Dinklage and Aniston team up as Santa Claus for Naughty

When you combine high-concept comedy with an utterly ridiculous premise, you get something brilliant. Director Olivia Wilde is bringing that exact brand of chaotic brilliance to the holiday season with her upcoming film Naughty, a festive romp driven by some of Hollywood’s most recognizable names.

The movie is set to feature Jennifer Aniston and Peter Dinklage in equally memorable roles, taking on the roles of Mallory and Santa Claus. The premise itself is pure gold: Mallory, desperate to secure custody of her son, finds her only hope lies in convincing Santa Claus to testify in her divorce proceedings. It sounds like a collision of holiday cheer and legal absurdity.

Wilde, known for her sharp comedic timing in hits like The Invite and Don’t Worry Darling, is steering this narrative, which is based on the equally sharp screenplay by Jimmy Warden, author of Cocaine Bear and Borderline. The story asks a wonderfully strange question: if Santa Claus is truly a jolly old elf, would he risk exposing his existence to the public to help a desperate mother in a legal jam?

The recent success of Wilde’s previous work has cemented her reputation for crafting hilarious, high-stakes scenarios. The Invite, for example, was hailed by critics as genuinely hilarious, proving Wilde’s knack for maximizing comedic mileage from an all-star cast.

This time around, the stakes are equally high—and wonderfully absurd. The project has secured a strong footing in the studio, with Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap producing the film. Reports indicate that Universal wanted to lock down Wilde’s next project quickly, leading to an all-night bidding war for her involvement.

The film has already demonstrated commercial appeal, grossing nearly $32 million worldwide and earning a fantastic 97% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The rights eventually landed with A24, which recognized the unique, delightfully strange vision presented by Warden’s script.

Peter Dinklage to play Santa Claus alongside Jennifer Aniston for Olivia Wilde’s unconventional holiday comedy Naughty appeared first on JoBlo.