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Alan Ritchson’s ‘The Terminator’ Meets ‘Elf’ Holiday Heist Movie Is Officially Here With Wild First Trailer
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
Prime Video has released the first teaser trailer and poster for *The Man with the Bag*, a Christmas action-comedy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Santa Claus and Alan Ritchson as Vance, a thief recruited to help save Christmas. The film centres on Santa’s iconic red bag being stolen by a rogue elf, putting Christmas at risk and prompting a heist to recover it.
The crew includes criminally skilled misfits, with help from elves and reindeer. Awkwafina plays the rogue elf, and the cast also includes Michael Cyril Creighton, Liza Koshy, Kyle Mooney, Jane Krakowski and Ken Jeong. Directed by Adam Shankman from a screenplay by Allan Rice, the film is set to premiere globally on Prime Video on 2 December 2026.
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In short
- Schwarzenegger plays Santa in a holiday heist comedy.
- Alan Ritchson’s thief helps recover Santa’s stolen red bag.
- The film premieres on Prime Video on 2 December 2026.
How this story developed
- 1 month ago Prime Video has unveiled the official teaser trailer and poster for *The Man with the Bag*, a Christmas action-comedy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Santa Claus and Alan Ritchson as a thief recruited to save Christmas.
- 2 months ago Prime Video has released the first teaser trailer and poster for *The Man with the Bag*, a Christmas action-comedy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Santa Claus and Alan Ritchson as Vance, a thief recruited to help recover Santa’s stolen red bag.
- 2 months ago Prime Video has released the first teaser trailer and poster for *The Man with the Bag*, a Christmas action-comedy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Santa Claus and Alan Ritchson as Vance, a thief recruited to help save Christmas.
Full account
Prime Video has released the first teaser trailer and a poster for The Man with the Bag, a Christmas action-comedy pairing Arnold Schwarzenegger with Alan Ritchson. The film is set to begin streaming worldwide on 2 December 2026.
Schwarzenegger plays Santa Claus, whose distinctive red gift bag is stolen by a disgruntled elf, played by Awkwafina. With Christmas deliveries in jeopardy, Santa turns to Vance, a thief on his “Naughty List”, played by Ritchson. Vance gathers a team of criminally capable misfits for a heist to get the bag back, with help from elves and reindeer.
The film is directed by Adam Shankman from a screenplay by Allan Rice. Its ensemble also includes Berkeley James, Michael Cyril Creighton, Liza Koshy, Kyle Mooney, Jane Krakowski and Ken Jeong. The story combines a festive rescue mission with a caper built around second chances and an unlikely partnership.
The project reunites Schwarzenegger with the Christmas-comedy genre three decades after Jingle All the Way, while bringing Ritchson’s action-star profile into a family-oriented holiday story. The trailer announcement presents the film as a broad comic adventure; the two reports give different context for the pairing, including Schwarzenegger’s earlier Christmas role and Ritchson’s recent action-comedy work.
Where outlets differ
From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:
The first report foregrounds the film’s release announcement, synopsis, full cast and production credits, and describes it as a global Prime Video premiere on 2 December 2026. The second focuses more on Ritchson’s Prime Video career and the actors’ comedy backgrounds, and says the film is rated PG. It also compares the family-oriented film with the more adult tone expected of Reacher. Both reports identify Awkwafina as the elf who steals the bag and give 2 December as the streaming date.
Explained simply
"The Man with the Bag" is a Christmas action-comedy film that reimagines Santa Claus as an action hero, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. The film follows a thief, played by Alan Ritchson, who is recruited to help Santa recover his legendary red bag after it's stolen by a rogue elf. The story blends action thriller elements with holiday adventure and explores themes of second chances and unlikely friendships.
The film features an ensemble cast including Awkwafina as the antagonist and several other established actors. It is directed by Adam Shankman and represents an unusual collaboration between two major action stars in a festive setting. This pairing positions the film as a significant holiday release.
"The Man with the Bag" exemplifies a newer trend in Christmas entertainment that blends action and comedy with holiday themes. Prime Video is investing significantly in the film as a major holiday release, positioning it centrally in its seasonal offerings. This reflects the broader competitive landscape of streaming platforms, each seeking high-profile holiday content to attract viewers during the festive season.
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