Christmas is going to be action-packed this year.
A new kind of Santa Claus is coming to town and he is packing a mean punch.
Well, at least on “Violent Night,” a Universal Pictures International feature set to open in cinemas, Nov. 30.
In the film, David Harbour’s (“Stranger Things”) Santa Claus is out to save a family taken hostage by mercenaries.
Training this version of Santa to become a legit bad-ass is Filipino stunt director John Eusebio.
Eusebio has worked with 87North on various projects, including the “John Wick” franchise.
“Jojo was one of the original members of our choreography team, so we’ve been working together a good 20 years,” film producer David Leitch says. “The talent that’s gravitated to 87North is beyond the physical. There’s a common work ethic and desire to make movies, and Jojo has always had that same drive in him. I have so much respect for him and love the work he’s been doing, both with 87North and without.”
“Jojo had the desire to be challenged and he was inspired by the Christmas backdrop,” adds co-producer Kelly McCormick. “He brought a team together that had amazing athleticism and skill, and I think they all learned a lot about blending the wit and comedy with the action in the film along the way.”
Harbour trained intensely and extensively for the role, which allowed for more specialty shots, long takes and big movements that he wouldn’t have been able to do safely sans hardcore training.
The actor, for his part, wasn’t initially sure about the role when the idea was pitched to him.
“I first heard the pitch from my agent, who told me, ‘It’s a violent Santa Claus movie,’” Harbour says. “My initial response was, ‘What are you talking about?’ But then, they told me the filmmakers wanted to talk to me about it. So, they called me up and told me the general idea, and it sounded so hilarious, fresh and different.”
