Famed Hollywood actor and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is returning to the holiday genre after three decades. The first official trailer for a new Christmas comedy titled "The Man with the Bag" has been released online, featuring the iconic star in an unexpected and charismatic role as Santa Claus. The movie promises to be one of the major festive releases of the season on the Prime Video streaming service.
Plot Premise and Star-Studded Cast
According to the plot of the upcoming film, Schwarzenegger's character finds himself in a dire situation on the eve of the winter holidays. One of his devoted assistants, played by popular actress Awkwafina, unexpectedly steals Santa's magical bag. Deprived of its main attribute, the holiday magic is put at risk, forcing the wizard to take extreme measures and seek help from a professional.
To retrieve the stolen artifact and save the holiday for children worldwide, Santa Claus hires a former thief named Vince, portrayed by action star Alan Ritchson. Notably, this project marks the first onscreen collaboration between Schwarzenegger and Ritchson. The movie also features Liza Koshy, Kyle Mooney, Ken Jeong, Jane Krakowski, Michael Cyril Creighton, Adrian Martinez, and Roger Bart.
Contradictory Data
While official releases and trade publications clearly describe "The Man with the Bag" as a classic family comedy with light adventure elements, early rumors during production occasionally positioned the film as a high-stakes action thriller with a Christmas backdrop. However, the official trailer has definitively cleared up any doubts, confirming that the creators focused on family-friendly humor and the comedic chemistry between Schwarzenegger and Ritchson.
Returning to Genre Roots
For Arnold Schwarzenegger himself, this is far from his first attempt to conquer the Christmas box office. Exactly 30 years ago, in 1996, the cult classic "Jingle All the Way" was released, starring the actor as a father desperately trying to buy a rare toy for his son. Now, three decades later, the legendary Iron Arnie is making a triumphant return to the holiday segment, but on the other side of the magical process — as the main winter wizard himself. The comedy is scheduled to premiere on December 2, 2026.
