Danny Glover will be hitting the big screen, donning a Santa suit for the Disney original movie, The Naughty Nine. In this holiday heist film, we catch a glimpse of Glover as a not-so-jolly Kris Kringle in newly released photos and a teaser trailer.
The Naughty Nine has been compared to a kid-friendly version of Ocean’s Eleven. It follows fifth-grader Andy (played by Winslow Fegley) as he assembles a crew to break into Santa’s Village at the North Pole. Andy and his friends feel like they’ve been given the short end of the stick by Santa during the holidays and are determined to set things right.
Glover’s portrayal of Santa is described as wise and imposing, with a twinkle of humor, always staying one step ahead of Andy. The movie features a diverse group of kids, each with their own unique talents and roles to play in the heist.
Camila Rodriguez plays Dulce, Andy’s best friend and archery expert. Anthony Joo portrays Lewis, a North Pole conspiracy theorist. Imogen Cohen is the daredevil wheel woman, HaYoon. Clara Stack is the animal whisperer, Rose. Deric McCabe takes on the role of the master of disguise, Jon Anthony. Ayden Elijah plays the adorable charmer, Albert. And Madilyn Kellam portrays Andy’s older sister, Laurel, a skilled gymnast trying to regain her confidence.
Adding an adult perspective to the team is Derek Theler, who plays Bruno, a disgruntled cargo pilot claiming to have witnessed Santa’s sleigh. In true Christmas movie fashion, the naughty listers discover that the best way off the list might not be through a heist, but by finding a way to do some good.
Directed by Alberto Belli and written by Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas, The Naughty Nine promises to be an exciting and heartwarming holiday film. The movie will premiere on the Disney Channel on November 22nd at 8 pm ET, with a streaming premiere on Disney the following day, just in time for Thanksgiving.