The story focuses on Santa’s ability to deliver presents to all the of the world’s children (those on the Nice list, at least) in a single night, peeling back the mythology to reveal a high-tech operation squatting beneath the snow at the North Pole.
James McAvoy is playing Arthur, the sweet but clumsy younger son of Father Christmas (Jim Broadbent), who still loves the magic of the holiday and what it represents. But while Santa sees himself as the man in charge at the North Pole, the real brains and brawn behind the operation is Steve (Hugh Laurie), who runs the place with military efficiency. And off in the corner, complaining about how everything was better when he wore the suit and rode the sleigh, is Grandsanta (Bill Nighy), who can’t stand the modern world.
Imelda Staunton has signed on to play Mrs Claus, and Extras’ Ashley Jensen is on board to play Bryony, an elf with dreams of rising up the ranks.
As some of you will know, I know more than I can say about this film - but these actors sound fantastic choices! Hugh Laurie captures my attention the most – as I’m a massive fan of his anyway – and it will be particularly interesting to see how he takes on this role.
Although his performance in ‘House’ may have inspired this casting, it is perhaps ironic that he should now be playing the person effectively ‘in charge’, after almost always playing a ‘second in command’ or lower in many of his most famous British appearances. From ‘Blackadder’, through ‘Jeeves and Wooster’ (he might have been Master... But Jeeves was the mind. Remind you of any film posters?...), and into practically every sketch in ‘A Bit of Fry and Laurie’, where it was almost always Stephen Fry who played the person in control.
Still – this is really exciting news all around, handled well this could become a real cult Christmas classic I feel.
