Red One Release Date, Cast, Director, Writer And More Details
Time to trim the tree, hang the stockings, and get ready for some yuletide action. Hollywood superstar Dwayne Johnson is bringing adventure to the holidays with "Red One." It was announced in 2021 that Johnson and his Seven Bucks company had set the film up at Amazon, and everyone involved seems to have incredibly high hopes for the film.
Based on everything we've discovered, we can see this film taking off big time. After all, the holidays and action have always paired extremely well (see basically every movie Shane Black has ever made), so we're very excited to see what the Rock is cooking. Of course, Johnson isn't the only A-lister in the cast. "Red One" boasts some incredibly talented stars, including one of the most beloved Avengers, and if you want to learn more about this holiday flick for all ages, read on for everything we know so far about "Red One."
When will Red One be released?
On November 7, 2022, Dwayne Johnson enthusiastically announced on Instagram that production on "Red One" had officially started. Johnson and Amazon think this film could be something special, with the action star saying it's the start of a "one of a kind Christmas franchise for you and your families around the world to enjoy." Deadline elaborated on this a little more, saying there are plans in place for a franchise with major merchandising opportunities "throughout the Amazon universe." In other words, it sounds like we could be getting an HCU — Holiday Cinematic Universe.
According to Dwayne Johnson's Instagram, the movie wrapped filming in February 2023, and while it was originally aiming for a 2023 holiday release, that obviously didn't pan out. We're assuming that was because the SAG-AFTRA strike ran for nearly four months and prevented the cast from promoting the movie. Now, the adventure flick has been given a release date of November 15, 2024. "Red One" will first hit theaters before making its way over to Prime Video, so get ready for a 2024 holiday season filled with mirth and muscles.
What is the plot of Red One?
At the moment, there aren't a ton of details about the plot of "Red One." The film has been described as "a globe-trotting, four-quadrant action-adventure comedy, imagining a whole new universe to explore within the holiday genre." If you're wondering, "four-quadrant" refers to the four major demographics Hollywood is always looking to win over — males, females, people under 25, and people over 25. And Amazon evidently feels "Red One" will appeal to all four quadrants.
Hiram Garcia — story-developer, producer, and president of Dwayne Johnson's Seven Bucks Productions – described the film a bit more back in 2021, telling Deadline, "'Red One' is incredibly special to me and a story I've wanted to tell for years. An epic, edge-of-your-seat action adventure that takes beloved holiday mythology and turns it on its head." Dwayne Johnson has also got us incredibly psyched for what's in store, describing the film on Instagram as, "'Jumanji' meets 'Miracle on 34th Street' meets 'Hobbs & Shaw' with a dash of 'Harry Potter' and sprinkled on top with my all-time favorite Christmas movie, 'It's a Wonderful Life.'"
Plus, based on a photo posted on Dwayne Johnson's Instagram page, we're expecting to see the arrival of Krampus, the dreaded Christmas demon. But beyond those few vague details, we don't really know anything else about the plot. When news breaks about what's happening with "Red One," we'll be sure to let you know.
Who is starring in Red One?
While we don't know much about the plot of "Red One," we do know that it boasts an amazing cast. Obviously, you have Dwayne Johnson, and it looks like he'll be playing a leather-clad character named Callum Drift. In a series of posts on the Rock's Instagram page, the actor implied that Callum Drift would also be known as the "commander of the E.L.F." Alongside Johnson, we'll see Steve Rogers himself, as Chris Evans will be playing a character named Jack O'Malley. In photos posted to both actors' Instagram pages, we see the two stars posed in character while hanging out in a toy store, although we don't know why they're there.
While these two action titans will be headlining, they'll be supported by a mind-blowing cast. Lucy Liu of "Kill Bill" and "Charlie's Angels" fame will be starring in the film, alongside the likes of Kiernan Shipka ("Chilling Adventures of Sabrina"), Kristofer Hivju ("Game of Thrones"), Nick Kroll ("Big Mouth"), Mary Elizabeth Ellis ("It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"), and Wesley Kimmel ("The Book of Boba Fett"). Plus, they'll be joined by Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons of "Whiplash fame" and beloved comedian Bonnie Hunt, with the duo respectively playing Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. We also know that Simmons will be showing up in amazing shape, as Johnson posted a photo of his Instagram showing a buff Simmons lifting weights, with the caption declaring him "the coolest, strongest, kindest, most badass, most loving, & most OG Santa Claus of all time."
Who is directing and writing Red One?
Dwayne Johnson loves working with the same directors again and again. For example, he teamed up with Rawson Marshall Thurber on "Red Notice," "Central Intelligence," and "Skyscraper." He worked with Brad Peyton on "Rampage," "San Andreas," and "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island." Perhaps most famously, he collaborated with Jaume Collet-Serra for "Jungle Cruise" and "Black Adam."
And for "Red One," Johnson is again working with a director from his past. The holiday-themed action flick will be helmed by Jake Kasdan, who previously joined the Rock on "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" and "Jumanji: The Next Level." Kasdan obviously knows how to craft a great family adventure film with Johnson as the lead, and he's also cracked us up with movies like "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story," "Sex Tape," and "Bad Teacher."
Similarly, the script for "Red One" will come from a long-time Johnson collaborator. Chris Morgan is penning the screenplay, and he's one of the filmmakers responsible for turning the "Fast & Furious" franchise into the behemoth it is today. The man wrote four installments in the series, not to mention the "Hobbs and Shaw" spinoff.