North Pole Divorce Comedy
Jennifer Aniston and Peter Dinklage Star in Olivia Wilde's Bridesmaids-Inspired Holiday Comedy 'Naughty'
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Key Points
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Jennifer Aniston and Peter Dinklage's representation is detailed in the press materials: Aniston is repped by CAA, Lighthouse Management & Media, and Hansen, Jacobson; Dinklage is repped by CAA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman, signaling strong agency backing behind Naughty.
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Executive producers Sara Scott (Executive VP of Production Development) and Jacqueline Garell (Director of Production Development) will oversee Naughty for Universal, indicating formal studio governance of the project.
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Deadline emphasizes Naughty's fast-track development in part due to Olivia Wilde's success with The Invite, which had a high-profile Sundance sale to A24 after an all-night bidding war and strong critical reception.
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The project timing may align with Jennifer Aniston's busy schedule around The Morning Show's fifth season, which Apple has announced will be the last and will return in 2027.
Peter Dinklage will play Santa Claus opposite Jennifer Aniston in Olivia Wilde's upcoming holiday comedy Naughty, with Universal Pictures locking in a November 5, 2027 theatrical release, according to Variety and Deadline. Aniston plays Mallory, a mother who tries to get Santa to testify in her divorce case so she can win custody of her son.
The film is built around a Bridesmaids-style premise set at the North Pole. Jimmy Warden wrote the screenplay from a spec script he sold in 2023. LuckyChap is producing alongside Wilde and Warden, with Universal executives Sara Scott and Jacqueline Garell overseeing the project for the studio, TheWrap reports.
Wilde's Sundance Hot Streak Fuels Fast-Track Greenlight
Universal moved quickly on Naughty largely because of what Wilde did at Sundance. Her film The Invite sparked an all-night bidding war at the festival and sold to A24. That high-profile sale gave the studio confidence to accelerate development on her next project, according to Deadline.
Wilde is now one of the more in-demand comedy directors in Hollywood. The fast greenlight for Naughty signals that studios see real commercial value in pairing her with top-tier stars for a major holiday slot.
Aniston and Dinklage Bring Star Power to Holiday Slot
Jennifer Aniston is repped by CAA, Lighthouse Management & Media, and Hansen Jacobson. Peter Dinklage is repped by CAA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman. Both actors have heavyweight agency backing, which signals serious commitment from all sides, per TheWrap.
Dinklage playing Santa is a deliberate swing at something unexpected. The role flips the jolly-old-man image on its head. Aniston, meanwhile, is no stranger to comedy — her work in films like We're the Millers and Horrible Bosses built a strong track record in the genre, JoBlo notes.
Mallory's Custody Battle Drives the North Pole Plot
The story follows Mallory as she travels to the North Pole to convince Santa to appear in court. She needs his testimony to win custody of her son in a divorce proceeding. ComingSoon describes the setup as a Bridesmaids-style comedy, leaning on a fish-out-of-water structure with high emotional stakes underneath the laughs.
Warden's original spec script caught attention in 2023. It took two years to get the right director and cast in place. Now with Wilde, Aniston, and Dinklage all attached, Universal has the star pairing it needs to compete in the crowded November 2027 holiday window.
Aniston's 2027 Schedule Lines Up Around Morning Show Finale
The Naughty production timeline may work in Aniston's favor. Apple has confirmed that The Morning Show's fifth season — its last — will return in 2027. That means Aniston will wrap her long-running TV commitment right around the time Naughty would be ramping up, according to Just Jared.
A November 5, 2027 release date gives the production roughly two years to shoot and finish the film. That is a comfortable runway for a mid-budget studio comedy. If Wilde can replicate the buzz she built with The Invite, Naughty could be one of the bigger holiday releases that year.
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