude Law). Though the film received mixed reviews upon release, it’s become a cherished holiday classic that sees a reload every festive season.

What will happen in the TV reboot of The Holiday?

We don’t have much in the way of plot details right now, but Deadline has reported that it will follow a similar structure to the original film. There will be two women, one British and one American, who also swap homes à la the ’06 original – but they will be different characters – so it’s unlikely we’ll be seeing Diaz, Law, Winslet and Black reprise their original roles. Could they make a guest appearance though? Here's hoping. Given that The Holiday’s original writer, producer, and director Nancy Meyers won't be involved in the series, it's fair to say we also can expect the TV reboot to be somewhat different to the original.

Who’s in the cast of The Holiday's TV reboot?

Details are still under wraps – as casting is underway for the new female leads – but with the original boasting names as big as Cameron Diaz, Jude Law and Kate Winslet, expectations for a star-studded reboot are high. While The Holiday’s original’s creator, Nancy Meyers, isn’t involved this time round, the creative team shows high promise. Among them are Rob Delaney, of Catastrophe, and Krissie Ducker, whose credits include Killing Eve, The Assassin and 2024’s Sweetpea.

Is The Holiday any good?

When the original film came out, it was a box office success, despite receiving mixed critical reviews (some praised its “charming moments”, while others marked it down for predictability). Over time, it’s become a festive season staple – although creator Nancy Meyers reportedly never intended for it to be a Christmas movie.

How can I watch the TV reboot of The Holiday?

It looks as though we'll have to wait a little bit, as the TV series is still in the development stages. But it’s in the works at Apple TV+, so you can expect it to be available on the streaming service when it is finally released. As soon as we have more news, we'll update you here.

What other rom-coms can I watch now?

Looking for some warm, light-hearted TV to give you a feeling of nostalgic comfort? We'd highly recommend the new series penned by Girls’ Lena Dunham, Too Much, which is available to watch on Netflix now and has an impressive cast – with Jennifer Saunders and Andrew Scott appearing. Or, one we're particularly excited about it is the upcoming BBC drama Film Club, which stars Suranne Jones and has been written by The White Lotus’s Aimee Lou Wood.