Jack Black to Make Christmas Comedy with the Farrelly Brothers

Jack Black Starring in Christmas Comedy ‘Dear Santa’ for The Farrelly Brothers

It’s the story of a boy who accidentally sends his Christmas wish list to Satan instead of Santa.

Jack Black as R. L. Stine in 2015's 'Goosebumps.'

It has been a few years since the Farrelly brothers worked as a team on a movie –– though they’ve supported each other. Peter has been on the awards beat with the likes of ‘Green Book’ (which was successful to the point of a Best Picture Oscar) and ‘The Greatest Beer Run Ever’ (which, er, wasn’t).

Bobby, meanwhile, dealt with the tragic death of his son and did more producing and working on shorts, though he did return to directing with this month’s ‘Champions’.

Now, though, the sibling filmmakers are returning in force, and looking to work again with Jack Black, who starred for them in 2001’s ‘Shallow Hal’ on ‘Dear Santa’. Bobby is directing, and Peter will produce.

Dear Santa

"Jack Black is NOT Santa."

PG-131 hr 48 minNov 25th, 2024

Likeable 6th grader Liam writes to Santa asking him to prove that he's real. But Liam is dyslexic and accidentally sends his letter to Satan instead, who shows up... Read the Plot

Black has teased something of a festive nature with a cryptic Instagram post featuring him posing with a Christmas decoration.

What’s the story of ‘Dear Santa’?

The film is actually listed as ‘Dear Satan’ on the IMDb, which makes sense, though in the reports about Black’s attachment, it’s called ‘Dear Santa’.

Either title works, actually, as this is the story of a young boy who, in writing his yearly note to Santa, mixes up the letters and sends it to Satan instead.

Deadline doesn’t specify who Black is playing in the movie, but again, the IMDb shows him as Satan.

This is a movie that the Farrellys have been associated with since at least 2012, when it was set up at 20th Century Fox (before Disney snapped it up).

Dan Ewen wrote the original script after being inspired by a young girl he was babysitting misspelling Santa on her Christmas wish list. “There was this cute little card, covered in candy canes and glitter,” Ewen told Variety at the time. “I fell in love with the idea of this note mistakenly being delivered to the Prince of Darkness and the fiery wackiness that would ensue.”

Since then, Peter and Bobby have worked with Ricky Blitt on the script, which has seemingly shifted the gender of the child character. And the movie has switched studio homes to Paramount.

Bobby Farrelly directs 'Champions.'

Who else is in the new Farrelly brothers film?

The cast for ‘Dear Santa’ also includes Robert Timothy Smith, Keegan-Michael Key, Brianne Howey, Hayes MacArthur, PJ Byrne, Jaden Carson Baker, Kai Cech and Austin Post.

Next up for Black is voicing Bowser in ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ (in theaters on April 5th) and fellow video game adaptation ‘Borderlands’, which is still making its way through post-production and doesn’t have a release date yet.