Danny Glover to play Santa Claus in Disney's holiday heist movie — See a first look
Published on January 15, 2026 EDT The Naughty Nine is a holiday heist film about kids on the naughty list trying to get their presents, one way or another.

Danny Glover is putting on a suit for a classic role. No, it's not Roger Murtaugh (though Lethal Weapon 5 is in the works).

Glover will be playing Santa Claus in Disney original movie The Naughty Nine, EW can exclusively confirm alongside a first look at the project. New photos and a teaser trailer for the holiday heist film shows Glover's turn as a pretty slim Kris Kringle.

The Naughty Nine looks like Ocean's Eleven for kids who didn't even get coal for Christmas. Fifth-grader Andy (8-Bit Christmas' Winslow Fegley) assembles a crew to break into Santa's Village at the North Pole after they get what they believe to be unfairly shafted by Santa during the holidays.

Glover's Santa is described as "a wise and imposing figure with a twinkle of humor who is always one step ahead of Andy," according to an official plot description.

Each of the kids has a role to play. Camila Rodriguez plays Dulce, Andy's best friend and archery expert; Anthony Joo (New Amsterdam) plays North Pole conspiracy theorist Lewis; Imogen Cohen (The Fairly Oddparents) plays daredevil "wheel woman" Ha-Yoon; Clara Stack (Hawkeye) plays animal whisperer Rose; Deric McCabe (A Wrinkle in Time) plays master-of-disguise Jon Anthony; Ayden Elijah plays adorable charmer Albert; and Madilyn Kellam (Afterwalker) plays Andy's older sister, Laurel, a skilled gymnast seeking to regain her confidence.

Derek Theler (Baby Daddy) plays the ninth and only adult member of the naughty nine, Bruno, a disgruntled cargo pilot who claims to have witnessed Santa's sleigh. In classic Christmas movie fashion, the naughty listers discover the best way off the list might not be a heist but finding a way to do some good.

Alberto Belli (House of Flowers) directed The Naughty Nine, which was written by Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas (Raven's Home). Elinoff and Thomas also serve as executive producers alongside Suzanne Todd (Noelle).

The movie will make its debut on the Disney Channel on Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. ET. It'll pop over to Disney+ the next day for a Thanksgiving streaming premiere.

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