Libertyville gets its close-up as ‘Christmas at the Zoo’ movie premieres Tuesday
Libertyville businesses and residents play supporting roles in a holiday rom-com premiering Tuesday.
The village’s cozy, hometown atmosphere is a backdrop for scenes in “Christmas at the Zoo,” which debuts Tuesday on free streaming channel Tubi and is available to rent or purchase on Apple TV and Prime Video.
It’s the latest in a series of holiday offerings by filmmaking collaborators Chris Charles, an Arlington Heights native who lives in Madison, Wisconsin, and John W. Bosher of Mundelein. It follows “Exes of Christmas Past,” which was shot in Libertyville among other locations and premiered last December.
Business partners since 2005, they co-produced “Exes” as Throughline Films. They have also presented four other films under the holiday label Very Merry Entertainment: “Christmas at the Zoo,” “Christmas on the Ranch,” “Christmas with Felicity,” and “Reporting for Christmas.”
Many of the same stores and some new locations in Libertyville are included in the latest film. None of the about 100 extras had speaking parts, but several made cameos as store owners, managers and shoppers in the movie co-produced by Charles and Bosher. They also co-wrote the movie with screenwriter Adam Rockoff.
That story follows an entrepreneur brokering a partnership to build the city zoo’s new Humboldt penguin habitat when she gets caught between business and romance after falling for a compassionate zookeeper over the holidays. The Brookfield Zoo was the primary location, with filming also taking place in Riverside and Chicago, as well as Libertyville.
Conscious Cup Coffee Roasters, Cook Park, Wild Moon Collective, and La Villa Lofts are among the familiar Libertyville spots where filmmakers shot. Mayor Donna Johnson said the village negotiated to use the actual business names in the movie — rather than fictional ones — as a way to boost business and enhance the village’s outreach.
“It features what we offer,” she said.
Most filming took place during Brookfield’s Zoo’s Holiday Magic festival featuring more than 3.5 million lights and illuminated displays. It was directed by filmmaker Danny Buday, whose movies have premiered on ION Television, Lifetime and UPtv.
Brookfield Zoo’s real-life care and conservation efforts are highlighted, as is wildlife from around the world.
“It’s been a true pleasure to tell a heartwarming story that also shares the zoo’s mission of education and conservation,” Bosher said.
Bosher and Charles scouted Libertyville for “Christmas at the Zoo” in 2024, but the shoot was postponed. They got a script for “Exes of Christmas Past” and thought the village would be the perfect fit for that as well.
“We’re thrilled to return to Libertyville and plan to come back for future productions, hopefully next year,” Bosher said.
mzawislak@dailyherald.com