Summary

That Christmas
features an all-star voice cast, including Brian Cox as Santa Claus, in a festive family-focused animated film.
Written by Richard Curtis, known for
Love Actually
, the images released give a peek into charming Christmas moments in the movie.
With a mix of joy, excitement, and surprises,
That Christmas
promises to be a heartwarming holiday treat for audiences.

The first images have been revealed for the upcoming holiday movie That Christmas. That Christmas is an animated film whose plot focuses on a series of family stories that take place leading up to Christmas. Its voice cast features Succession’s Brian Cox as the voice of Santa Claus, with a supporting cast including Bill Nighy, Fiona Shaw, Rhys Darby, Jodie Whittaker, Katherine Parkinson, Guz Khan, Rosie Cavaliero, and Lolly Adefope.

As per Collider, new images have been released for That Christmas. These images include a look at a confused Santa Claus, hanging upside down while holding a sack that is likely filled with gifts. Another image features a woman with children behind her, donning a hat that says “Director.” A third image shows three kids outside in the snow looking confused, with the subject of their confusion left out of the frame. The final image shows two characters outside in a white Christmas, snow-filled surrounding. The sign in the shop behind them reads “Closed for the weather.”

Why Richard Curtis Returning To A Christmas Movie Is A Great Move

That Christmas is written by Richard Curtis, who is best known for writing and directing Love Actually. Like That Christmas, Love Actually is set around the holidays. Thus, the animated film represents a return to form for Curtis, as he once again gets involved with a holiday film. Joining Curtis on the creative team is Simon Otto, who is a first time feature director. Otto is best known for supporting character and animation work on the How to Train Your Dragon movies, as well as the 2006 film Flushed Away.

With this duo, That Christmas will unite a veteran talent with a newer directorial voice. This pairing is sure to give a fresh taste to the existingly established screenwriting voice that is Curtis. Based on the synopsis and the images, it seems that That Christmas will be a sort of ensemble work with a menagerie of characters and smaller stories. A narrative like this fits right in Curtis’ sweetspot, as that is similar to the structure of Love Actually. This overlap bodes well for That Christmas, as Love Actually is a beloved film even today.

Related 17 Best Christmas Movies Of The Last Decade, Ranked From Krampus to Klaus, these festive favorites were the best Christmas movies of the past decade.

Love Actually
is currently available to rent on Prime Video.

The images alone make That Christmas look like a charming and sweet animated feature. Each released image shows a moment in time that represents a range of Christmas joy, excitement, and surprises. Exactly what is driving those emotions will be revealed as That Christmas continues its development and prepares for release later this year.

Source: Collider