The Legend is back!Billy Bob Thorntonis ready for an all-new heist in the long-anticipated sequelBad Santa 2. The first teaser trailer has officially dropped, and proves you may’t reform the worst of criminals. Asleep at the wheel and forever confused by the youth of today, the iconic Willie T. Sokes is back in the mall, ready to take all your personalChristmaspresent requests, so he can trek them back to the north pole! We don’t get to see too much in this quick tease, but it’s certainly exciting to see Thornton back in the beard and red suit.
Miramax and Broad Green Pictures announced last year that principal photography had begun in Montréal, Québec, Canada onBad Santa 2. Thesequelis a follow-up to the raucous comedy hitBad Santafirst released in 2003.Geyer Kosinskiwillproduce.Billy Bob Thorntonis reprising his iconic role as Willie Sokes in this comedic follow-up, withMad MenstarChristina Hendricksjoining the cast.
Miramax has partnered with Broad Green Pictures to co-finance and co-produceBad Santa 2. Broad Green will distributeBad Santa 2theatrically in the U.S. during the 2016 holiday season. Sierra/Affinity will handle foreign sales with sales starting at the upcoming American Film Market (November 4-11, 2015). Said Zanne Devine, Miramax’s EVP of Film & TV.
“We’ve been waiting far too long to see Billy Bob’s Willie Sokes mess with the holiday season in his own unique way. We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Billy Bob, the entire creative and producing team, and Broad Green and Sierra/Affinity to bring back the outrageous humor and characters that made this movie brand iconic in the first place.”
TheBad Santa sequelcast also includesKathy Bates, who portrays Willie Soke’s mother, described as a “foul-mouthed” woman.Tony Cox(Marcus) andBrett Kelly(The Kid) will also reprise their roles from the originalBad Santa, but it isn’t known if others such asLauren GrahamorLauren Tomwill be back for this follow-up. No story details have been released at this point, but hopefully we’ll learn more closer to the release date.
David Thwaites is overseeing the project for Miramax and Victor Moyers for Broad Green Pictures.Bad Santa 2is the latest project in a busy Miramax pipeline of new content. In July, Miramax in partnership with Roadside Attractions released the critically acclaimed summer specialty box office hitMr. Holmesstarring Academy Award nomineesIan McKellenandLaura Linney; in January, Miramax partnered with Sony-Screen Gems on the release of theKevin Hartcomedy hitThe Wedding Ringer; the supernatural thrillerThe 9th Life of Louis Draxstarring Jamie Dornan, Aaron Paul and Sarah Gadon is in post-production and represents Miramax’s first foreign sales partnership with Sierra/Affinity; and as recently announced, Universal, Miramax and StudioCanal are co-financingBridget Jones' Babywith Working Title producing. As a television studio, Miramax also just jointly announced with El Rey Network the third season ofFrom Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, with season two having concluded on El Rey Network on October 27 of last year.
The originalBad Santaearned $76.4 million at thebox officefrom a $23 million production budget. The story centered on thieves Willie and Marcus, who would work as a mall Santa and his elf every year, before robbing the entire mall on Christmas Eve. When Willie meets a young kid (Brett Kelly) who keeps getting bullied, Willie steps up and befriends this youngster, while a mall security guard (Bernie Mac) uncovers their plan.Mark Waters(|Mean Girls) is directing from a screenplay byDoug Ellin,Johnny RosenthalandShauna Cross.Geyer KosinskiandAndrew Gunnare producing, withMark WatersandDoug Ellinserving as executive producers.Bad Santa 2is in theaters November 23. Take a look a the first sneak peek thanks toYoutube.
