Wilder. Drunker. Badder. After dropping the first teaser trailer last week, Broad Green Pictures returns with a new motion poster for Bad Santa 2. And it has literally leaked online. But that's not the most exciting thing for fans of this Christmas comedy franchise. New photos have also debuted, and they give us a first look at Thurman Merman all grown-up!
Bad Santa 2 returns Academy Award-winner Billy Bob Thornton to the screen as America's favorite anti-hero, Willie Soke. Fueled by cheap whiskey, greed and hatred, Willie teams up once again with his angry little sidekick, Marcus (Tony Cox), to knock off a Chicago charity on Christmas Eve. Along for the ride is 'the kid', chubby and cheery Thurman Merman (Brett Kelly), a 250-pound ray of sunshine who brings out Willie's sliver of humanity.
Mommy issues arise when the pair are joined by Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy-winner Kathy Bates, as Willie's horror story of a mother, Sunny Soke. A super butch super bitch, Sunny raises the bar for the gang's ambitions, while somehow lowering the standards of criminal behavior. Willie is further burdened by lusting after the curvaceous and prim Diane, played by Emmy Award-nominee Christina Hendricks, the charity director with a heart of gold and libido of steel.
You better watch out! Bad Santa 2 is coming to town. Mark Waters directs Bad Santa 2 from a screenplay by Johnny Rosenthal and Shauna Cross, based on characters by Glenn Ficarra & John Requa. Geyer Kosinski and Andrew Gunn produce. Executive producers are Zanne Devine, David Thwaites, Gabriel Hammond, Daniel Hammond, Mark Waters, Jessica Tuchinsky, Adam Fields, and Doug Ellin. The film is a Broad Green Pictures and Miramax release.
Brett Kelly was just 8 when he was first cast as Thurman Merman in 2003. He returns to the role at age 22, having just graduated from Canada's University of British Columbia. And having to get back into 'shape' for the role, the actor packed on an extra 40 pounds. Says director Mark Waters.
"We said: 'By the way, we're doing Bad Santa 2. So get in shape, or the opposite of shape'. Brett looks like the spitting image of the kid Thurman, but older. When he walked on set, it was even more jaw-dropping in some ways than seeing (Thornton)."
Brett Kelly was last seen on the big screen in the 2010 comedy High School. But in the past six years, he decided to ditch Hollywood for academia. But he was excited to return to this role, which he holds very close to his heart. About being asked to come back, he says this to USA Today.
"I've been living an extremely normal and boring life. I went to a regular high school, graduated from university, and basically that brings us up to this point. I got the call about Bad Santa 2 literally two days after I finished my last exam. The timing could not have been any better."
You can take a look at the transformed Kelly in the new photos. As you can see, not much has changed in the last few years, as this still looks like the Thurman Merman we know and love. So get pissed with the new motion poster and stills from Bad Santa 2. In theaters November 23!
