Summer might be just getting started, but Netflix has already begun preparing for the holidays. With rom-coms taking the lead during the festivities, the streamer is ready to give traditional networks a serious run for their money. Earlier this year, Netflix unveiled its first three Holiday delights- Hot Frosty, Our Little Secret, and the cheerful musical Meet Me Next Christmas. In May 2024, it added The Merry Gentleman to its slate, which shares a name with a 2008 movie directed by Michael Keaton. But do these movies have any ties to each other?

Here is a comparison between the two, The Merry Gentleman, films to see if they share any plot elements.

The upcoming Netflix film The Merry Gentlemen is not a direct continuation or remake of the 2008 movie The Merry Gentleman. Instead, it seems to have a fresh take and premise. This new Netflix holiday flick follows a big-city dancer who makes her way back home for the holidays, only to find her parents' beloved small-town venue on the brink of closure. To save the day, she stages an all-male, Christmas-themed revue and, along the way, meets a guy with all the right moves. 

Meanwhile, the 2008 neo-noir film is set in Chicago during Christmastime. The story, directed by Michael Keaton, centers on a woman who befriends a hitman while trying to start anew after leaving an abusive relationship. While both films share a title, their plots and themes are quite different. Nonetheless, the new Christmas movie by Netflix is not too far off.

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Netflix has also recently shared details about the cast, a first look, and the release date for its upcoming The Merry Gentleman.

The Merry Gentlemen is directed by Peter Sullivan and penned by Marla Sokoloff. The leads include Britt Robertson as Ashley and Chad Michael Murray, who has been in a total of seven Christmas movies since 2019, this Netflix original being his eighth, as Luke. The cast also includes Marla Sokoloff, Beth Broderick, Michael Gross, Maxwell Caulfield, Hector David Jr., Colt Prattes, and Marc Anthony. But the real attraction was the recently unveiled sizzling first look of Murray.

PEOPLE recently scored an exclusive sneak peek at The Merry Gentleman, where Murray was spotted dancing with a chiseled, bare torso, clad only in denim and a stylish hat. Murray shared with PEOPLE that he saw this movie as the perfect chance to step out of his comfort zone and learn how to dance. He added that the physical transformation was nothing short of "very intense." Right on the horizon, The Merry Gentleman will debut on Netflix on November 20 as part of the streamer’s 2024 holiday lineup.

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What do you think about The Merry Gentleman by Netflix? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!