Miramax and Broad Green Pictures announced today that principal photography has begun in Montréal, Québec, Canada, on “Bad Santa 2,” the follow-up to the raucous comedy hit “Bad Santa.” Joining the previously announced cast are Ryan Hansen (“Veronica Mars,” “2 Broke Girls”), comedian Jenny Zigrino (“50 Shades of Black”), and Jeff Skowron (“The Good Shepherd”). Hansen will play Regent Hastings, who runs a charitable organization with his wife Diane (Christina Hendricks). Zigrino and Skowron play security guards Gina and Dorfman, respectively. The trio joins Billy Bob Thornton ( the TV series “Fargo”, “Sling Blade,” “A Simple Plan,” “Bandits”) reprising his Golden Globe-nominated role as Willy Soke, and Kathy Bates (“Misery,” “Titanic,” “Dolores Claiborne”) who plays Willy’s tough-as-nails mom Sunny Soke, as well as original cast members Tony Cox as Marcus and Brett Kelly as Thurman Merman. The film will be directed by Mark Waters (“Freaky Friday,” “Mean Girls”).
Miramax and Broad Green Pictures have partnered to co-finance and co-produce “Bad Santa 2” with Broad Green handling U.S. theatrical distribution which is set for release November 23rd.
Geyer Kosinski (“The Astronaut Farmer,” “The Bad News Bears,” the TV series “Fargo”) and Andrew Gunn (“Freaky Friday”) are producing. The screenplay for “Bad Santa 2” was written by Johnny Rosenthal, along with Doug Ellin (“Entourage”) and Shauna Cross (“If I Stay,” “Whip It”). Executive producers are Miramax’s Zanne Devine and David Thwaites, Broad Green’s Gabriel and Daniel Hammond, Mark Waters, Jessica Tuchinsky, Adam Fields, and Doug Ellin.
Theo van de Sande (“Love and Honor,” “Blade”) is the Director of Photography, Isabelle Guay (“Pawn Sacrifice,” “Red Rover”) is the Production Designer and Costume Design is by Mario Davignon (“Journey to the Center of the Earth,” “Romeo + Juliet”).
