Lights, camera….Athens! City featured in upcoming holiday movie ‘Kangaroo Christmas’
Published 5:48 am Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Unless you’ve been buried at the toe-end of a Christmas stocking, you’ve probably already heard the news: Athens and its historic downtown are set to be featured in a new holiday movie; one that recently took over portions of the city as filmmakers paid an on-location visit.
Athens was selected as a scenic small-town backdrop location for Kangaroo Christmas, an upcoming holiday film with heartwarming vibes at its core. Produced by the Alabama North Film Group and led by longtime actor Branscombe Richmond, the feel-good film aims to capture the spirit of the season while showcasing the picturesque charm of Athens and Limestone County.
“What made Athens so appealing was the look and feel of it,” Richmond shared with city leaders of Athens’ cinematic appeal. “We really fell in love with it. You only want to go where you are wanted and everyone here has been so welcoming and so cooperative; it was truthfully a no-brainer.”
Kangaroo Christmas tells the story of Joey, a lovable young kangaroo who escapes from a zoo and is discovered by two children whose family is grappling with the challenges of the holidays in the wake of a profound loss. Through a journey to reunite Joey with its mother, the kangaroo ultimately brings the family back together, reminding everyone of the true meaning of love during the holidays.
“It’s children and animals during Christmas, it doesn’t get much better than that,” said Richmond.
Easy-to-spot landmarks including the historic Limestone County Courthouse Square and the Alabama Veterans Museum are set to appear in the movie, as are a number of local residents — including Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks in a home-grown cameo. Filmmakers were committed to incorporating local talent from the north Alabama community into the movie, engaging community residents as background actors as well as behind the camera in behind-the-scenes production roles.
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