Jane Levy and Skylar Astin on Zoey’s Extraordinary Return

Jane Levy, after finishing the second season of “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist”, stored her belongings in Canada, where the show was filmed.

She told the cast and crew she would see them the following year, indicating her plans to return or stay connected with the series and its team.

However, the NBC dramedy was canceled, ending the series despite its unique concept and fan support.

“I was in shock,” Levy says in a video interview. “But I basically decided I was just really grateful the show happened in the first place, and that there’s nothing to regret.”

Less than a month after the cancellation of “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist”, Jane Levy was surprised to learn that the Roku Channel had commissioned a movie, “Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas”, which will debut on December 1.

Additionally, all 25 episodes from the show’s first two seasons are now available on the Roku Channel.

“It was quite the roller coaster, and quite the turn around,” says Skylar Astin, who plays Zoey’s boyfriend Max on the series. Series creator and executive producer Austin Winsberg wrote the script in three weeks, and the movie wrapped at the end of October. Levy had just four days to prep before filming began.

“That’s when I learned all the music numbers, hair, makeup, everything,” she says.

“Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas” follows Zoey as she details her first major holiday since her father’s death and deals with the revelation that Max now has the ability to hear “heart songs.”

The movie includes the show’s signature zany antics, with the SPRQ Point crew donning ugly Christmas sweaters, 13 musical numbers starting with a one-shot performance of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” and a heartfelt exploration of grief as Zoey and her family mourn Mitch.

Levy and Astin credit the groundswell of fan support for making the movie possible.

“There was a positively relentless energy,” Astin says.

“It was out of love. These fans love this show.” When the series was canceled, he adds, “I was upset for the fans because they really invested in this show, and we delivered a really cathartic story that ended on quite the cliff-hanger.”

Max gaining Zoey’s powers was a plot twist that had been in the works since the show’s first season.

“There’s a lot of talk about where does this series go, in terms of the mythology and the superpower of it all,” Levy says.

“So the season two ending set us up for season three, where we both have the power—and two people can hear each other’s thoughts. How does a relationship like that survive?”

In “Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas”, Jane Levy was excited to sing and dance more than she did on the series, due to the new plot element that allowed Max to hear “heart songs.”

She admitted feeling envious of her costars in the earlier seasons, who had more opportunities to showcase their singing and dancing skills with choreographer Mandy Moore, while she had mostly played a passive role.

Initially, Max thinks it’s super easy to solve the problems he hears people singing about. “Max loves music,” Astin says.

“It’s not surprising that he’s thrilled that he gets to hear Rihanna songs on his way to work.”

In “Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas”, Max gains insight into Zoey’s struggles with her powers during Christmas Eve dinner, realizing that her ability was more burdensome than advantageous.

The movie ends with Max losing his powers but understanding Zoey’s experiences better.

Levy saw this as an important moment for both characters, symbolizing growth and the need to find comfort and progress through life’s challenges.

“I like to imagine that her dad gave Max the power so that they could actually work as a couple, and she can be brave enough to love again,” Levy says.

“Max getting the power allows them intimacy and closeness.”