The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland: Emilia Clarke, Gerard Butler & More Join Animated Musical

Emilia Clarke (The Amazing Maurice), Gerard Butler (How to Train Your Dragon), and Simone Ashley (10 Lives) have officially signed on for the leading roles in the upcoming animated musical The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland, which hails from Universal Pictures Content Group.

Clarke is set to lend her voice to the Queen of Hearts, while Butler and Ashley will play the respective roles of St. Nick and Alice. The film will be based on the bestselling 2019 book, a mash-up of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Clement Clarke Moore’s poem Twas the Night Before Christmas.

What is The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland about?

“The film is full of fun and festive twists,” reads the synopsis (via Variety). “This time, it’s St Nick’s turn for an adventure down the rabbit hole. There he meets the Mad Hatter, recast as a high-fashion, reindeer-loving tea party host; the White Rabbit, an endearingly scatty and forgetful character; the Queen of Hearts, a Scrooge-esque tinsel-hater, her antagonistic sidekick, the Cheshire Cat and Alice herself, whose kindness helps St. Nick save Christmas.”

The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland will be directed by Peter Baynton from a screenplay written by Sara Daddy. It will feature original songs by Guy Chambers and lyricist Amy Wadge. The film is executive produced by Clarke, Butler, Helen Parker, and Alan Siegel, with Ruth Fielding and Camilla Deakin producing.

“It has been a joy to bring together this incredibly creative team and sprinkle some of Lupus Films’ animated magic into the mix,” Fielding said in a statement. “The wonderfully wacky characters, starry voice cast and toe-tapping tunes all come together in a fantastic festive fairy-tale for the whole family to enjoy.”