Eddie Murphy is going from “You People” to yuletide, following up his Netflix comedy with his first Christmas feature. Prime Video released the trailer for “Candy Cane Lane” Thursday morning, providing a first look at Murphy’s magical holiday adventure.
The footage reveals Murphy playing a father in the holiday spirit who accepts a magical wish offered by a pushy elf (Jillian Bell) to help his family win the neighborhood decoration contest. His competitive edge may have some unintended consequences. Tracee Ellis Ross also stars as Murphy’s wife, with Thaddeus J. Mixson, Ken Marino, Nick Offerman, Robin Thede, Chris Redd, Genneya Walton, Madison Thomas, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, Lombardo Boyar, D.C. Young Fly, Danielle Pinnock, Timothy Simons, Riki Lindhome and Stephen Tobolowsky also among the cast.
The film also reunites Murphy with his “Boomerang” director Reginald Hudlin. Kelly Younger wrote the film, while Murphy, Brian Grazer, Karen Lunder and Charisse Hewitt-Webster serve as producers. Doug Merrifield executive produces.
“I’ve wanted to make a Christmas movie my whole life, but I wanted to do something fresh and surprising,” Hudlin said in an earlier statement announcing the film’s Prime Video launch. “Eddie Murphy and this hilarious cast really bring the funny, it’s super Christmas-y, and it will hit you right in the feels.”
Since his Golden Globe-nominated performance in Netflix’s Rudy Ray Moore biopic “Dolemite Is My Name” in 2019, Murphy has set up shop on streaming to star in a slew of new comedies. “Candy Cane Lane” follows his turns in “Coming 2 America” (which was sold to Amazon Studios by Paramount Pictures during the COVID pandemic) and Netflix’s “You People.”
“Candy Cane Lane” debuts on Prime Video on Dec. 1. Watch the trailer below.
