Voice actor found for “The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland”

The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland is an upcoming animated musical produced by Universal Pictures Content Group and Lupus Films, based on the best-selling book. Variety announced the voice cast for the project, which includes Emilia Clarke, Gerard Butler, and Simone Ashley.

The film is based on the 2019 bestseller by Carys Bexington, ‘which combines two classic stories: Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and the poem by Clement Clarke Moore It was the night before Christmas (also known as A visit from Saint Nicholas.)

Although the book is written by Bexington, it features illustrations by Kate Hindley and is published by Macmillan. Gerard Butler, star of projects such as the Has Fallen film series and Greenland, will play St. Nick. The Queen of Hearts will be played by Emilia Clarke, an actress known for her leading role on television in the hit series, Game of Thrones. Alice is voiced by Simone Ashley, one of the stars of the acclaimed series, Bridgeton.

The writing and directing team has also been assembled, with Peter Baynton set to direct. He previously directed the 2022 short film, The boy, the mole, the fox and the horsewho won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. Sara Daddy will write the script, with the unique feature that the entire screenplay is written in “rhyming couplets.”

Original music and songwriting will be provided by Guy Chambers and lyricist Amy Wadge, Variety reported. The synopsis for the film has been released, with Variety report that, “The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland is full of fun and festive twists… This time, it’s St. Nick’s turn for an adventure down the rabbit hole. There he meets the Mad Hatter, recast as a high-fashion, reindeer-loving tea party host; the White Rabbit, an endearingly grumpy and forgetful character; the Queen of Hearts, a Scrooge-esque tinsel-hater; her antagonistic sidekick, the Cheshire Cat; and Alice herself, whose kindness helps St. Nick save Christmas.”

This isn’t the first time Lupus Films and Universal Pictures Content Group have collaborated, as the two have previously made film adaptations of popular books, including Mog’s Christmasa 2017 TV film that tells the story of young Mog who feels ignored by her family during the holidays and refuses to leave her rooftop hideout.

Another book adaptation the two companies have worked on includes: The tiger who came for teaa 2019 TV movie that follows a young girl who “befriends a tiger and invites him for tea.”

The production was nominated for Best Voice Actor (Clara Ross) and Best Feature Film at the 2020 British Animation Awards, as well as Best Animated Short Film at the 2021 Annie Awards. The film was also nominated for Best Achievement in Music in an Animated Feature/Media Production, and Best Animated Short Film at the 2020 British Animation Film Festival.

The film won the Jury Award for Best 2D Short Film of 2020 at Animayo: The International Film Festival of Animation, Visual Effects, and Video Games, and was the Winner – Animated Encounters Grand Prix for Best Animated Short Film of 2020 at the Encounters International Film Festival.

Ruth Fielding and Camilla Deakin are the two producers of Lupus Films, and Fielding is excited about this latest project with The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland.

As Variety reported, Fielding explained that “it was a delight to bring together this incredibly creative team and add some of Lupus Films’ animated magic to the mix… the delightfully wacky characters, all-star cast and sweeping melodies all come together in a fantastical festive fairy tale the whole family can enjoy.”

If we learn more about the production side, it is noted that “Universal Pictures Content Group EVP Helen Parker is exec producing alongside Butler and Alan Siegel for G-BASE and Clarke for Magical Thinking Pictures.”

Parker also shares Fielding’s enthusiasm, adding that: “Bringing this original, celebratory story to life has been a wonderful journey. From creating the worlds of Alice in Wonderland And It was the night before Christmas “To enlist our incredible cast to give voice to these beloved fairytale icons was a truly creative and heartwarming experience.”

Previous projects from Lupus Films and Universal Pictures Content Group have garnered critical acclaim and multiple awards and nominations. It looks like the two companies will follow in their footsteps and bring a new, positive movie experience to the market for the entire family and viewers worldwide.