Sky Original Film revealed the stellar supporting cast for the upcoming animated musical feature film, The Night Before Christmas In Wonderland which features the lead voices of Gerard Butler (St Nick), Emilia Clarke (The Queen of Hearts) and Simone Ashley (Alice in Wonderland) and directed by BAFTA award-winning Peter Baynton (The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse). The film releases on Sky Cinema on 13th December 2024.
Mawaan Rizwan who voices the Mad Hatter is best known to audiences for the BAFTA TV award-winning BBC Three series Juice which he created and starred in. Actor Mackenzie Crook who voices the White Rabbit is widely known for his roles in The Office, Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Game of Thrones and the title role of Worzel Gummidge.
Asim Chaudhry voices the March Hare and is best known for his work in the mockumentary series which he co-created People Just Do Nothing for which he won a Royal Television Society Award for Best Comedy Performance. Singer/Songwriter Mae Muller who voices Prancer came to prominence for her single ‘Better Days’ and was selected to represent the UK in the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest for her entry ‘I Wrote A Song’.
Actor and Comedian Simon Day who voices the Dodo is most widely recognised for his work on sketch show The Fast Show, sitcom Grass, his regular stand up tours and his recent role in King Gary. Comedian Tom Allen who voices the Fish Barrister is a regular TV and radio host, his hosting work on Bake Off and The Apprentice spin-offs putting him in front of national audiences.
Young actress Eliza Riley who voices the Princess of Hearts is known for her work on Flack and Life after Life whilst young actor Lenny Rush who voices Colin the Reindeer is known for his BAFTA TV award-winning work on Am I Being Unreasonable?, Dodger and The Dumping Ground. Racing driver Nicolas Hamilton competes in the British Touring Car Championship and is a motivational speaker, he is the paternal half-brother of F1 driver Lewis Hamilton.
Director Peter Baynton adds of this ensemble voice cast “Mawaan Rizwan and Asim Chaudhry were hilarious in the recording booth, with so many daft ad-libs that I wish we could have included in the film, and I can’t remember when I last laughed so much as when Tom Allen was recording his lines for the Fish Barrister. His character deserves a legal-drama spin-off. Mae Muller’s performance as Prancer is perfect – I think her relationship with St Nick has a special quality; she despairs and yet cares so much for him too.”
The film is based on the bestselling book written by Carys Bexington, illustrated by Kate Hindley and published by Macmillan, which mashes up two classic tales: Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Clement Clarke Moore’s poem, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas(also known as A Visit from St Nicholas). The plot features characters from both story worlds including St Nick, voiced by Gerard Butler (Has Fallen trilogy, How to Train Your Dragon), The Queen of Hearts voiced by Emilia Clarke (Last Christmas, Game of Thrones), and Alice in Wonderland voiced by Simone Ashley (Bridgerton, Sex Education).
When St Nick receives a delayed letter on Christmas Eve from the Princess of Hearts. He and his dedicated team of reindeer set off to Wonderland where they’re greeted by the mean and miserable Queen of Hearts who hates all things Christmas… especially presents! Can St Nick, aided by Alice, the Mad Hatter and March Hare, show the Queen the true meaning of Christmas and save the day before it’s too late?
Making his feature film debut is director Peter Baynton whose film The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film as well as the BAFTA for Best British Short Animation in 2023. Sara Daddy has adapted the book into a screenplay, written entirely in rhyming couplets. The film features original music and songs written by long-time Robbie Williams collaborator Guy Chambers and Grammy Award winning songwriter Amy Wadge.
The production reunites Universal Pictures Content Group and Lupus Films following recent successful collaborations on Mog’s Christmas and The Tiger Who Came to Tea. It is produced by the multi award-winning Ruth Fielding and Camilla Deakin for Lupus Films and Executive Produced by Helen Parker, EVP, Universal Pictures Content Group, Gerard Butler and Alan Siegel for G-BASE Productions and Emilia Clarke for Magical Thinking Pictures.
