Info in Movie News | David Harbour is back in the red suit, not as Red Guardian from Thunderbolt or The New Avengers, but this time, the sleigh ride’s looking bloodier than ever. Violent Night 2 is officially on the way, with Universal locking in a release date just in time for the 2026 holiday season. The follow-up to the 2022 blockbuster which nobody expected is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on December 4, 2026, and it is billed to be another go-round with the Santa gang and mayhem.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the director Tommy Wirkola is coming back to direct the sequel thus ensuring that the dark Christmas vibes will still be there. Wirkola, known for Dead Snow and The Trip, is a master of combining the absurd violence with quirky humor, which were exactly the things that Violent Night fans loved about the first movie.
And of course, David Harbour is the centerpiece of the sequel. To be sure, his acting as a character of a rough and disenchanted Santa was very persuasive to audiences, donning the holiday magic costume with the hardcore action. In the first movie, his Santa was getting through to a little girl during a home invasion that went wrong and the bond that came about was the thing that changed him. But now, he’s here again and although the plot is still secret, there’s a lot of good stuff to look forward to.
Writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller, who penned the original, are also back and have hinted at expanding the universe. They’ve teased that the sequel could finally explore elements left out of the first movie, like the North Pole, Mrs. Claus, and Santa’s loyal elves. “We had ideas we loved but couldn’t afford to shoot,” Wirkola said in a past interview, suggesting that Violent Night 2 will go bigger in scope and lore.
There’s also talk of the sequel leaning into a new genre flavor. “The first film definitely had a Die Hard vibe,” said Josh Miller in a late 2024 interview, “this time, we might throw in a little western flair.” So basically, the audience would be getting not only a gun battle in snow mines and the fights with the villains of the season but also a cowboy hat that will be added to Santa’s traditional look.
The production of the movie is expected to commence in September 2025 in Winnipeg, Canada, which is also the location of the original movie. Kelly McCormick and David Leitch are the producers for 87North and they will be coming back along with the cast, hence the sequel being still in line with its stunt-driven, high-octane nature.
The original Violent Night has grossed over $75 million worldwide on a modest $20 million budget. Following such success, together with a 74% score on Rotten Tomatoes, a sequel was promised. Harbour’s gruff-yet-charming interpretation of Santa, the crisp action scenes, and the dark holiday theme have set a delicate balance that the fans have evidently appreciated.
It is rumored that incidents such as Trudy and Mrs. Claus may reappear in the movie. The sequel could become the most violent and mayhem episode of the Violent Night series if it gets further plot and more Christmas carnage.
Santa's list might be longer this year, but with David Harbour back in action, you can bet he's still checking it twice, before breaking bones.
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