A wish had been granted for fans of the comedy classic The Princess Bride. The movie is gearing up for a marathon special on The Sundance Channel on Christmas Day. Today, Sundance TV announced As You Wish: The Princess Bride Marathon, hosted by star Cary Elwes, is set to premiere on Christmas Day! Fans of the Rob Reiner-directed film can rejoice knowing that they can leave just the one station on while enjoying their eggnog and holiday treats. The film already stands firmly on many all-time top 100 lists and is now getting the full-on marathon treatment. A sign that a film is truly timeless!
The Princess Bride marathon is slated to begin on Christmas Day starting at 1 p.m. ET and will run throughout the day until 2 a.m. ET on December 26. So plan to catch the classic film early in the day or sometime after the last present is opened. The 1987 comedy is an ideal choice for the Sundance Channel to run during their holiday programming block, as the movie has developed a cult following over the years and can be enjoyed by family members of all ages. The film has it all; comedy, drama, romance and a timeless quality that makes The Princess Bride the perfect TV movie for the holidays. It's kind of sweet to see Rob Reiner’s period classic get the star treatment and be recognized as a film worthy of running for an entire day--especially during the congested holiday season of TV specials.
Along with the marathon of the beloved film, Elwes will be participating in an original event where he will be in direct contact with fans on Twitter. During the marathon, users can ask Elwes questions and get answers from the star in real time, adding a wonderfully interactive spin on the highly anticipated event. Fans will also have the chance to visit Sundance.tv and engage in quizzes and games inspired by the classic film. Adding a social media spin to the marathon is a stroke of genius that will give die hard and casual fans alike the opportunity to engage with the lead in the film. The inconceivable has now become conceivable!
It does not hurt that Sundance has signed on Cary Elwes to host the big As You Wish marathon. The Princess Bride actor may be in part using the slot to plug his new book, As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride. In the flick, Elwes plays the iconic role of Westley and his new book gives a rare first person account from the star along with behind-the-scenes peeks at the making of the comedy classic. Hopefully, we’ll get a few of his signature stories during the marathon, too.
The Princess Bride fandom is certainly a devoted one and this newly announced marathon is a special treat for those die-hard repeat viewers. One might not immediately associate The Princess Bride as a typical holiday flick but what better way to cash in on the film’s ongoing popularity than on Christmas Day itself?
