Alan Ritchson and Arnold Schwarzenegger . Photo: Clay Enos/Prime Video
Arnold Schwarzenegger is living up to his famous line, "I'll be back," but this time, he’s returning as Santa Claus. The iconic action star was recently spotted in New York City, donning a white beard and festive attire while filming his latest holiday movie, The Man with the Bag.
The family comedy, which has just kicked off production, offers a fresh take on the Christmas season. A newly released first-look image showcases a gray-bearded Schwarzenegger, now 77, as a modern-day Santa Claus alongside co-star Alan Ritchson.
According to the official synopsis, the movie revolves around Santa’s magical bag being stolen. To retrieve it, he enlists the help of Vance, a thief on his naughty list. Together with his daughter and a band of misfits, Santa and Vance must execute the ultimate heist to save Christmas.
Arnold Schwarzenegger's 'The Man with the Bag' is his next festive film. Photo: Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Schwarzenegger shared his excitement about the project on social media, writing, "Santa Claus is coming to town! It is fantastic to be shooting The Man with the Bag with @alanritchson." He also praised director Adam Shankman, known for Hairspray, adding, “New York City is an amazing host, working with [producer Amazon MGM Studios] is a joy, and I can’t wait to share all of this Christmas cheer with each and every one of you.”
This marks a notable return to festive films for Schwarzenegger, who last starred in the 1996 holiday classic Jingle All the Way. In recent years, he stepped back from acting to focus on activism but returned to the screen in Netflix’s 2023 action series FUBAR.
Co-star Alan Ritchson, known for his role in Reacher and recent projects like Ordinary Angels and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, is also a producer on the film. The screenplay is penned by Allan Rice, promising a mix of humor and heartwarming holiday spirit.
Schwarzenegger’s upcoming ventures also include the martial arts comedy Kung Fury 2, though its release remains uncertain. As for The Man with the Bag, a release date has yet to be announced, but anticipation is already building for this unique holiday adventure.
