Aayush Sharma
In Hallmark‘s crime thriller ‘Mystery Island: Play For Keeps,’ a group of people meet at a lavish resort to discuss a big business deal. However, things turn upside down when a guest dies under inexplicable circumstances. The film, written by John Christian Plummer, primarily focuses on Detective Jason Trent and Dr. Emilia Priestly returning to Mystery Island, which is an immersive murder-mystery-themed resort. The island is hosting a corporate retreat, and people have gathered here to have some fun while discussing business proposals. But this time, things are personal for Emilia because one of the guests at the resort is her ex-fiancé. Initially, everything seems perfect, with the guests enjoying their time at the beautiful resort.
However, the mood shifts quickly when one of the guests dies mysteriously, and the killer is still inside the villa. The slaying of a guest prompts Jason and Emilia to wear their detective hats and dig deep to unravel the truth behind the murder. Set against a thrilling backdrop, the storyline weaves mystery with drama and conflicts, keeping the tension alive. As Charlie and Emilia solve the murder, they uncover shocking secrets hidden within the resort’s walls, deep in the surrounding forest. The stunning luxury retreat enhances the visual canvas of the Steven R. Monroe directorial, the thick jungle surrounding it, and the beautiful views of the ocean.
Mystery Island: Play For Keeps Filming Locations
Just like the first ‘Mystery Island’ movie, the filming of ‘Play For Keeps’ primarily took place in the tropical country of Panama. Principal photography most likely began in September 2024 and seemingly concluded in December of the same year. The cast and crew members had a wonderful time shooting, as they explored the nation’s beauty and soaked in its vibrant culture. Actor Charlie Weber, who portrays the role of Detective Jason Trent in the film series, felt grateful for “such a beautiful experience” in Panama while posting a picture from the set, sharing it soon after wrapping up the project.
Playa Bonita, Panama
The first film in the ‘Mystery Island’ series had been shot extensively in the Playa Bonita region of the tropical country. Following that tradition, ‘Mystery Island: Play For Keeps’ also brought the crew back to the same location to tape the latest installment. It is a beach area located just outside the city limits of Panama City and is a part of the Province of Panama. The story takes place inside a luxury retreat, where people have come to enjoy their time and do some business talks. As a result, the crew filmed all the crucial sequences at Casa Naga, a real luxury private residence in the aforementioned beach area. Situated at Westin Playa Bonita, Carretera a Veracruz, in the country mentioned above, the property stands on a small cliff wth a clear view of the Panama Canal. The residence features six bedrooms, which consist of custom-made furniture.
On the other hand, the primary bedroom spans over 1500 sq. ft. and features a private plunge pool overlooking the ocean. Moreover, Casa Naga has a large 25-metre swimming pool and lush gardens. The private residence, tucked between the rainforest and the sea, offered an atmosphere that perfectly fit the tone of a murder mystery. Its isolated setting created a sense of seclusion, making it the perfect backdrop for suspense to unravel. For actors Elizabeth Henstridge and Charlie Weber, the location is a significant part of their characters, as the setting shapes their emotions and heightens the tension in every scene. In a video, Elizabeth said, “Both characters are quite separated there. Jason (Weber) has purposefully put himself on an isolated tropical island where he gets to focus on his mission, and Emilia, too, it’s a form of escape.”
Additionally, she talked about a scene they shot in Panama’s jungles. “While reading a page [of script], I thought this is going to be a really hard day. You know, the exterior jungle where we film is very hot and very humid. It looks incredible on camera, but it’s hot. I don’t want to spoil the movie, but it’s basically like we’re in the jungle. I read that scene and went, Oh gosh, oh my gosh, and when we came to shoot it, it was so fun. We saw monkeys. This is so different from anything I’ve ever experienced.” Panama has been an appealing location for production studios because of its stunning coastal areas, tropical weather, and tax incentives. Apart from ‘Mystery Island: Play For Keeps,’ projects such as ‘Money Heist,’ ‘Quantum of Solace,‘ ‘3-Body Problem,‘ ‘Contraband,‘ and ‘Starsky and Hutch,‘ have been shot in the Central American country.
Mystery Island: Play For Keeps Cast Details
‘Mystery Island: Play For Keeps‘ features a stellar cast led by Elizabeth Henstridge, an acclaimed actress known for adding emotional depth to her portrayals. With years of experience in film and television, she brings a captivating performance to the story. Charlie Weber reunites with his co-star to add natural charisma to the movie. He is a familiar face in the world of entertainment and has been a part of several high-end productions. On the other hand, Suanne Brown and Nisha Aaliya also play pivotal characters in this Hallmark mystery thriller.
Elizabeth Henstridge as Dr. Emilia Priestly
Elizabeth Henstridge, who essays the role of Dr. Emilia Priestly in ‘Mystery Island: Play For Keeps,‘ is an accomplished actress who started her acting career in 2010. Three years later, in 2013, she became a household name by portraying Jemma Simmons in Marvel’s ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.‘ She played the character for seven years and earned a lot of recognition for it. Apart from the aforementioned series, she has appeared in several films and TV shows, such as ‘Reach Me‘ (Eve), ‘Wolves at the Door‘ (Abigail Folger), and ‘Hollyoaks‘ (Emily Alexander). Her more recent works include a leading role as Tara in ‘Suspicion.‘ Moreover, she directed an episode of the 2023 superhero series’ Gotham Knights.‘ Henstridge has been an integral part of Hallmark’s ‘Mystery Island’ series, appearing in all the films that have been released in the past, including ‘Mystery Island‘ and ‘Mystery Island: Winner Takes All.’
Charlie Weber as Jason
Charlie Weber portrays the character of Detective Jason Trent in Hallmark’s ‘Mystery Island: Play For Keeps.‘ The actor, who began his career as a model, has more than 40 acting credits. He is well-known for his performances as Ben in ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer,‘ Jay in ‘Everwood,‘ Mark Holland in ‘90210,‘ Peter in ‘As They Made Us,‘ and Frank Delfino in ‘How To Get Away With Murder,‘ a role that earned him widespread recognition and made him a familiar face among audiences. His other credits include ‘Vampires Suck,‘ ‘After We Collided,‘ ‘Soulmates,‘ ‘The Painter,‘ ‘CSI: Miami,‘ ‘CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,‘ and ‘Christmas Bedtime Stories.’
Suanne Braun as Morgan Bennett
In ‘Mystery Island: Play For Keeps,‘ Suanne Brown plays the role of Morgan Bennett. The South African actress started her professional career in 1988 and has over 40 acting credits to her name. Over the years, she has acted in several films and TV shows that made her an established name in the industry. She is known for her performances as Jillian Durpe in ‘Silk Stalkings,‘ Elaine in ‘A Royal Winter,‘ Elle in ‘UnPacking,‘ Matron Jeffrey in ‘Summer of Rockets,‘ and Hippolyta in ‘Kaos.‘ Additionally, she played a significant role in the Netflix film series ‘The Princess Switch,‘ in which she played the role of Mrs. Donatelli across all three films, becoming a consistent part of the franchise.
Nisha Aaliya as Patricia Collacello
Nisha Aaliya, who portrays the role of Patricia Collacello in the aforementioned Hallmark production, has more than 20 acting credits in her career. Starting her career in 2018, Nisha has been a part of several projects that showcase her versatility as an actor. She is known for her roles as Raava in ‘Secret Invasion‘ and Eliza of Tarsus in ‘Testament.‘ Her Indian background has helped her portray characters in Hindi-language titles such as ‘London Confidential’ (Sabeena), ‘The Girl on the Train‘ (Piya), ‘London Files’ (Puja Biswas), and ‘Virdee‘ (Nimrat Kaur). Her other acting credits include ‘Eternals,‘ ‘Rat on the Highway,‘ ‘Emmerdale Farm,‘ ‘Ghosts,‘ ‘Rivals,‘ and ‘Surface’.
