Everyone knows Santa Claus is a fat, jolly old elf revered by children from all around the world, but would he still be as beloved if instead he were an in-shape, super cool action star with an edge? After watching the first trailer for Netflix‘s upcoming holiday movie The Christmas Chronicles, the answer is clearly “yes,” or at least it is when your St. Nicholas is played by Kurt Russell.Santa Claus doesn’t just look healthier in the film’s first teaser, he has a whole lot more swagger than we’ve ever seen from the North Pole’s most famous denizen. In the movie, produced by Home Alone‘s Christopher Columbus and directed by The Angry Birds Movie‘s Clay Kaytis, siblings Kate and Teddy Pierce’s plan to get photographic evidence of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve “turns into an unexpected journey that most kids could only dream about” after “they sneak into his sleigh, cause it to crash and nearly derail Christmas.” For a more traditional St. Nick that might be a problem, but not when Kurt Russell is the one in the white beard.
One of my all-time favorite lines from a holiday special comes from Rudolph, when Mrs. Claus says, “Whoever heard of a skinny Santa!” You know who did, lady? Kurt Russell, that’s who.And even if he doesn’t look or act like a traditional Santa, what is it that defines the most famous elf in the world? He brings joy, right? Well Kurt Russell’s been doing that for almost 50 years, and not just for one night a year. Maybe that heavier workload is why he’s in better shape.The Christmas Chronicles premieres on Netflix on November 22nd.What movie Santa Claus would you most want to go on an adventure with? Tell us in the comments below.Featured Image: Netflix