Again in 2022, Christmas obtained a dose of bloody violence and darkish comedy, courtesy of director Tommy Wirkola and “Stranger Issues” star David Harbour, within the type of “Violent Night time.” The twisted Christmas motion flick and immediate vacation traditional finds Santa Claus (Harbour) encountering a hostage scenario on Christmas Eve, and he is the one one who can save a little bit woman and her rich household from a grisly destiny by the hands of some law-breakers who’re undoubtedly on St. Nick’s naughty listing. With the assistance of some makeshift family weapons and traps, a trusty hammer, and a little bit of Christmas magic, Santa Claus lived to combat one other day and ship presents all over the world. He additionally broke John Leguizamo’s total physique by magicking himself up a chimney. Merry Christmas!
With a field workplace haul of simply over $76 million, “Violent Night time” was a modest R-rated success, and that was sufficient to persuade Common to deliver Santa again for an additional spherical. The primary “Violent Night time 2” trailer has simply arrived, increasing the lore of St. Nick by introducing his spouse, performed by “Frozen” star Kristen Bell. In the case of Santa Claus being on the naughty listing, shedding his powers, and being pressured to reckon with a mall filled with armed criminals led by Jared Harris (“Chernobyl”), Mrs. Claus is not merely going to … let it go. (See what we did there?)
Watch the primary “Violent Night time 2” trailer above, and hold studying to search out out what you may count on from the motion sequel, in response to Wirkola and producer Kelly McCormick (who spoke with us concerning the film forward of the trailer’s launch).
Count on extra particulars on Santa Claus’ Viking mythos in Violent Night time 2
Should you thought Santa Claus was the one in command of the naughty listing, suppose once more. “Violent Night time 2” reveals us that there is nonetheless loads about Christmas magic that Santa does not perceive, making nice use of an innocuous line from the tip of the primary “Violent Night time” film. Tommy Wirkola defined the thriller behind Santa ending up on the naughty listing:
“There is a line within the first one which we do repeat within the sequel, the place it is, “Christmas magic, I do not even perceive it myself.” We nonetheless wish to hold it a little bit bit complicated for Santa at instances. However yeah, he does find yourself on the naughty listing for quite a lot of causes that really ties into the primary movie and the teachings he took from that.”
That is not the one element from the primary film that will likely be expanded upon additional within the sequel. Wirkola teased:
“The one factor that we realized from the primary one, particularly within the years after it got here out, watching Twitter and David [Harbour], particularly when he went to Comedian-Cons and spoke to followers, he mentioned one factor that individuals at all times requested him about was Santa’s backstory and the way he turned Santa Claus and the Viking previous and all that stuff. So, in fact, going into this one, we needed to provide folks a little bit bit extra of that with out going overboard.”
Kelly McCormick echoed that sentiment, including, “There may be the lore that possibly he is a Viking, which we might have gone into a little bit deeper within the subsequent one, spoiler alert. However then can he actually make his approach via an superior, chaotic, loopy combat with out just a bit little bit of magic? And I believe we set him up to have the ability to do that basically nicely.”
Mrs. Claus nearly appeared within the first Violent Night time
As for the brand new characters getting in on the bloody vacation enjoyable this time, you might need seen Joe Pantoliano (lovingly generally known as Joey Pants) popping up. Tommy Wirkola defined what his function within the film is:
“He performs the toymaker. He has his toy retailer within the mall, an old-fashioned toy retailer, and Santa comes into contact with him, they usually type a bond, and a variety of the emotion within the film is tied to him. Like so many fellow film lovers, I am such an enormous fan of him and dealing with him was such a pleasure.”
However, in fact, the main reveal right here is the truth that Mrs. Claus is available in, performed by Kristen Bell. She’s wielding a giant sword, and she or he’s not going to let anybody mess together with her husband. Mrs. Claus was initially meant to have an introduction within the first film, as Kelly McCormick defined:
“We nearly put a button at the back of ‘Violent Night time’ with Mrs. Claus. And if we’d’ve executed that, she would’ve been any individual completely totally different on this one, and it could’ve been a special film if she was already launched.”
Fortunately, as McCormick advised it, “Simply type of via divine intervention, Kristen simply kind of appeared.” Bell has a protracted friendship with David Harbour, which definitely helped safe her within the function, however McCormick thought, “‘Oh my God, we’ll by no means get her. Are you kidding? She’s busy and she or he’s wonderful. I do not even know. That is like Christmas occurring for the film if we get Kristen.'”
Everyone knows how that turned out now. The producer added, “She’s simply, actually, excellent. What she does as a personality is that this very loving kind of push towards Santa understanding how you can get again on the great listing and likewise kicking main ass. Having the permission to try this as a result of she’s simply Kristen Bell as Mrs. Claus. She’s simply that cool.”
“Violent Night time 2” opens in theaters on December 4, 2026. You’ll be able to at present stream the primary “Violent Night time” on Netflix.
