James McAvoy will voice the title character in Arthur Christmas
Set on Christmas night, the story of Arthur Christmas at last reveals the incredible, never-before seen answer to every child's question: 'So how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night?' The answer: Santa's exhilarating, ultra-high-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole. But at the heart of the film is a story with the ingredients of a Christmas classic - a family in a state of comic dysfunction and an unlikely hero, Arthur, with an urgent mission that must be completed before Christmas morning dawns.
McAvoy leads the cast as Arthur, the good-natured but clumsy younger son of Santa. Arthur LOVES everything to do with Christmas; indeed, he is the only one in his family still captivated by the magic of the holiday. Laurie will play Arthur's older brother Steve, heir to the reins, a cool, incredibly capable guy who has given the North Pole high-tech efficiency, military-style precision. Broadbent plays Santa, who pictures himself as the guy in charge at the North Pole, but is now more of a figurehead as the operation has outgrown him. Nighy plays Santa's 136-year-old father, Grandsanta, a cranky old codger who hates the modern world, is always grumbling that Christmas 'was better when I was Santa' and has a tense relationship with Steve, who he calls 'A postman with a spaceship.' Jensen will play Bryony, a lowly elf from the Giftwrap Battalion, with an eager-to-please attitude and an obsession with wrapping and bows. Imelda Staunton rounds out the cast as Mrs. Santa, dedicated wife and mother to her husband and sons.
The director of Arthur Christmas is Sarah Smith. The screenplay is by Peter Baynham and Sarah Smith. Barry Cook is Co-Director. Producer is Steve Pegram. Production Designer is Evgeni Tomov. Executive Producers are Carla Shelley, Peter Lord and David Sproxton. Michael Giacchino and Adam Cohen are the composers.
Commenting on the announcement, Smith said, "We are thrilled to have assembled such a phenomenal group of actors for Arthur Christmas. Not only are they all terrifically funny, charming and characterful but they have also brought an emotional subtlety and depth that gives the film great heart."
Arthur Christmas was released November 23rd, 2011 and stars James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, Ashley Jensen, Imelda Staunton. The film is directed by Barry Cook, Sarah Smith.
Comments (7)
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Diaigma
Haha! Oh man. Totally wrong picture, there, MW :P
3 years agoby @diaigmaFlag
Daveactor7
I really wish they would do this for the PBS version though :/ i loved that show when i was a kid
3 years agoby @daveactor7Flag
Jay.A.Ottley
I'll only go see this if they got the title theme song, attached, @cripple completely agree, bout time but way too late...
*hums Arthur Theme*
Arthur was awesome
3 years agoby @jayaottleyFlag
ejk1
Thank you, @moviegeek1, for pointing that out. I never watched the TV show, so I was surprised to learn that Arthur was Santa's son. Then I read your post, and it all made sense: MW goofed. Thank you, my friend, for clearing that up for me.
3 years agoby @ejk1Flag
Cripple
@moviegeek1, yeah, it kinda got me disappointed, it's about time arthur the ardvark got his own movie.
3 years agoby @crippleFlag
Dan
Pass.
3 years agoby @dan1Flag
moviegeek
....just because it's called Arthur Christmas doesn't mean it relates to the PBS cartoon "Arthur" (the picture)...
3 years agoby @moviegeekFlag