Mariah Carey making directorial debut with festive film

Los Angeles: Pop diva Mariah Carey is stepping behind the camera to direct her upcoming Christmas TV movie.

The "Hero" hitmaker inked a deal with studio executives at New Line in April (15) to star in her own festive film, and now it's been revealed she will make the scripted project her directorial debut, reported People magazine.

Production on Mariah Carey's "Christmas Project" will begin this autumn and it will air on America's Hallmark Channel in December.

The 45-year-old singer is no stranger to the film industry - she flexed her acting muscles in the critically-panned 2001 movie "Glitter", while she received more positive reviews for her roles in

Lee Daniels' films "Precious and The Butler", in 2009 and 2013, respectively.