Samara Weaving has boarded the cast of “Naughty,” Universal’s holiday comedy that stars Jennifer Aniston as a mother locked in a custody fight with her ex-husband, Hollywood Buzz News has learned. Olivia Wilde is directing the film, which the studio has dated for a Nov. 5, 2027 theatrical release.
Aniston leads the movie as Mallory, a woman whose only remaining hope of winning custody of her son is to track down Santa Claus and persuade him to testify at her divorce hearing. Peter Dinklage plays Santa. Weaving joins a cast that also includes Chase Sui Wonders, Regina Hall and Ike Barinholtz. Universal has not disclosed which role Weaving will play.
The project blends comedy with drama, adventure and fantasy, a combination that gives Wilde room to work in a broad commercial register while keeping the story anchored to a mother’s fight for her child. It marks another high-profile studio assignment for Wilde, who has moved between acting and directing throughout her career.
For Weaving, the role adds a major studio comedy to a résumé built largely on genre fare. She broke through in the horror comedy “Ready or Not” and has since appeared in “The Babysitter,” “Bill & Ted Face the Music,” “Scream VI” and “Babylon,” winning a following for her knack with dark, fast-talking material. “Naughty” puts her in a warmer, family-facing mode opposite Aniston and Dinklage, two performers with long track records in comedy.
Precisely how Weaving’s character figures into Mallory’s search for Santa has not been revealed. Details of the plot beyond the custody premise remain under wraps, and no runtime has been announced.
Aniston remains one of the most recognizable stars in American comedy, with “Friends” and a long run of studio films behind her, including “Marley & Me,” “Just Go with It” and “Horrible Bosses.” Lately she has gravitated toward television, earning acclaim for “The Morning Show.” A holiday tentpole built around her gives Universal a recognizable name to market in the corridor that traditionally draws families to theaters.
Dinklage, meanwhile, won four Emmy Awards for “Game of Thrones” and earned an Oscar nomination for “The Station Agent.” Casting him as Santa promises a wry, unconventional take on the role. Hall, an Emmy nominee for “Black Monday,” and Barinholtz, a comedy regular and writer, round out a deep bench of supporting players.
Wilde’s directing career has been closely watched since her 2019 debut, “Booksmart,” which drew strong reviews for its brisk, affectionate take on teenage friendship. She followed it with the psychological thriller “Don’t Worry Darling” in 2022. “Naughty” represents a shift toward four-quadrant holiday entertainment, and her ability to balance jokes with genuine emotion will be tested by a premise that hinges on a mother’s desperation.
The screenplay’s authorship has not been disclosed, and Universal has not confirmed a production start date. The Nov. 5, 2027 slot places the film in the run-up to Thanksgiving, an increasingly valuable window for holiday-themed releases that can play through December.
The movie is not yet rated, and no trailer or first-look images have been released. Its TMDb rating currently sits at 0/10, reflecting the absence of audience votes rather than any assessment of quality.
“Naughty” joins a crowded field of holiday comedies in development across the studios, though few combine a custody drama with a search for Santa. The premise has the potential for broad physical comedy - a mother chasing a mythical figure through a legal system - while leaving room for the emotional stakes of a parent trying to keep her child.
For Weaving, the film offers a chance to widen her range in front of a family audience after years of playing characters who survive by their wits in darker stories. For Wilde, it is a test of whether her sensibility translates to a studio tentpole with a big heart and a Christmas deadline.
Universal has not announced additional casting. “Naughty” is set to open in theaters on Nov. 5, 2027.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
