Christmas movie fans finally have a date to mark on their calendars — and it looks like Amazon MGM Studios could be preparing one of the biggest festive films of 2026.
Written 18th May 2026 | Subscribe to our Christmas newsletter
After months of rumours, delays, and speculation online, The Man with the Bag is now officially listed for release on December 2, 2026.
The upcoming holiday action-comedy stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as Santa Claus in what is already becoming one of the most talked-about Christmas movie projects in years.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Is Playing Santa Claus
Yes — really.
The legendary action star is stepping into the red suit to play a modern, action-packed version of Santa Claus, marking his return to the Christmas genre for the first time since the iconic Jingle All the Way back in 1996.
Early set photos from New York instantly went viral online, with fans stunned by Schwarzenegger’s dramatic Santa transformation, complete with a huge white beard, festive outfits, and cinematic winter scenes.
And honestly? He looks incredible.
What Is 'The Man with the Bag' About?
The film reportedly follows Santa after his magical gift bag is stolen.
To save Christmas, Santa recruits a former thief from the naughty list to help recover it before Christmas Eve arrives.
The movie is said to combine:
- action-comedy
- festive fantasy
- heist movie elements
- classic Christmas adventure vibes
Many fans are already comparing the tone to movies like:
- Jingle All the Way
- Red One
- The Santa Clause
- and even a festive version of Ocean’s Eleven
Alan Ritchson Co-Stars
Joining Schwarzenegger is Reacher star Alan Ritchson, who plays the thief recruited to help save Christmas.
It’s a pairing that has instantly grabbed attention online:
- Arnold Schwarzenegger = legendary action icon
- Alan Ritchson = one of the biggest modern action stars right now
Amazon clearly seems to be aiming for a huge crowd-pleasing Christmas blockbuster.
A Surprisingly Huge Cast
The supporting cast also includes:
- Awkwafina
- Ken Jeong
- Jane Krakowski
- Liza Koshy
- Kyle Mooney
- Adrian Martinez
That line-up suggests the film will lean heavily into comedy alongside the big festive action sequences.
Delayed From 2025 To 2026
Originally, many expected The Man with the Bag to release during the 2025 holiday season.
However, the project quietly disappeared from release schedules, leading to confusion online and plenty of fan speculation.
Now, the film appears to have officially shifted to December 2, 2026, giving Amazon Prime Video a major festive release right at the start of Christmas movie season.
And honestly, that timing makes perfect sense.
Launching in early December gives the movie the entire holiday season to trend online, dominate streaming charts, and become part of people’s yearly Christmas watchlists.
Could This Become A Modern Christmas Classic?
It’s still far too early to know whether The Man with the Bag will become a true Christmas classic…
…but it definitely has the ingredients.
You’ve got:
- Arnold Schwarzenegger as Santa
- huge Christmas sets
- action-comedy energy
- a massive streaming platform
- and a festive heist storyline that feels genuinely different
With Christmas action-comedies becoming increasingly popular in recent years, Amazon may be hoping this becomes their next major holiday franchise.
One thing is certain:
this is now officially one of our most anticipated upcoming Christmas movies.
No trailer has been released yet — but with the film now scheduled for December 2026, we’d expect the first teaser to arrive later this year.
And we absolutely cannot wait.
