Richard Curtis’s brand new film ‘That Christmas’ will be released on Netflix on 6 December, 2024.

That Christmas is a heartwarming comedy based on the delightful trilogy of children’s books by beloved award-winning writer-director Richard Curtis (known for Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually, and Yesterday). The film weaves together a series of interconnected stories about family and friends, love and loneliness, and a Santa Claus who makes a big mistake—along with a whole lot of turkeys! This marks Curtis’ first venture into animation, where he serves as both the writer and executive producer. The film also represents the feature directorial debut of renowned animation veteran Simon Otto (Love, Death & Robots, How to Train Your Dragon films). Produced by Nicole P. Hearon (Moana, Frozen films) and Adam Tandy (The Thick of It, Detectorists), That Christmas comes from Locksmith Animation.

“I hope it’s going to be a film that makes people happy — perhaps more than once,” Curtis said. “I hope it’ll remind people of the joy and complexity of Christmas, and some of the joys and comedy and heartbreak of childhood. And then there’s a very special thing for me, that the film takes place in a town very much like my own in Suffolk. I hope they’ll love the sense of the place — and go away with a new, delightful, simple English world in their heads.”

The film has an all-star cast including Bill Nighy, Guz Khan, Brian Cox, Jodie Whittaker and Paul Kaye.

Ed Sheeran has written and recorded “Under The Tree,” an original song for the film’s soundtrack.

Sheeran said: “I find since having kids, there’s a real lack of great animated children’s Christmas movies, so I thought this was such an amazing thing to make and put into the world. The scene that we wrote this song for is so heartbreaking, but so real for many people at Christmas spending it without the ones they love, for so many reasons. I got to work with my older brother on this which is such a rarity and a gift to work so closely with my only sibling, it felt so good to create something my children would watch, with their uncle, based in the country they live in. I find it mad that there isn’t more animated Christmas films for kids, but this is going to become a holiday staple, at least in our household.”