The upcoming Christmas movie, “Dear Santa,” stars Jack Black, not as Father Christmas, but as a holiday version of…Satan. The film, which is set to release on Paramount+ Nov. 25, tells the story of a young boy who writes a letter to Santa but accidentally sends it to the Lord of Darkness.
“When a young boy mails his Christmas wish list to Santa with one crucial spelling error, a devilish Jack Black arrives to wreak havoc on the holidays,” says a synopsis of the film. “From the hilarious minds behind DUMB & DUMBER, Christmas is about to go up in flames.”
‘Dear Santa’ Is a ‘Family Story,’ Says Director
Liam Turner (Robert Timothy Smith) intends to send his Christmas list to Santa, but, as a voiceover in the trailer notes, the boy is “crappy speller.” Instead, his letter goes to Satan at the “North Lope.”
“This looks like fun,” says Satan, played by Black, who then materializes in Turner’s room, scaring the boy, who admits Satan is not what he “expected.”
“I’m way better than Santa,” Satan tells Turner, promising to fulfill three wishes. There’s just one small catch, of course. “By the way,” Satan says, “After you make your wishes, I’m taking your soul.”
The rest of the trailer shows Satan dazzling Turner with what he can offer him—like the chance to meet Post Malone (who has a cameo in the movie)—while being frustrated that the boy is “incorruptible.”
“What about doing something out of kindness?” Turner asks the devil at one point.
“I don’t even know what you just said,” Satan replies. “I mean I know all the words, but I just never heard them in that order.”
“Dear Santa” also features Keegan-Michael Key as Turner’s therapist and Brianne Howey and Hayes MacArthur as Turner’s parents.
Director Bobby Farrelly told Entertainment Weekly that for Satan he wanted an actor who could be “diabolical, but in a fun way.”
