‘Bad Santa 2’ Enlists Christina Hendricks To Romance Billy Bob Thornton
Women with Santa fetishes probably aren’t that common in real life (I’m assuming; I do not have any hard data to back this up), but apparently there’s no shortage of them in theBad Santauniverse. After wooing bartender Sue (Lauren Graham) in the originalBad Santa,Billy Bob Thornton’s Willie Soke will find himself romancing a new woman in the upcoming sequel, to be played byMad MenstarChristina Hendricks. Learn more about Hendricks' newBad Santacharacter after the jump.
Broad Green announced this week that Hendricks has joinedBad Santa 2in the role of Diane, who heads up a charity.THRadds a little more detail: Diane is an Ivy League-educated, upper-crust lady who apparently “has a thing for shady lowlifes in a Santa costume.” Her organization becomes the target of the latest scam perpetrated by Willie and his foul-mouthed, tough-as-nails mother Sunny, played byKathy Bates. (Never mind that Bates is only about seven years older than Thornton in real life.) In addition, Marcus (Tony Cox) and Thurman Merman (Brett Kelly) are returning from the first film.
Bad Santa 2should be right in Hendricks' wheelhouse, considering she already has plenty of experience celebrating Christmas with self-loathing alcoholics. And look how charming she is doing it, too.
Hendricks' fan-favoriteMad Mencharacter Joan Holloway Harris earned her six consecutive Emmy nominations but, alas, no wins. Since the show ended in May, she’s appeared in the Gillian Flynn adaptationDark Placesand the Comedy Central seriesAnother Period. She is currently shootingPottersville, an indie comedy with Michael Shannon, and she recently signed on to star in the Sundance TV seriesHap and Leonard. In addition, she reunited with herDrivedirector Nicolas Winding Refn forThe Neon Demon, due out later this year.
Mark Waters(Mean Girls) is directingBad Santa 2from a screenplay byJohnny Rosenthal,Doug Ellin(Entourage), andShauna Cross(Whip It). Andrew Gunn and Geyer Kosinski are producing. Shooting is slated to begin next week in Montreal, with Broad Green and Miramax on board to co-produce and co-finance. A U.S. release is already locked in forNovember 23.
