Shubhabrata Dutta
Directed by Paula Elle and Alton Glass, Great American Family’s ‘A Second Chance Christmas’ is a Holiday romance drama movie set in Townsend, Tennessee. The story follows Anna and James Campbell, divorced for five years, who reluctantly agree to gather with their daughter at a cabin. While the two are still coping with the separation, which has affected them both, an unexpected ice storm causes the roads to be closed down, the power to be cut, and the cell service to be out, forcing the two to stay at the cabin by themselves. Naturally, conversations happen, and while both feel they can be together again, their rough past remains an obstacle. Can the Christmas charm work its magic and bring them together again? Getting stuck in that cabin might as well be the second chance they desperately need.
Where was A Second Chance Christmas Filmed?
‘A Second Chance Christmas’ was filmed entirely in Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia. Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, the city served as the perfect production base for establishing the Holiday Magic associated with the story. Principal photography seemingly took place over a couple of weeks in December 2025 to make full-fledged use of the snow. The cast and crew came together as a family, with actress Candace Cameron Bure bringing her personalized fun to the endeavor.
Victoria, British Columbia
‘A Second Chance Christmas’ was shot entirely in Victoria, AKA the Garden City. Various real establishments and streets were chosen as backdrops and settings. For example, many indoor scenes were recorded at the Pendray Inn, 309 Belleville Street. It is an iconic fixture in the city’s Inner Harbor landscape, boasting antique furnishings and rich wood accents. It can also be rented for weddings and other social and corporate events. Since the setting is Townsend, Tennessee, signboards were put up to indicate the location.
The crew also taped scenes outside the Central Branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library, located at 735 Broughton Street in downtown Victoria. The name was changed to show the university where Anna and James’s daughter studies. It is known for the Heritage Room, which houses over 2,500 items documenting Vancouver Island history. Chalets were seemingly rented as stand-ins for the cabin where Anna and James get stuck, and the Townsend Community Center, and were dressed in Christmas décor for indoor and outdoor shots.
The city of Victoria has frequently served as a filming location for network productions of GAF and Hallmark. ‘Absolutely Devoted to You,’ ‘A Castle of Our Own,’ ‘All’s Fair in Love & Mahjong,’ ‘Two for Tee,’ and ‘I’ll Be Seeing You’ were all shot here. For people planning to visit the gorgeous city, some must-see places are Craigdarroch Castle, Christ Church Cathedral, the Butchart Gardens, Beacon Hill Park, the Royal BC Museum, and Downtown Victoria.
A Second Chance Christmas Cast Details
The cast of ‘A Second Chance Christmas’ is led by Candace Cameron Bure and Jonathan Scarfe. Candace is also a producer, a talk show host, and the New York Times Best-Selling author of ‘Reshaping It All: Motivation for Physical and Spiritual Fitness.’ Jonathan Scarfe loves outdoor adventures, especially sailing and mountaineering. He spent about two and a half years, according to the biography accompanying TVMEG’s 2021 interview, aboard his 44-foot sailboat with his family, circumnavigating the Pacific Ocean, a distance of over 18,000 miles.
Candace Cameron Bure as Anna Campbell
Candace Cameron Bure plays Anna Campbell in ‘A Second Chance Christmas.’ She is a common face on GAF and can be spotted in movies like the ‘Ainsley McGregor Mysteries’ franchise, ‘Home Sweet Christmas,’ ‘Just in Time,’ ‘A Christmas for the Ages,’ ‘A Christmas Less Traveled,’ and ‘My Christmas Hero.’ Her most noteworthy performances include D.J. Tanner in ‘Full House’ and ‘Fuller House’ and Aurora Teagarden in Hallmark’s ‘Aurora Teagarden Mysteries’ franchise.
Jonathan Scarfe as James Campbell
Jonathan Scarfe portrays Anna’s ex-husband James Campbell in the GAF drama movie. He has a string of popular TV shows to his credit, including ‘Van Helsing,’ ‘ER,’ ‘NYPD Blue,’ ‘Cold Case,’ ‘CSI: Miami,’ and ‘The L Word.’ Some of his feature film roles are Resnik in ‘The Equalizer 2,’ Nick in ‘Radio Free Albemuth,’ and Bill Tollman in ‘Liberty Stands Still.’ On Network TV, he stars as Grant in Lifetime’s ‘Disappearance in Yellowstone,’ George in Hallmark’s ‘Dater’s Handbook,’ Nick Linden in ‘Love on the Air,’ and Brady Howe in ‘Angel of Christmas.’
‘A Second Chance Christmas’ has Chris Wood in a supporting role as Mark, James’s friend.
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