Prime Video has released the first trailer for The Man with the Bag, an action-packed Christmas comedy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Alan Ritchson that will arrive on the platform on December 2. The preview arrives just as the holiday release season begins to heat up, and it promises to be one of the most eye-catching offerings in this year's festive catalog.
The interest in the project is no coincidence. Thirty years after Schwarzenegger starred in Jingle All the Way, the actor returns to a Christmas-themed plot, but this time from the other side of the counter: he is no longer a father desperate to get a gift, but Santa Claus himself.
From chasing Santa to becoming him
In The Man with the Bag, Schwarzenegger plays a unique version of Santa Claus who faces a serious problem: his iconic red bag, essential for delivering gifts, has been stolen by a rogue elf with a score to settle.
With Christmas fast approaching and no time to lose, Santa decides to turn to his own naughty list to find someone capable of retrieving the bag. That is where Vance, the character played by Alan Ritchson, star of the series Reacher, enters the scene.
Vance's mission will not be easy. As detailed by Prime Video, the character ends up assembling a group of misfits with very specific criminal skills to organize what the platform describes as a major Christmas heist, with the added help of elves and reindeer.
Alan Ritchson trades pure action for a Christmas heist
The combination of Schwarzenegger and Ritchson is one of the film's main hooks. While the former needs no introduction after decades in Hollywood, the latter has established himself as one of the most recognizable faces of television action thanks to Reacher.
Seeing Schwarzenegger as Santa Claus and Ritchson as one of the names on his naughty list adds a contrast that has worked in other stages of the Austrian actor's career, such as in Twins, Kindergarten Cop, or Jingle All the Way itself, titles in which his imposing physique clashed with comedic situations.
Awkwafina, the elf who unleashes Christmas chaos
The cast of The Man with the Bag adds names with weight in both action cinema and comedy. Awkwafina, known for playing Katy in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, plays the rogue elf responsible for stealing Santa Claus's bag.
The cast is rounded out by Berkeley James, Michael Cyril Creighton (Only Murders in the Building), Liza Koshy (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts), Kyle Mooney, Jane Krakowski, and Ken Jeong.
This mix of performers associated with action and comedy makes the project's intention clear: to combine the spectacle of a heist movie with the light, family-friendly tone characteristic of Christmas comedies.
The Man with the Bag release date
The Man with the Bag will premiere globally on Prime Video on December 2, positioning itself right at the start of the peak Christmas movie season.
With Arnold Schwarzenegger as Santa Claus, Alan Ritchson leading a group of thieves, and Awkwafina as the elf putting Christmas at risk, the film seeks to stand out in a genre that releases numerous similar titles every year.
Frequently asked questions
When does The Man with the Bag premiere?
The film will arrive on Prime Video on December 2, in a global premiere via the streaming platform.
Who plays Santa Claus in the film?
Arnold Schwarzenegger brings this unique version of Santa Claus to life, thirty years after starring in Jingle All the Way.
What role does Alan Ritchson have in The Man with the Bag?
Ritchson plays Vance, a thief from Santa's naughty list whom he turns to in order to recover his stolen bag.
Who steals Santa Claus’s bag in the story?
A rogue elf with a score to settle, played by Awkwafina, is responsible for the theft that puts Christmas in jeopardy.
What other actors appear in the cast?
The cast includes Berkeley James, Michael Cyril Creighton, Liza Koshy, Kyle Mooney, Jane Krakowski, and Ken Jeong.
On which platform will The Man with the Bag be available?
The film will premiere exclusively worldwide on Prime Video.
