It’s looking like Christmas in July as Jennifer Aniston and Peter Dinklage have plans for the most wonderful time of the year.
Universal Pictures announced that the pair are set to star in the holiday-themed Naughty from director Olivia Wilde. The film is set for theatrical release on Nov. 5, 2027.
Wilde, whose most recent film is A24’s relationship comedy The Invite, helms the movie from a script by Jimmy Warden (Cocaine Bear), who initially wrote the project on spec.
Naughty centers on Mallory (Aniston), who is embroiled in a custody battle with her ex over her son. Her last hope is to track down Santa Claus (Dinklage) and get him to testify in the divorce hearing.
Santa Claus will have a little family competition over the debut weekend of Naughty. The film will open opposite Warner Bros.’ animated musical comedy Margie Claus, with Melissa McCarthy voicing Saint Nick’s wife.
This is not the first time that either star has gotten audiences into a jolly mood. Aniston was part of the ensemble cast of 2016’s Office Christmas Party, alongside Jason Bateman and Olivia Munn, while Dinglage had a memorable supporting role in 2003’s Will Ferrell-led holiday classic Elf. As for Wilde, she appeared in the 2015 Christmas comedy Love the Coopers.
After helming 2019’s Booksmart and 2022’s Don’t Worry Darling, Wilde has received critical acclaim for The Invite, the film in which she also stars opposite Seth Rogen, Edward Norton and Penélope Cruz. In his review of The Invite for The Hollywood Reporter, chief film critic David Rooney wrote of Wilde, “At this point, it’s hard to deny she’s the real deal as a director.”
More to come.
