Warner Bros to distribute feature in the UK, exec produced by Ridley Scott and starring Jim Broadbent and Rafe Spall.

Shooting begins today in London and Yorkshire on Get Santa, starring Oscar-winning actor Jim Broadbent as Santa Claus.

The film, written and directed by Christopher Smith (Black Death, Severance), is produced by Ridley Scott’s Scott Free London, the BFI, Screen Yorkshire and Altitude Film Entertainment.

Produced by Liza Marshall, the film also stars Rafe Spall, Stephen Graham, Ewen Bremner, Jodie Whittaker, Warwick Davis, Joanna Scanlan and Nonso Anozie. The cast is rounded out by Perry Benson, Matt King, Joshua McGuire and Hera Hilmar.

The film begins when nine-year-old Tom, played by newcomer Kit Connor, discovers Santa (Jim Broadbent) in the garden shed just days before Christmas. Escaping the wreckage of his sleigh and desperate to return to Lapland, Santa has come to ask Tom and his dad Steve (Spall) for help.

But Steve has just been released from prison and all he wants is to stay out of trouble and spend time with his son. Only after Santa is arrested - for trying to liberate his reindeer from Battersea Dogs Home - can Tom persuade Steve to carry out Santa’s plan. Whilst Santa adjusts to life on the inside, Steve and Tom are on the run with the clock ticking, on a desperate quest to save Christmas.

Director of photography is Chris Ross (Black Sea, Spike Island) and production designer is John Frankish, who was art director on Snow White and the Huntsman.

Other crew include costume designer Steven Noble (Under the Skin) and Karen Hartley Thomas (Le Weekend, Berberian Sound Studio) who takes on hair and make-up Design duties.

Get Santa is executive produced by Ridley Scott, Carlo Dusi and co-produced by Andrew Litvin and Jack Arbuthnott for Scott Free London. 

Natascha Wharton serves as executive producer on behalf of the BFI.  Will Clarke and Andy Mayson serve as executive producers for Altitude. The film is backed by the BFI, Screen Yorkshire’s Yorkshire Content Fund, and Ingenious Media.

It will be distributed in the UK by Warner Bros. Pictures.  Altitude Film Sales is handling international sales.

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