Universal & Lupus Films Deliver ‘The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland’ to Families in U.K. & U.S.

Universal Pictures Content Group and Lupus Films (Mog’s Christmas, The Snowman and the Snowdog, Ethel & Ernest) have secured U.K. and U.S. distribution in time for the holidays for their animated musical special, The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland.

The film will be available to stream in the U.S. on Prime Video and to Hulu subscribers from November 15. And Sky Original Film will premiere the film on the Sky Cinema platform (U.K.) on December 13 as a centerpiece of their Christmas programming, alongside their on-demand movie catalog.

“Having worked with Lupus Films and Universal Pictures Content Group on this fantastical fairy-tale mash-up since its development, we’re delighted to announce that we’re delivering it to Sky Cinema audiences in time for Christmas this year,” said Julia Stuart, Director of Original Film at Sky. “With an all-star voice cast, delightful animation and toe-tapping original tunes, we know that families will love this animated adaptation of Carys and Kate’s beloved illustrated book.”

The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland is based on the bestselling book written by Carys Bexington, illustrated by Kate Hindley and published by Macmillan, which mashes up two classic tales: Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Clement Clarke Moore’s poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (also known as A Visit from St. Nicholas).

The plot features characters from both story worlds, including St. Nick, voiced by Gerard Butler (Has Fallen trilogy, How to Train Your Dragon); The Queen of Hearts, voiced by Emilia Clarke (Last Christmas, Game of Thrones); and Alice, voiced by Simone Ashley (Bridgerton, Sex Education).

Synopsis: St. Nick receives a delayed letter on Christmas Eve from the Princess of Hearts. He and his dedicated team of reindeer set off to Wonderland where they’re greeted by the mean and miserable Queen of Hearts who hates all things Christmas … especially presents! Can St Nick, aided by Alice, the Mad Hatter and March Hare, show the Queen the true meaning of Christmas and save the day before it’s too late?

Making his feature debut is director Peter Baynton, whose film The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film as well as the BAFTA for Best British Short Animation in 2023. Sara Daddy has adapted the book into a screenplay, written entirely in rhyming couplets. The film features original music and songs written by long-time Robbie Williams collaborator Guy Chambers and Grammy Award winning songwriter Amy Wadge.

The production reunites Universal Pictures Content Group and Lupus Films following recent successful collaborations on Mog’s Christmas and The Tiger Who Came to Tea. It is produced by the multi award-winning Ruth Fielding and Camilla Deakin for Lupus Films and executive produced by Helen Parker, EVP, Universal Pictures Content Group, Gerard Butler and Alan Siegel for G-BASE Productions and Emilia Clarke for Magical Thinking Pictures.