Emilia Clarke, Gerard Butler and Simone Ashley are lending their voices to upcoming animated musical “The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland.”
Produced by Universal Pictures Content Group and Lupus Films, the film is based on Carys Bexington’s bestselling book which mashed up two classic stories: Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” and Clement Clarke Moore’s poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” (also known as “A Visit From St Nicholas”). Bexington’s book is illustrated by Kate Hindley and published by Macmillan.
“Greenland” star Gerard Butler is set to voice St. Nick, while “Game of Thrones” alum Emilia Clarke will play the Queen of Hearts and “Bridgerton’s” Simone Ashley will play Alice.
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Peter Baynton, who helmed Oscar-winning animated short film “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse,” is directing while Sara Daddy has written the screenplay (which is entirely in rhyming couplets). Guy Chambers and lyricist Amy Wadge provide the original music and songs.
“’The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland’ is full of fun and festive twists,” reads the synopsis. “This time, it’s St Nick’s turn for an adventure down the rabbit hole. There he meets the Mad Hatter, recast as a high-fashion, reindeer-loving tea party host; the White Rabbit, an endearingly scatty and forgetful character; the Queen of Hearts, a Scrooge-esque tinsel-hater, her antagonistic sidekick, the Cheshire Cat and Alice herself, whose kindness helps St. Nick save Christmas.”
Universal Pictures Content Group and Lupus Films have previously collaborated on beloved book adaptations “Mog’s Christmas” and “The Tiger Who Came to Tea.”
Ruth Fielding and Camilla Deakin produce for Lupus Films. Universal Pictures Content Group EVP Helen Parker exec produces alongside Butler and Alan Siegel for G-base and Clarke for Magical Thinking Pictures.
“It has been a joy to bring together this incredibly creative team and sprinkle some of Lupus Films’ animated magic into the mix,” said Fielding. “The wonderfully wacky characters, starry voice cast and toe-tapping tunes all come together in a fantastic festive fairy-tale for the whole family to enjoy.”
Parker added: “Bringing this original, festive story to life has been a beautiful journey. From the creation of the worlds of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,’ to bringing in our fantastic cast to voice these beloved storybook icons, it has been a truly creative and heartwarming experience.”
