Netflix has unveiled voice cast and new images from Locksmith Animation (Ron’s Gone Wrong) and director Simon Otto’s (How to Train Your Dragon trilogy) upcoming CG animated feature That Christmas.
The film stars Brian Cox as Santa, Fiona Shaw (Ms. Trapper), Jodie Whittaker (Mrs. Williams), and Bill Nighy (Bill) as the residents of a charming seaside town where things turn upside down one Christmas.
That Christmas is an adaptation of the children’s book series, The Empty Stocking, Snow Day and That Christmas, written by Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually, Yesterday).
It marks Curtis’ first animation project as well as the directorial debut for animation veteran Otto.
The animation also stars Lolly Adefope, Alex Macqueen, Katherine Parkinson, Sindhu Vee, India Brown, Zazie Hayhurst, Sienna Sayer, Jack Wisniewski, Rosie Cavaliero, Paul Kaye, Guz Khan, Andy Nyman, Kuhu Agarwal, Bronte Smith, Freddie Spry, Ava Talbot, and Rhys Darby.
The festive feature has a score from composer John Powell (How To Train Your Dragon trilogy, Happy Feet, Shrek).
Produced by Locksmith Animation with animation production from DNEG, the film will be released by Netflix.
Director: Simon Otto
Writers: Richard Curtis & Peter Souter
Producers: Nicole P. Hearon p.g.a, Adam Tandy p.g.a
Executive Producers: Mary Coleman, Natalie Fischer, Julie Lockhart, Elisabeth Murdoch, Bonnie Arnold, Lara Breay, Sarah Smith, Rebecca Cobb, Richard Curtis, Colin Hopkins
Composer: John Powell
Cast: Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, Lolly Adefope, Alex Macqueen, Katherine Parkinson, Sindhu Vee, India Brown, Zazie Hayhurst, Sienna Sayer, Jack Wisniewski, Rosie Cavaliero, Paul Kaye, Guz Khan, Andy Nyman, Kuhu Agarwal, Bronte Smith, Freddie Spry, Ava Talbot, with Bill Nighy and Rhys Darby.
Director Simon Otto said: “Becoming an animator had been on my Christmas wish list ever since I was a child and watching animated movies was one of the biggest Christmas traditions in my family. But never could I have imagined that one day I would get the chance to direct a Christmas film written by the one-and-only Richard Curtis and collaborate with some of the most iconic voice talents. Watching this cast bring life to these heart-warmingly funny tales and infuse them with the magic of animation is truly a dream come true. I hope That Christmas becomes a cherished tradition for audiences worldwide.”
Writer and Executive Producer Richard Curtis said: “This has been the most amazing adventure, my first animated film. It’s been especially exciting to see the whole world I imagined come to life beyond my wildest dreams – and populated by a dream bunch of actors, their wonderful voices turned into such rich and funny characters.”
That Christmas is part of Netflix’s original slate of animated features which includes Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, the films Nimona, The Sea Beast, The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Over the Moon, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon and Klaus; tChicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget; and Leo and Back to the Outback.
Upcoming animated features also include Thelma the Unicorn, Ultraman: Rising, Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie, Spellbound, In Your Dreams, The Twits, Pookoo, and an untitled Wallace & Gromit film.
Pippa Considine
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