Timothy Spall Talks Being Santa in ‘Joy to the World,’ the ‘True Horror’ of ‘Sixth Commandment,’ Harry Potter’s Shift Toward Being a ‘Religion’
24.09.2023 - 10:35
/ variety.com
Marta Balaga Timothy Spall is ready to bring “Joy to the World.” “It’s a Christmas story, but an unusual Christmas story,” he tells Variety about his upcoming film, directed by Edward Hall. Calico Pictures and Studio Hamburg are on board, while James Nesbitt co-stars. “It’s about a troubled 12-year-old kid who is pretty obnoxious, really.
He is clever but doesn’t like his life. His mom is struggling and his brother is desperate for a present he is not going to get. He is full of hate.
Then he witnesses a robbery.” It’s an unusual robbery, however, taking place during a “Santa Dash.” “He sees one of them rob a bank, tries to pursue him and then encounters this old man in the woods, under the tree, claiming he is Father Christmas. Obviously, the kid thinks he’s mad. It’s a sweet movie, but it has this hard edge to it, too.
It’s all about the battle for this boy’s soul. Which way is he going to go?” Spall, currently in Finland promoting “The Last Bus,” will do “a bit of a Nordic accent” in the film. “When I was being made up as Father Christmas, they would always say: ‘Can we film you?’ I said no.
How many magicians reveal their tricks?” “I have seven grandchildren. One of them is always watching ‘Enchanted’ and goes: ‘Oh, fat granddad.’ So she knows, but I hope other kids won’t recognize me this time. I want them to wonder: ‘Is that real Santa?’” The BAFTA-nominated actor, known for acclaimed collaborations with Mike Leigh, is no stranger to younger audiences.
“Harry Potter is still such a big deal. It’s edging towards becoming a bit of a religion. It’s bizarre,” he says.
In the franchise, Spall played Peter Pettigrew a.k.a. Wormtail. “It’s great storytelling, but it was also beautifully made.