Billy Bob Thornton’s foul-mouthed narcissist is back and nastier than ever in the decidedly NSFW trailer for Bad Santa 2.
Yes, he may be the foulest, most hateful Father Christmas to ever don the fluffy red suit, but in reprising a role for the first time in close to 13 years, Thornton revealed recently that he’s aiming to inject more heart into the festive sequel, while still maintaining the crude streak that ensured the 2003 original went down as a cult hit.
“I think we pushed it even a little further this time, not only in the sort of dark humor but also in the emotion. This one has more of a heart, more of a story you would say, but it also went a little further with some of the nasty stuff. We try to keep up with the times.”
That role is, of course, Willie Soke, a borderline alcoholic pulled back into the seasonal shenanigans by his literal partner in crime, Marcus.
As today’s trailer reveals, there’s plenty of new faces lining the Mark Waters’ (Mean Girls) festive follow-up, most notable of which are Kathy Bates as Willie’s “horror story of a mother” Sunny and Diane, the flirtatious charity director played by The Neon Demon alum Christina Hendricks. Jeff Skwron, Jenny Zigrino, and Cristina Rosato also star.
Bad Santa 2 has been slated for November 23.
BAD SANTA 2 returns Academy Award®-winner BILLY BOB THORNTON to the screen as America’s favorite anti-hero, Willie Soke. Fueled by cheap whiskey, greed and hatred, Willie teams up once again with his angry little sidekick, Marcus (TONY COX), to knock off a Chicago charity on Christmas Eve. Along for the ride is ‘the kid’ – chubby and cheery Thurman Merman (BRETT KELLY), a 250-pound ray of sunshine who brings out Willie’s sliver of humanity.
Mommy issues arise when the pair are joined by Academy Award®, Golden Globe and Emmy-winner KATHY BATES, as Willie’s horror story of a mother, Sunny Soke. A super butch super bitch, Sunny raises the bar for the gang’s ambitions, while somehow lowering the standards of criminal behavior. Willie is further burdened by lusting after the curvaceous and prim Diane, played by Emmy Award-nominee CHRISTINA HENDRICKS, the charity director with a heart of gold and libido of steel.