On Sunday we got the amazing opportunity to hit the red carpet premiere of The Christmas Chronicles. The Netflix original, out November 22, tells the story of siblings Kate (Darby Camp) and Teddy Pierce (Judah Lewis) and their mission to catch Santa Claus (Kurt Russell) on camera. After crashing Santa’s sleigh Kate and Teddy put Christmas in jeopardy. As the trio, of course accompanied by elves, work together to save Christmas we see Santa in a way we never have before.
From watching Christmas movies like this one to baking cookies or going caroling, everyone has holiday traditions that they hold close to their heart. We asked some of the cast members what their favorite holiday traditions are in the hopes of getting some inspiration now that the holiday season is officially here.
Darby Camp, also known for her role as Chloe Mackenzie in Big Little Lies, always opens at least one present early but her favorite tradition would have to be spending time with her grandma who doubles as Mrs. Claus. “She dresses up as Mrs. Claus and goes to places and reads stories and hands out stuffed animals and just act it out,” said Camp. “My friends and I sometimes will go and be like her little elves which is super fun.”
The film’s director Clay Kaytis shared with us that the best gift he has ever given was a sailing trip for his parents that he got to go on too, because the best gifts are ones that are shared. It’s clear family is important to Kaytis so his favorite tradition did not come as a surprise, “Some people cringe but I like to get together with my family, cook a lot of food, eat a lot of stuff,” he said. “It’s all about being together.”
With so many classic Christmas movies already on our list and even more to add, The Christmas Chronicles hopes to show Christmas, or at least Santa in a new way. Kaytis wanted to make sure this film stood out “In a weird way it treats Christmas like a real thing that has to happen in a certain way,” he said. “There is certain logic that is built into the story and the script that when I read it for the first time I was like ‘Oh my gosh I have ever thought of it in this way but it makes total sense.’”
Oliver Hudson who plays Kate and Teddy’s dad, Doug, agrees “We tried to put a different spin on it in that let’s take the ideas, the questions of how and why does Santa do this. Those questions are sort of answered in their creative minds.”
As for every Christmas movie role of Santa is crucial. Judah Lewis, Teddy, knows the producers made the right choice with casting Kurt Russell to show a new side of everyone’s favorite man in red. “It’s a Santa Claus that nobody has ever seen before, he’s charismatic, he’s charming, he’s Kurt Russell.”
Don’t miss this soon to be Christmas classic coming to Netflix on November 22.