David Harbour Says Playing Sledgehammer-Wielding Santa Claus In Violent Night Was 'Very Trippy'
David Harbour is rarely one to shy away from a task. Throughout his lengthy career, the actor has played (the rebooted) Hellboy, Suicide Squad’s Dexter Tolliver, Stranger Things’ Jim Hopper, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) Red Guardian. And now, Harbour is playing Santa in Universal Pictures’ Violent Night.
Unlike other onscreen Santas earlier than him, Harbour’s version isn’t precisely here to spread vacation cheer. Sure, he’s got an entire bag of items, however this Santa additionally has no drawback wielding a sledgehammer.
David Harbour Was The ‘First Name That Came Up’ For The Role Of Santa
When Tommy Wirkola was tapped to direct Violent Night, he knew that Harbour would be perfect to play his Santa. “He was the primary name that came up, and everyone got interested by that,” the director recalled. “I will’t take into accout who brought him up however it was a type of moments where you go (snaps palms) ‘Of direction! That makes such a lot sense!’”
Fortunately for Wirkola, Harbour said yes to the movie almost straight away too. “He learn the script and he beloved it. He saw the same movie we did and had numerous nice concepts,” Wirkola recalled of the actor.
He also knew that there was a lot of material in the tale that Harbour may use to deliver a memorable efficiency.
“Well, I mean, the Santa when you meet him in the script, he’s more or less in a in a unusual spot. He’s a little down and he’s more or less misplaced religion a bit of bit in himself and humanity and in Christmas. It’s simply consumerism has taken over everything. He is questioning why are we nonetheless celebrating Christmas? Who cares? Who cares about that, who cares about me, so he’s in a dark spot? Then it goes to him handing over his presents, and he thinks it will be commonplace Christmas, however then he gets sucked into the tale with these terrorists taking up this area,” Wirkola explained.
“So, there was a lot of strings to play on for any actor and a large number of fun places. “
To Play Santa, The Actor Gained Weight And Learned Martial Arts
In remodeling for the role, Harbour essentially had to achieve again the pound he already shed off for Stranger Things. And yes, it wasn’t so onerous to do despite the fact that had to learn jujitsu for the movie.
“We'd just do loopy exercises after which pass consume poutine,” Harbour advised Entertainment Weekly.
And whilst the actor has combat coaching, he nonetheless doesn’t think that his Santa can mess with Edmund Gwenn’s Santa in the vintage Miracle on thirty fourth Street. “There's something concerning the twinkle in his eye and his stature as a guy of that era that is all the time moderately terrified me, so I would not need to go up against him,” Harbour remarked.
That stated, he does assume that he stands a possibility towards another onscreen Santa. “I'll take on Billy Bob Thornton's [personality in the 2003 crime comedy Bad Santa] any day of the wee,” Harbour jokingly provides. “But [Gwenn], I'd now not move near him.”
For David Harbour, Playing Sledgehammer-Wielding Santa Was ‘Very Trippy’
Harbour has never performed Santa till now and the experience had been “very trippy.” That’s as a result of, in Violent Night, he essentially approaches the iconic personality in a number of ways.
“We see a complete different man,” the actor explained. “So seeing the saccharine Santa Claus was one finish of the enjoy in the start, after which seeing the fellow with the person bun each day and blood working down his face was an entirely other joy.”
And while enthusiasts is also stunned why Santa seems extra physically aggressive right here, Harbour assures enthusiasts that this will likely be defined in the film. “The fascinating factor about this movie, is that Santa's adventure, we get to see a lot of Santa beginning tale in a undeniable method,” the actor teased.
“There's some backstory of Santa that we are going to get into in the movie about why he's in a position to kick such a lot a**.”
As for Wirkola, he is aware of that Harbour’s portrayal of the Big Guy is going to be successful amongst moviegoers. “I’m so excited for other people to see what he did this role. I didn’t take into consideration it until after making the film that I’m pretty positive it can be intimidating for an actor to do Santa Claus,” he said. “
“It’s obviously a personality finished so many instances, in so many permutations, and he’s an iconic figure, and to do one thing new and fresh and original is difficult. I do assume although that he in point of fact nailed it.” He also said the movie “actually wears its center on its sleeve.”
At the same time, Harbour believes Violent Night will appeal to many despite the holiday movie being extra violent than most. “You will imagine in Santa Claus again,” he said. “And you'll believe that he's a violent m***********.”
Violent Night releases on December 2, 2022.
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