Arnold Schwarzenegger is returning to the Christmas movie genre after three decades, taking on the role of Santa Claus in The Man With the Bag, a new holiday action-comedy scheduled to premiere globally on Prime Video on December 2, 2026.
The film pairs Schwarzenegger with Alan Ritchson in a Christmas adventure built around an unlikely heist. Directed by Adam Shankman and written by Allan Rice, the production combines action, comedy and traditional holiday themes as Santa assembles an unconventional team to recover his stolen magic bag and save Christmas.
Prime Video Sets December 2 Global Premiere
The Man With the Bag begins when Santa’s iconic red bag is stolen by a rogue elf with a grudge, played by Awkwafina. With Christmas approaching and his most important night of the year under threat, Santa turns to an unusual source for help.
He recruits Vance, a thief played by Ritchson, from his “Naughty List.” Vance subsequently assembles a group of criminally skilled misfits who, with assistance from elves and reindeer, must execute an elaborate heist to recover the bag.
Vance’s daughter also becomes part of the mission as the group attempts to prevent the theft from disrupting Christmas.
The premise combines a high-stakes caper with a family-oriented holiday story, focusing on second chances, unexpected friendships and cooperation among a group of characters who would not ordinarily find themselves working alongside Santa Claus.
Schwarzenegger Takes on Santa Claus Role
The project marks Schwarzenegger’s return to the Christmas film genre 30 years after his earlier holiday work. This time, the veteran action star takes centre stage as Santa Claus himself.
Schwarzenegger and Ritchson lead a cast that also includes Berkeley James, Michael Cyril Creighton, Liza Koshy, Kyle Mooney and Jane Krakowski, with Ken Jeong and Awkwafina.
The pairing of Schwarzenegger and Ritchson places two actors strongly associated with action-oriented roles at the centre of a film designed to blend large-scale adventure with comedy and festive entertainment.
The production is positioning the story as an action-packed alternative to more traditional Christmas films while retaining familiar seasonal themes. The narrative incorporates holiday magic and humour alongside the central heist storyline.
Adam Shankman Directs Holiday Heist Adventure
Adam Shankman directed The Man With the Bag from a screenplay written by Allan Rice. Shankman’s involvement brings experience across comedy, musicals and family-oriented entertainment to the production.
Lawrence Grey, Ben Everard, Reg Tigerman, Dan Spilo and Ritchson serve as producers. The credited production team also lists Lawrence Grey and Ben Everard alongside Reg Tigerman, Spilo and Ritchson, with Grey and Everard receiving p.g.a. credits.
Holiday Film Combines Action, Comedy and Second Chances
Beyond its heist premise, The Man With the Bag is structured around themes of redemption and unlikely alliances. Santa’s decision to recruit someone from his Naughty List establishes the film’s second-chance storyline, while the wider group of misfits provides the foundation for its comedy and ensemble dynamic.
The involvement of elves, reindeer and Santa’s stolen bag maintains the traditional Christmas setting, while the criminal crew and recovery operation introduce elements more commonly associated with action and heist films.
For Prime Video, the December release positions the film as a major holiday-season offering designed for an international streaming audience. Its combination of recognizable stars, Christmas themes and action-comedy elements gives the production a broad entertainment focus during one of the busiest periods of the streaming calendar.
The Man With the Bag will premiere globally on Prime Video on December 2, 2026.