“We love all holiday films,” says Hollywood bigwig Dwayne Johnson, who stars as Santa Claus’ head of security in the Christmas action-comedy “Red One.”
“The classics like ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ and ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ as well as contemporary favorites like ‘Elf’ and ‘Bad Santa,'” he continues. “We all love them for the same reason: they bring us back to that warm feeling of being with friends and family, the time of year when life slows down for a minute. And there’s nothing better than watching a great Christmas movie with the people you love.”
Johnson teams up with fellow superstar Chris Evans to officially signal the start of Christmas at the movies with “Red One,” which opens today across Philippine cinemas.
Dwayne Johnson teams up with fellow superstar Chris Evans to officially signal the start of Christmas at the movies with ‘Red One.’ PHOTO COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. PICTURES
The pair brings a globe-trotting, action-packed holiday adventure to save Christmas after Santa Claus (Oscar winner J.K. Simmons) — Code Name: Red One — gets kidnapped.
Johnson plays Callum Drift, head of Santa’s security team, the E.L.F., which stands for Enforcement, Logistics and Fortification.
“Callum or Cal is to Santa Claus what the head of the Secret Service is to the president of the United States,” explains Johnson. “They’ve been working together for between three and four hundred years.”
Throughout that time, Cal has helped Santa bring inspiration, joy and happiness to the world each year, and he’s loved every minute of it. But the world has changed, and though Cal still loves the kids’ enthusiasm, the adults are getting on his nerves.
Enter Jack O’Malley, Cal’s mission partner, who also represents everything Cal despises about grown-ups. “Jack is the world’s greatest tracker,” says director Jake Kasdan. “But he’s also a mercenary who will work for anybody but is loyal to nobody. And on top of everything else, he’s on the Naughty List.”
Chris Evans, who plays Jack, describes his character as a bit of a rascal. “And it’s always fun to play a rascal! But in his personal life, he’s struggling,” says Evans. “He has a son he neglects. Aside from his family struggles, he’s lost that Christmas spirit. He works alone and moves through the world alone. That loneliness has made him a bit ossified.”
“This one is really special to us,” shares Johnson. “From a bunch of filmmakers that love Christmas, we’re thrilled to be telling a story that lets us celebrate the holidays with audiences all over the world.”
Directed by Kasdan, “Red One” also stars Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Nick Kroll and Wesley Kimmel.
“Red One” is distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Discovery company.
Be the first to comment