Arnold Schwarzenegger, 77, is embracing his festive side in his latest role as Santa Claus in the upcoming holiday comedy The Man with the Bag. The movie recently began production, offering fans a first-look image of Schwarzenegger sporting a gray-haired transformation as jolly Old Saint Nick, alongside his co-star Alan Ritchson.
Santa’s New Adventure
"When Santa’s magic bag is stolen, he turns to his naughty list to find Vance, a thief, to help him get it back," reads the official logline for The Man with the Bag. "Along with his daughter, Santa, and a group of misfits, Vance will have to pull off the greatest heist of his life to save Christmas."
Schwarzenegger himself teased the project on social media, sharing a behind-the-scenes photo with Ritchson, 42, and writing, "Santa Claus is coming to town! It is fantastic to be shooting The Man with the Bag with @alanritchson."
Christmas in New York
Praising the production team, Schwarzenegger also lauded the movie’s director, Adam Shankman (Hairspray), and the filming location. "New York City is an amazing host, working with [producer Amazon MGM Studios] is a joy, and I can’t wait to share all of this Christmas cheer with each and every one of you," the former California governor wrote.
Ritchson, known for his starring role in Reacher as well as recent projects like Ordinary Angels and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, is not just acting in the film—he’s also one of its producers. The screenplay was penned by Allan Rice.
Schwarzenegger's Comeback
In recent years, Schwarzenegger had taken a step back from acting to focus on activism. However, his return to the screen in the 2023 action series FUBAR and State Farm commercials with longtime collaborator Danny DeVito reignited his acting career.
Among Schwarzenegger’s other upcoming projects is the martial arts comedy Kung Fury 2, directed by and starring David Sandberg, though the movie remains in development limbo. The Man with the Bag, however, marks a return to holiday films for Schwarzenegger, whose last Christmas movie was the 1996 comedy Jingle All the Way, co-starring Sinbad.
A release date for The Man with the Bag has yet to be announced, but excitement is building for this festive heist adventure. With Schwarzenegger’s charm and humor leading the way, this holiday comedy promises to be a seasonal hit.
As Schwarzenegger himself put it, "Santa Claus is coming to town!"
