Naman Shrestha
In ‘A Murder Between Friends,’ six friends make a plan to get away from their busy lives for an impromptu reunion and catch up with each other. For the special occasion, they lease the lavish European country estate owned by the famous, legendary true-crime TV star Francesca Carlyle. What promises to be a fun and relaxing staycation turns into a nightmarish getaway when one of the guests turns up dead in the hot tub under peculiar circumstances.
The obscure mystery forces the celebrity sleuth, Francesca, to take matters into her own hands and identify the perpetrator among the group of friends staying in her mansion. As she zeroes in on each of them to find out the possible motive and opportunity, she ends up uncovering some dark secrets, hoping that they could lead her to the killer. Helmed by Trent Garrett and Jacob Young, the whodunit comedy-drama film is mostly set in and around the grand chateau owned by Francesca, who searches for clues within her property’s walls.
Where Was A Murder Between Friends Filmed?
‘A Murder Between Friends’ was filmed primarily in the Czech Republic, particularly in the Havlíčkův Brod District. According to reports, principal photography for the whodunit commenced in late March 2024 or early April 2024 and continued for more than two weeks before wrapping up in the third week of April 2024. Co-director Jacob Young shared what it meant for him to be a part of the project. He said, “This project has been incredibly meaningful to me, not only as a producer and director, but also stepping in front of the camera after a long hiatus as an actor. Working side by side with executive producer and my dear friend Mark Rozzano was a true labor of love from start to finish. Working alongside my talented co-star and longtime friend Nadia Bjorlin of 25 years made the journey even more special.”
Havlíčkův Brod District, Czech Republic
Most of the pivotal sequences for ‘A Murder Between Friends’ were taped in the Havlíčkův Brod District, situated in the Czech Republic’s Vysočina Region. To shoot the scenes set in Francesca Carlyle’s grand European mansion, they took over the Úsobí Castle, a more than four-century-old property located southeast of Prague in the market town of Úsobí. Making the most of the castle’s interiors and secluded surroundings, the filming unit brought the narrative’s suspenseful, dark themes to life. The castle was not only the production location, but it also served as accommodation for the cast and crew members during the two-week shoot.
Joan Collins published an article in The Spectator, wherein she talked about her experience of filming in the Czech Republic. She stated, “I was enchanted by the Czech Republic – the people, the food, the countryside. There seemed to be an aura of peace about it and the inhabitants all seemed to exude happiness. Maybe I only saw the good side, but I certainly plan to go back one day, not only to revisit Antika but the delights of Chateau Heralec and its glorious indoor swimming pool.” She also mentioned the professionalism of the local Czech crew, claiming that they were “equal to any I’d worked with both in the UK and US.”
A Murder Between Friends Cast Details
The cast of ‘A Murder Between Friends’ is led by the compelling performances of several international actors, including Joan Collins, Nadia Bjorlin, and Jacob Young. The Golden Globe winner Joan Collins is a veteran actor who has also served as an executive producer/associate producer for multiple projects, such as ‘The Time of Their Lives,’ ‘The Clandestine Marriage,’ and ‘Monte Carlo.’ Nadia has showcased her musical talent in ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘Redline.’ Jacob is a Daytime Emmy Award winner who also has several producing credits in several short films like ‘Fear the Fog,’ ‘Four for Fun,’ ‘The Choice is Yours,’ ‘The Sanguine Teens’ Solution,’ and ‘Chain Shot.’
Joan Collins as Francesca Carlyle
In ‘A Murder Between Friends,’ Joan Collins steps into the role of Francesca Carlyle, the famed sleuth and true-crime TV star who solves the murder mystery. Throughout her decades-long acting career, she took on different kinds of roles in several movies and TV shows. She is widely known for her portrayal of Alexis Morell Carrington Colby in ‘Dynasty,’ Esther and the King’ as Esther, ‘The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas’ as Pearl Slaghoople, and ‘Empire of the Ants’ as Marilyn Fryser. Her other popular TV credits include ‘American Horror Story,’ ‘The Royals,’ ‘Guiding Light,’ and ‘Rules of Engagement.’
Nadia Bjorlin as Kat
Nadia Bjorlin essays the character of Kat in the suspenseful film. Many of you might recognize her from ‘Days of Our Lives’ as Chloe Lane, ‘Venice the Series’ as Lara Miller, ‘NCIS’ as Brittany, and ‘Redline’ as Natasha. She also stars in a range of movies, including ‘Nothing is Impossible,’ ‘Alone,’ ‘Faith Based,’ and ‘A Mermaid for Christmas.’
Jacob Young as Josh
Jacob Young dons the garb of Josh, one of the six friends who is at the mansion, in ‘A Murder Between Friends.’ Kickstarting his career by portraying Rick Forrester in ‘The Bold and the Beautiful,’ Jacob moved up the ranks and landed roles in many other TV shows, such as ‘All My Children’ as JR Chandler, ‘The Walking Dead’ as Deaver, ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’ as Cash Caswell, and ‘General Hospital’ as Lucky Spencer. His movie credits include ‘Uranus Attack,’ ‘Fatal Following,’ ‘Christmas Tree Lane,’ and ‘Psycho Granny.’
The murder mystery movie also features other talented actors in supporting yet critical roles, including Toby-Alexander Smith as Sydney, Trent Garrett as Alec, Hana Vagnerová as Louisa, Simon Cotton as Devin, Jim Borstelmann as Chauncey, Espen Hatleskog as Andrej, and India Thain as Sonia.
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