An A-list cast including Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, and Bill Nighy will lend their voices to That Christmas, an animated feature from Netflix penned by Richard Curtis and directed by Simon Otto (How to Train Your Dragon trilogy).
That Christmas is an adaptation of the children’s book series written by Curtis. The pic also marks the directorial debut of animation vet Otto.
Cox voices Santa in the pic. Shaw is Ms. Trapper, Whittaker is Mrs. Williams, and Nighy is Bill, residents of a charming seaside town where things turn upside down one Christmas. The full synopsis reads: That Christmas follows a series of entwined tales about family and friends, love and loneliness, and Santa Claus making a big mistake, not to mention an enormous number of turkeys. Also starring are Lolly Adefope, Alex Macqueen, Katherine Parkinson, Sindhu Vee, India Brown,...
That Christmas is an adaptation of the children’s book series written by Curtis. The pic also marks the directorial debut of animation vet Otto.
Cox voices Santa in the pic. Shaw is Ms. Trapper, Whittaker is Mrs. Williams, and Nighy is Bill, residents of a charming seaside town where things turn upside down one Christmas. The full synopsis reads: That Christmas follows a series of entwined tales about family and friends, love and loneliness, and Santa Claus making a big mistake, not to mention an enormous number of turkeys. Also starring are Lolly Adefope, Alex Macqueen, Katherine Parkinson, Sindhu Vee, India Brown,...
- 3/20/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
That Christmas, the upcoming Netflix animation co-written and produced by Richard Curtis has revealed its stacked voice cast. More on that below.
March is coming to an end soon, so it feels only appropriate to start talking about Christmas, right? Or, at least, Christmas films.
One of this year’s buzziest titles has to be That Christmas, which we reported was in the works back in 2022. The project has since found a home at Netflix and is expected to land during the festive season this year.
The film will be directed by Simon Otto and the script is penned by Peter Souter and Richard Curtis. That seems logical, considering the film is based on Curtis’ trilogy of children’s books. Curtis is also on board as an executive producer.
As announced today by Netflix, the voice cast for the film includes Brian Cox as Santa Claus himself and he will be joined by Fiona Shaw,...
March is coming to an end soon, so it feels only appropriate to start talking about Christmas, right? Or, at least, Christmas films.
One of this year’s buzziest titles has to be That Christmas, which we reported was in the works back in 2022. The project has since found a home at Netflix and is expected to land during the festive season this year.
The film will be directed by Simon Otto and the script is penned by Peter Souter and Richard Curtis. That seems logical, considering the film is based on Curtis’ trilogy of children’s books. Curtis is also on board as an executive producer.
As announced today by Netflix, the voice cast for the film includes Brian Cox as Santa Claus himself and he will be joined by Fiona Shaw,...
- 3/20/2024
- by Maria Lattila
- Film Stories
The streaming platform has also picked up ‘Scrooge: A Christmas Carol’.
Locksmith Animation’s adaptation of Richard Curtis’ children’s book That Christmas is among the four animated titles Netflix has unveiled ahead of the 61st Annecy International Film Festival (June 13-18).
That Christmas is directed by Swiss-born filmmaker Simon Otto, best known for his How To Train Your Dragon trilogy, and follows multiple interweaved stories of love, loneliness, family and friends. It is produced by Nicole P. Hearon and Adam Tandy. Curtis is writing the screenplay with Peter Souter.
Another title announced is Scrooge: A Christmas Carol from Timeless Films.
Locksmith Animation’s adaptation of Richard Curtis’ children’s book That Christmas is among the four animated titles Netflix has unveiled ahead of the 61st Annecy International Film Festival (June 13-18).
That Christmas is directed by Swiss-born filmmaker Simon Otto, best known for his How To Train Your Dragon trilogy, and follows multiple interweaved stories of love, loneliness, family and friends. It is produced by Nicole P. Hearon and Adam Tandy. Curtis is writing the screenplay with Peter Souter.
Another title announced is Scrooge: A Christmas Carol from Timeless Films.
- 6/9/2022
- by Ellie Calnan
- ScreenDaily
Locksmith Animation has tapped Simon Otto to direct their adaptation of children’s book series, “That Christmas,” written by acclaimed screenwriter and director Richard Curtis (“Four Weddings and a Funeral”).
Otto is a Visual Effects Society (Ves) Award-winning Head of Character Animation, story artist, character designer and director. He is best known for the “How to Train Your Dragon” trilogy.
“That Christmas”, previously known as The Empty Stocking, will represent his animated feature film directorial debut. It also marks an animation debut for BAFTA Award-winning Curtis.
Written as a series of children’s books, the trilogy is comprised of “The Empty Stocking,” “Snow Day” and “That Christmas,” all set during the holiday season. The film, for which Curtis has also written the screenplay alongside Peter Souter, will combine the stories and set them in a quintessential English seaside town. It has been billed as “‘Love Actually’ for kids.”
“Simon Otto...
Otto is a Visual Effects Society (Ves) Award-winning Head of Character Animation, story artist, character designer and director. He is best known for the “How to Train Your Dragon” trilogy.
“That Christmas”, previously known as The Empty Stocking, will represent his animated feature film directorial debut. It also marks an animation debut for BAFTA Award-winning Curtis.
Written as a series of children’s books, the trilogy is comprised of “The Empty Stocking,” “Snow Day” and “That Christmas,” all set during the holiday season. The film, for which Curtis has also written the screenplay alongside Peter Souter, will combine the stories and set them in a quintessential English seaside town. It has been billed as “‘Love Actually’ for kids.”
“Simon Otto...
- 6/14/2021
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Simon Otto to direct ‘Love Actually’ writer-director Richard Curtis children’s book adaptation ‘That Christmas’.
Simon Otto, best known for his animation work on the How To Train Your Dragon franchise, is to make his feature directorial debut on Locksmith Animation’s That Christmas.
The film, previously known as The Empty Stocking, is based on a trio of children’s books by Love Actually writer/director Richard Curtis and is in development at Locksmith Animation’s studios in London. Curtis is writing the screenplay with Peter Souter.
Swiss-born Otto is known for his work at US animation studio DreamWorks, where...
Simon Otto, best known for his animation work on the How To Train Your Dragon franchise, is to make his feature directorial debut on Locksmith Animation’s That Christmas.
The film, previously known as The Empty Stocking, is based on a trio of children’s books by Love Actually writer/director Richard Curtis and is in development at Locksmith Animation’s studios in London. Curtis is writing the screenplay with Peter Souter.
Swiss-born Otto is known for his work at US animation studio DreamWorks, where...
- 6/14/2021
- by Melissa Kasule
- ScreenDaily
Ves Award-winning How To Train Your Dragon franchise alum Simon Otto has been set to make his animated feature directorial debut on Locksmith Animation’s That Christmas. Based on a trio of children’s books by writer/director Richard Curtis, and previously known as The Empty Stocking, the film is currently in development at Locksmith Animation’s studios in London.
Elisabeth Murdoch, Sarah Smith, Julie Lockhart and Bonnie Arnold are executive producing That Christmas. Curtis is writing the screenplay with Peter Souter and will also exec produce along with Colin Hopkins and the book’s illustrator Rebecca Cobb.
The three Curtis books in the series — The Empty Stocking, Snow Day and That Christmas — tell charming family stories which take place in the run-up to Christmas. The Locksmith film places these stories in a small English beach town and interweaves them to create what the studio describes as “Love Actually for kids.
Elisabeth Murdoch, Sarah Smith, Julie Lockhart and Bonnie Arnold are executive producing That Christmas. Curtis is writing the screenplay with Peter Souter and will also exec produce along with Colin Hopkins and the book’s illustrator Rebecca Cobb.
The three Curtis books in the series — The Empty Stocking, Snow Day and That Christmas — tell charming family stories which take place in the run-up to Christmas. The Locksmith film places these stories in a small English beach town and interweaves them to create what the studio describes as “Love Actually for kids.
- 6/14/2021
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Locksmith Animation, the studio behind the upcoming 20th Century Studios release “Ron’s Gone Wrong,” has set Simon Otto as the director for its second feature, a holiday film titled “That Christmas.”
Otto, an animator known for the “How to Train Your Dragon” trilogy, will make his directorial debut on “That Christmas” (previously known as “The Empty Stocking”). The film is based on a trio of children’s Christmas books written by Richard Curtis, the filmmaker known for “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and “Love, Actually.”
The three books in the series (published by Puffin) — “The Empty Stocking,” “Snow Day” and “That Christmas” – tell family stories that take place in the run-up to the holidays. The Locksmith film places these stories in a small English beach town and interweaves them to create what the studio describes as “‘Love, Actually’ for kids.”
“That Christmas” is currently in development at Locksmith Animation studios in London.
Otto, an animator known for the “How to Train Your Dragon” trilogy, will make his directorial debut on “That Christmas” (previously known as “The Empty Stocking”). The film is based on a trio of children’s Christmas books written by Richard Curtis, the filmmaker known for “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and “Love, Actually.”
The three books in the series (published by Puffin) — “The Empty Stocking,” “Snow Day” and “That Christmas” – tell family stories that take place in the run-up to the holidays. The Locksmith film places these stories in a small English beach town and interweaves them to create what the studio describes as “‘Love, Actually’ for kids.”
“That Christmas” is currently in development at Locksmith Animation studios in London.
- 6/14/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
The feature animation is “aimed at streaming platforms”.
Love Actually writer-director Richard Curtis is to adapt his own series of Christmas-themed children’s books into an animated feature titled The Empty Stocking for UK studio Locksmith Animation.
Curtis will co-write the screenplay with Peter Souter. A director has yet to be attached.
Locksmith Animation, the UK studio run by Sarah Smith and Julie Lockhart and co-founded with Elisabeth Murdoch, recently signed a multi-film theatrical distribution deal with Warner Bros Pictures.
The feature has been earmarked for streaming platforms so falls outside this deal and talks are underway with potential distribution partners.
Love Actually writer-director Richard Curtis is to adapt his own series of Christmas-themed children’s books into an animated feature titled The Empty Stocking for UK studio Locksmith Animation.
Curtis will co-write the screenplay with Peter Souter. A director has yet to be attached.
Locksmith Animation, the UK studio run by Sarah Smith and Julie Lockhart and co-founded with Elisabeth Murdoch, recently signed a multi-film theatrical distribution deal with Warner Bros Pictures.
The feature has been earmarked for streaming platforms so falls outside this deal and talks are underway with potential distribution partners.
- 11/6/2019
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
Love, Actually writer/director Richard Curtis has teamed with Locksmith Animation for an animated feature based on his Christmas children’s books.
Curtis, who also wrote Four Weddings and a Funeral and Yesterday, is writing The Empty Stocking with Peter Souter (Married Single Other). Bonnie Arnold (How to Train Your Dragon) is producing along with Locksmith heads Sarah Smith and Julie Lockhart. Illustrator Rebecca Cobb and executive Colin Hopkins are also on board.
The three books, The Empty Stocking, Snow Day and the forthcoming That Christmas, tell a charming family story which takes place in the run up to Christmas, in a rural coastal town based on Curtis’s home. The stories will be interwoven to create what Locksmith describes as “Love Actually for kids.”
“It’s been such a pleasure writing these books – with Rebecca Cobb’s wonderful drawings – that I’m thrilled about the idea of turning them into a film,...
Curtis, who also wrote Four Weddings and a Funeral and Yesterday, is writing The Empty Stocking with Peter Souter (Married Single Other). Bonnie Arnold (How to Train Your Dragon) is producing along with Locksmith heads Sarah Smith and Julie Lockhart. Illustrator Rebecca Cobb and executive Colin Hopkins are also on board.
The three books, The Empty Stocking, Snow Day and the forthcoming That Christmas, tell a charming family story which takes place in the run up to Christmas, in a rural coastal town based on Curtis’s home. The stories will be interwoven to create what Locksmith describes as “Love Actually for kids.”
“It’s been such a pleasure writing these books – with Rebecca Cobb’s wonderful drawings – that I’m thrilled about the idea of turning them into a film,...
- 11/6/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
U.K. studio Locksmith is creating “The Empty Stocking,” an animated feature based on a series of Richard Curtis-penned children’s books.
Veteran producer Bonnie Arnold (“How to Train Your Dragon”) will oversee the project, which will be for release on digital platforms. She will work alongside Locksmith chiefs Sarah Smith and Julie Lockhart.
Locksmith is partnering on the feature with Curtis and his team, which includes illustrator Rebecca Cobb, executive Colin Hopkins, and writer Peter Souter, who will pen the screenplay.
The three books in Curtis’ Puffin-published series are “The Empty Stocking,” “Snow Day,” and the forthcoming “That Christmas.” Each tells a family story that takes place in the run up to Christmas, in a rural coastal town based on Curtis’s home. The trio of stories will be interwoven for the feature.
This will mark the first animated film project for Curtis. “It’s been such a...
Veteran producer Bonnie Arnold (“How to Train Your Dragon”) will oversee the project, which will be for release on digital platforms. She will work alongside Locksmith chiefs Sarah Smith and Julie Lockhart.
Locksmith is partnering on the feature with Curtis and his team, which includes illustrator Rebecca Cobb, executive Colin Hopkins, and writer Peter Souter, who will pen the screenplay.
The three books in Curtis’ Puffin-published series are “The Empty Stocking,” “Snow Day,” and the forthcoming “That Christmas.” Each tells a family story that takes place in the run up to Christmas, in a rural coastal town based on Curtis’s home. The trio of stories will be interwoven for the feature.
This will mark the first animated film project for Curtis. “It’s been such a...
- 11/6/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
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