Naman Shrestha
In Hallmark’s ‘An Unexpected Valentine,’ we get acquainted with two strangers, Hannah and Finn, who serendipitously cross each other’s path on the most romantic day of the year — Valentine’s Day. As both of them come across a lost engagement ring, they embark on a quest to find its rightful owner before the couple’s special day goes south. Connected by the desire to save the day, Hannah and Finn get to know each other as they race against time. The romantic comedy movie is not only heartwarming, but it also keeps the audience guessing if Hannah and Finn will be able to return the missing jewelry on time while they venture through the hustle and bustle of New York City.
Where Are An Unexpected Valentine Filmed?
Although the story unfolds in the Big Apple, ‘An Unexpected Valentine’ was filmed in its entirety in British Columbia, primarily in Greater Vancouver. According to reports, principal photography for the rom-com film took place over the course of a few weeks, from late October 2024 to November of the same year. All the cast and crew members had an amazing time on set and took loads of wholesome memories back home.
Greater Vancouver, British Columbia
Taking a look at the streets and buildings in the backdrop, one might easily think that it is New York City, where the film is set. Much to many of your surprise, all the pivotal sequences for ‘An Unexpected Valentine’ were reportedly lensed in Greater Vancouver, the metropolitan area with the eponymous city as its urban center. The modern and bustling vibe of Vancouver made it easier for the makers of the Hallmark film to disguise it as the Big Apple.
During the shooting process, several vans and equipment were spotted near the Rogers Arena in the city of Vancouver. While some of the exterior and interior scenes were shot in and around actual streets and establishments, many of them were lensed at a stage in Lumostage Virtual Production at 20315 96 Avenue #180, Langley Township. With the help of its advanced technology of virtual locations, they were able to bring different areas of NYC to the stage, where they shot several key portions. They even utilized the virtual car process system to tape some car scenes for ‘An Unexpected Valentine.’
The Lumostage LED present at the Film production company allows filmmakers of all budgets to get seamless shots, creative camera angles, and dynamic setups, all thanks to the unobstructed, 180-degree continuous LED curve in the background. Over the years, several notable film and TV projects have featured Vancouver’s locales, including ‘The Birthday Wish,’ ‘Love on the Slopes,’ ‘The Cases of Mystery Lane,’ ‘Cedar Cove,’ When Calls the Heart,’ and ‘Pretty Little Liars.’
An Unexpected Valentine Cast Details
‘An Unexpected Valentine’ is headlined by Lacey Chabert and Robert Buckley. While the former originally hails from Purvis, Mississippi and has an Italian, English, Cajun (French), and Scottish heritage, the latter is a Southern California native through and through. She has been a part of the industry for over three decades and has worked in over 180 films. From getting her big break in a commercial for cough syrup to being one of the most versatile actresses in Hollywood, Lacey’s journey is an inspiring one. On the other hand, Robert worked as an economic consultant for nearly two years before realizing his true calling lies in the world of film and television.
Lacey Chabert as Hannah
Lacey Chabert graces the tale of unexpected romance as Hannah. Since the 1990s, the former has been weaving her magic in the world of entertainment through her pleasant and airy delivery, effortless acting skills and commanding on-screen presence. She is best known for her portrayal of Penny Robinson in ‘Lost in Space,’ Claudia in ‘Party of Five,’ Gretchen Wieners in ‘Mean Girls,’ Amanda Becker in ‘Not Another Teen Movie,’ and Dana in ‘Black Christmas.’ As a Hallmark regular, she has titles like ‘The Color of Rain,’ ‘Moonlight in Vermont,’ ‘All of My Heart,’ ‘All of My Heart: Inn Love,’ ‘All of My Heart: The Wedding,’ ‘The Dancing Detective: A Deadly Tango,’ ‘Love, Romance & Chocolate,’ ‘Christmas in Rome,’ ‘Winter in Vail,’ ‘Sweet Carolina,’ and ‘Haul Out the Holly’ to her name.
Robert Buckley as Finn
Robert Buckley dons the garb of Finn in ‘An Unexpected Valentine.’ After his foray into La La Land in the mid-2000s, he worked in several short films and videos before bagging the role of Michael Bauer in ‘Fashion House.’ He gained prominence from his performance as Clayton ‘Clay’ Evans in ‘One Tree Hill,’ Brian Leonard in ‘666 Park Avenue,’ Major Lilywhite/Lillywhite in ‘iZombie,’ and Evan Kincaid in ‘Chesapeake Shores.’ Some of his other roles include Bryan in ‘Twas the Date Before Christmas,’ David in ‘Love in Store,’ Jack in ‘The Christmas Contract,’ Adam in ‘Dimension 404,’ as well as Mike Mitchell in ‘The Christmas House’ and ‘The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls.’
Aside from the leading pair, the cast is packed with a bunch of talented actors that comprise the supporting cast. While Jess Brown appears as Gabby, Princess Davis portrays the role of Nadine. ‘An Unexpected Valentine’ also features Miles Meadows as Florist, Marco Soriano as Mario, Kaniel Jacob-Cross as Mikey, Caitlin Stryker as Annalisa, and Anthony Timpano as Nate.
Read More: Hallmark’s The Sweetest Heart: Filming Locations and Cast Details
