01 October,2026 04:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
A still from The Man with the Bag. Pic via YouTube
Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger is trading his action-hero avatar for Santa Claus this Christmas. The actor stars as the legendary festive figure in The Man with the Bag, an action-comedy that puts a holiday spin on the classic heist genre. The film is set to premiere globally on Prime Video on December 2, 2026.
The teaser introduces Schwarzenegger's Santa as a larger-than-life character who has plenty of mystery around him. When asked if he knows someone, he introduces himself with a playful line, "Chris Kindle, why not man? Christmas man. That's what the dogs call me." The joke quickly gives way to the film's central problem when Santa reveals that his magical bag has been stolen. "This Christmas, my bag was stolen by a very naughty elf," he says in the teaser, setting the stage for an unusual rescue mission.
Schwarzenegger's casting marks his return to the Christmas movie space after three decades. This time, however, he is not playing the tough guy who has to save the day alone. With Christmas hanging in the balance, Santa turns to someone from his Naughty List for help.
Alan Ritchson plays Vance, a thief recruited by Santa to recover the stolen bag. Vance then puts together a crew of unlikely criminals and misfits to pull off what could be the most important heist of their lives. The group will have help from Santa's elves and reindeer as they attempt to get the magical bag back before the holiday deadline.
The story also introduces a rogue elf, played by Awkwafina, who is responsible for stealing Santa's iconic red bag. Her actions put Christmas at risk just as Santa's busiest night of the year approaches.
Directed by Adam Shankman and written by Allan Rice, The Man with the Bag combines action, comedy and Christmas fantasy. The film also stars Berkeley James, Michael Cyril Creighton, Liza Koshy, Kyle Mooney, Jane Krakowski and Ken Jeong.
Rather than relying solely on festive cheer, the film uses a heist as its central hook, bringing together characters who would be more at home on the wrong side of the law than at Santa's workshop. The unlikely partnership between Santa and Vance is expected to drive much of the film's humour and heart. The teaser ends with Schwarzenegger embracing his new identity, declaring, "I'm Santa Claus."
The Man with the Bag premieres globally on Prime Video on December 2, 2026.
