Upamanyu Biswas
Directed by Kevin Leslie, Hallmark’s ‘Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery’ is a continuation of Hannah Swenson’s crime-solving journey in Eden Lake, Minnesota. When Hannah’s favorite reality TV show takes over her baking shop, The Cookie Jar, the titular protagonist is excited by the proposal and looks forward to the project. However, a spanner is thrown in the works when a producer dies, leaving the town and Hannah in shock. Subsequently, she is plunged back into the depths of an investigation with a mystery killer on the loose. The Hallmark thriller, adapted from Joanna Fluke’s novel ‘Blueberry Muffin Murder,’ blurs the lines between scripted and unscripted in a clever hometown thriller. As such, the small-town vibe and homely shop interiors play a significant role in providing tension and flavor to the drama.
Where Was Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery Filmed?
In a similar fashion to its previous franchise installments, ‘Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery’ was most likely filmed in the city of Maple Ridge in the British Columbia province. Principal photography likely occurred in the latter half of 2024, specifically around November. British Columbia is a treasure trove of stunning filmmaking spots and has been a regular destination for Hallmark productions over the years. The area boasts a diverse array of natural attractions, such as hiking and biking trails, as well as camping grounds for outdoor enthusiasts. It is also known for its Pacific coastline and mountain ranges, both serving as exploration offerings for tourists and travelers. If the breathtaking natural views are not enough, visitors can bask in the scenic neighborhoods of BC’s many urban cities and their leisurely attractions.
Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Filming for ‘Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery’ likely took place in the neighborhoods of Maple Ridge, British Columbia. The city is situated between the Fraser River and the Golden Ears double summit to the north. In previous films within the ‘Hannah Swensen Mysteries’ franchise, the Gratia Bakery & Café on 22225 Dewdney Trunk Road doubled up as Hannah’s bakery store, The Cookie Jar. It is likely that the team recorded key scenes at the same establishment, especially as the store plays such a pivotal role in the Kevin Leslie directorial. Using the same building as a filming location helps maintain continuity and may have been the directive employed by the production crew. Some of the top sights in Maple Ridge include Maple Ridge Park, Memorial Peace Park Spirit Square, and Alouette Lake, among many others.
Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery Cast Details
‘Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery’ boasts a stellar cast led by Alison Sweeney, Victor Webster, and Barbara Niven. Sweeney and Niven have been mainstays within the ‘Hannah Swensen Mysteries’ franchise, having starred in all of them for the past decade. The former has also showcased her talents outside acting, specifically as a director, author, and reality TV show host. Intriguingly, she also serves as a writer and executive producer on the project. She and Niven are joined by Hallmark veteran Webster, who has also become a familiar face within the series since his first appearance in ‘One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery.’
Alison Sweeney as Hannah Swensen
Alison Sweeney stars as the titular protagonist, Hannah Swenson. The actress is a Daytime Emmy Award nominee, a recognition bestowed on her for her performance as Samantha Brady in NBC’s ‘Days of Our Lives.’ She is also known for playing Tracy in ‘The Wedding Veil’ franchise and Nicky Beaton in Hallmark’s ‘Open by Christmas.’ Her other credits include ‘A Magical Christmas Village,’ ‘Time for Them to Come Home for Christmas,’ ‘Christmas at Holly Lodge,’ and ‘ Friends.’
Victor Webster as Chad Norton
Victor Webster plays Chad Norton. He is most noted for featuring as Glen in ‘Bringing Down the House,’ Nicholas Alamain in ‘Days of Our Lives,’ Brennan Mulwray in ‘Mutant X,’ Coop in ‘Charmed,’ and Detective Carlos Fonnegra in ‘Continuum.’ He can also be seen in ‘The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption,’ ‘The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power,’ ‘Surrogates,’ ‘Workin’ Moms,’ ‘Five Star Christmas,’ and ‘Mystery on Mistletoe Lane.’
Barbara Niven as Delores Swenson
Starring opposite Sweeney and Webster is Barbara Niven, who plays Delores Swenson. She is an experienced actress with a long list of acting credits under her belt. Her most prominent works include appearing as Megan O’Brien in ‘Chesapeake Shores,’ Kate in ‘Pensacola: Wings of Gold,’ Liz Coleman Reynolds in ‘One Life to Live,’ Peggy Beldon in ‘Cedar Cove,’ Marilyn Monroe in ‘The Rat Pack,’ and Rebecca Westridge in ‘A Perfect Ending.’ She also appears in Lifetime’s ‘Stranger in My Bed,’ ‘The Perfect Neighbor,’ Hallmark’s ‘A Carol Christmas,’ ‘Wedding Daze,’ and ‘Back to You and Me.’
Other cast members include Gabriel Hogan as Norman Rhodes, Tess Atkins as Michelle Swensen, and Daylin Willis as Lonny Murphy.
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