Jack Black is set to star in the Christmas comedy Dear Santa, which hails from brothers Bobby and Peter Farrelly, the duo behind his 2001 comedy Shallow Hal.
Bobby Farrelly will direct the film, which he co-wrote with his brother as well as Ricky Blitt, though Dan Ewen originated the idea. The Farrellys will also produce alongside Jeremy Kramer.
Deadline broke the news, reporting that the film will star Robert Timothy Smith as a young boy who writes a note to Santa every year. Unfortunately, he’s not great at spelling, so he accidentally sends his latest letter to Satan, which is where Black enters the picture.
Keegan-Michael Key and Post Malone, aka Austin Post, are slated to co-star alongside Brianne Howey, Hayes MacArthur, PJ Byrne, Kai Cech, and newcomer Jaden Carson Baker.
Black recently teased the project on social media when he posted an off-holiday season photo of himself surrounded by Christmas decorations. He and the Farrellys first worked together on Shallow Hal, which paired him with Gwyneth Paltrow and grossed $141 million worldwide. Up next are voice roles in Illumination’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie (as Bowser) and Lionsgate’s Borderlands (as Claptrap), plus a European tour with his Tenacious D partner Kyle Gass.
The Farrelly brothers directed the classic comedies Dumb and Dumber, Kingpin, and There’s Something About Mary, though, in recent years, the two have directed projects separately. Peter’s Green Book won a well-deserved Oscar for Best Picture, and he’s currently directing the Zac Efron–John Cena comedy Ricky Stanicky. Meanwhile, Bobby’s sweet-natured sports film Champions is now playing in theaters, and you can click here for our interview with him.
Black is represented by Ocean Avenue, while Anonymous Content reps Bobby and Peter Farrelly, who are also repped by A3 Artists Agency and CAA, respectively.
