EXCLUSIVE: Production is underway on Christmas comedy Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint, with John Bradley, Celia Imrie and Richard E. Grant among a c
EXCLUSIVE: Production is underway on Christmas comedy Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint, with John Bradley, Celia Imrie and Richard E. Grant among a cast of UK actors.
WestEnd Films has boarded world sales on the title, which is directed by Jack Spring, and produced by Andy Brunskill for SUMS Film & Media with Spring’s Shush Films.
Adjoa Andoh, Sophia Di Martino, Adrian Rawlins, Karl Pilkington, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Nigel Planer, Ann Mitchell, Dave Johns, Dustin Demri-Burns, Harriet Webb and Beau Thompson round out the cast.
Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint follows Aubrey Flint, a reclusive model soldier painter with a deep-seated disdain for Christmas. When he’s sentenced to community service at Willow Lodge, a charming but struggling retirement home, Aubrey finds himself begrudgingly roped into directing a messy resident-led production of A Christmas Carol.
As rehearsals spiral into comic mayhem, Aubrey is forced to confront not just the ghosts of Christmas past, but his own buried grief and regrets. As tragedy strikes and the future of Willow Lodge hangs in the balance, Aubrey must decide whether to retreat into the shadows, or embrace the messy, magical chaos of community, friendship, and Christmas cheer.
Imrie – who is currently appearing on BBC One TV gameshow Celebrity Traitors – will play a chain-smoking former West End diva; while Grant plays a kind, curious model shop owner.
Damian Jones and Viewfinder’s Paul Grindey are executive producers, with Shush’s Andrew Pettit, CPR Entertainment’s Craig Hemmings and Rick Guard, and Warner Media Group’s Mark Warner, Lise Abraham, Simon White and Ian McCulloch. The film is also produced in association with US company BYUtv.
“Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint promises to be a warm, funny, and spirited tale of second chances, wrapped in holiday sparkle and delivered with real heart,” said WestEnd Films managing director Maya Amsellem. “We are delighted to work with Jack and the wonderful cast to bring cheer to audiences everywhere!”
“Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint will bring all the heart and magic of the best timeless Christmas movies but with a fresh and thoroughly modern sparkle that will move and surprise audiences,” said Spring. “Handmade with love, this is a film to enchant the whole family, young and old. It will make you laugh, cry and hold your breath all at the same time. Merry Christmas!”
WestEnd’s current slate includes A Visit To Grandpa’s starring Anthony Hopkins; Thich Nhat Hanh biopic Interbeing narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch; and Zealot starring Kodi Smit-McPhee and Djimon Hounsou.
Brunskill’s credits through SUMS include Leo Leigh’s directorial debut Sweet Sue, and Bifa-winning Sweetheart from Marley Morrison.
Spring previously directed 2022 comedy Three Day Millionaire starring Colm Meaney; and Grimsby Town football team documentary miniseries All Town Aren’t We.
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