Arnold Schwarzenegger Goes Gray to Play Santa Claus in First Photo fromThe Man with the Bag

Mar. 15, 2025

Alan Ritchson and Arnold Schwarzenegger.Photo:Clay Enos/Prime Video

Clay Enos/Prime Video

Arnold Schwarzeneggerhas been a bodybuilder, an actor and a politician. His next role? Santa Claus, of course.The Man with the Bag, an upcoming holiday family comedy that recently began production, released a first-look image of a graying Schwarzenegger, 77, as jolly Old Saint Nick with costarAlan Ritchson.“When Santa’s magic bag is stolen, he turns to his naughty list to find Vance, a thief, to help him get it back,” per an official logline. “Along with his daughter, Santa, and a group of misfits, Vance will have to pull off the greatest heist of his life to save Christmas.”Arnold Schwarzenegger on March 10.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic“Santa Claus is coming to town!” wrote Schwarzenegger ina social media postshared with Ritchson, 42, announcing the project. “It is fantastic to be shooting The Man with the Bag with @alanritchson.”Praising the film’s director,Hairsprayhelmer Adam Shankman, the former California governor continued, “New York City is an amazing host, working with [producer Amazon MGM Studios] is a joy, and I can’t wait to share all of this Christmas cheer with each and every one of you.”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Schwarzenegger had taken a step back from acting to focus on activism in the years leading up to 2023 action seriesFUBAR(and costarring inState Farm commercialswith hisTwinscostarDanny DeVito).Reacherstar Ritchson, who recently starred inOrdinary AngelsandThe Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, is among the producers ofThe Man with the Bag. Its screenwriter is Allan Rice.Among Schwarzenegger’s other upcoming acting projects is martial arts comedyKung Fury 2, from actor-director-star David Sandberg, which remains in limbo.The Man with the Bagis far from the actor-politician’s first holiday movie; he last led 1996 Christmas family comedyJingle All the Wayalongside David Adkins a.k.a. Sinbad.A release date forThe Man with the Bagis still forthcoming.

Arnold Schwarzeneggerhas been a bodybuilder, an actor and a politician. His next role? Santa Claus, of course.

The Man with the Bag, an upcoming holiday family comedy that recently began production, released a first-look image of a graying Schwarzenegger, 77, as jolly Old Saint Nick with costarAlan Ritchson.

“When Santa’s magic bag is stolen, he turns to his naughty list to find Vance, a thief, to help him get it back,” per an official logline. “Along with his daughter, Santa, and a group of misfits, Vance will have to pull off the greatest heist of his life to save Christmas.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger on March 10.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

“Santa Claus is coming to town!” wrote Schwarzenegger ina social media postshared with Ritchson, 42, announcing the project. “It is fantastic to be shooting The Man with the Bag with @alanritchson.”

Praising the film’s director,Hairsprayhelmer Adam Shankman, the former California governor continued, “New York City is an amazing host, working with [producer Amazon MGM Studios] is a joy, and I can’t wait to share all of this Christmas cheer with each and every one of you.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Schwarzenegger had taken a step back from acting to focus on activism in the years leading up to 2023 action seriesFUBAR(and costarring inState Farm commercialswith hisTwinscostarDanny DeVito).Reacherstar Ritchson, who recently starred inOrdinary AngelsandThe Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, is among the producers ofThe Man with the Bag. Its screenwriter is Allan Rice.

Among Schwarzenegger’s other upcoming acting projects is martial arts comedyKung Fury 2, from actor-director-star David Sandberg, which remains in limbo.The Man with the Bagis far from the actor-politician’s first holiday movie; he last led 1996 Christmas family comedyJingle All the Wayalongside David Adkins a.k.a. Sinbad.

A release date forThe Man with the Bagis still forthcoming.

source: people.com