Red Onehas quite the star-studded cast sliding onto Santa’s sleigh this November. Like many Christmas comedies before it, Santa is a central character inRed One. This time, he’s kidnapped right before his one big job of delivering presents around the world. It’s up to some major action stars, Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, to save Santa and, ultimately, Christmas.
The cast is quite a good one, with resident movie and TV mom and dad Bonnie Hunt and J.K. Simmons taking on the titular roles of Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Kiernan Shipka has a more magical role as an evil snow witch who preys on naughty children, while Lucy Liu keeps Johnson and Evan’s characters in line as they race against the clock to rescue Jolly St. Nick.
Dwayne Johnson as Callum Drift
Born: August 02, 2025
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was born in Hayward, California. At the height of his successful career with professional wrestling for WWE, he segued into acting with his first role inThe Mummy. Hisbreakout role wasn’t until two years later, as the lead inThe Scorpion King.Over the last 25 years, he has become one of the biggest action stars in the world, fromHercules,Jumanji,Central Intelligence,San Andreas, andRed Noticeto theFast Fivefranchise, He’s also popular with children for his iconic role as trickster demigod Maui inMoana.
Pain and Gain (2013)
Fast and Furious: Hobbs and Shaw (2019)
Moana 2 (2024)
Maui
Who better to be Santa’s personal bodyguard thanThe Scorpion Kinghimself? Johnson plays yet another tough guy as Callum Drift, head of security for the North Pole. Drift is disillusioned with the merriment of Christmas after the naughty list has grown drastically. He hopes to retire after helping Santa with this trip around the world on Christmas Eve night. But when St. Nicholas is kidnapped, it’s up to Drift to try and get him back home in time to save Christmas.
Chris Evans as Jack O’Malley
Born: Jun 22, 2025
Chris Evans was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and got his start in acting with the low-budget nature filmBiodiversity: Wild About Life.He’d have to wait another four years until hisbreakout role inNot Another Teen Movie, smartly playing a caricature of all the hot jocks in the teen movies that came before it. He followed that up with a real teen movie,The Perfect Scorein 2004. From there, he was cast as Johnny Storm inFantastic Four (2005)and its sequel. But Evans’s legacy is his performance as Steve Rogers / Captain America in the Marvel movies.
Ghosted (2023)
Cole Turner
Chris Evans is going fromThe Gray MantoRed One. He plays Jack O’Malley, a hacker and bounty hunter who is forced to team up with Johnson’s more serious Callum Drift to rescue good old St. Nick. They are playing the iconic straight man and funny man duo to entice audiences into watching. O’Malley is street smart and handy, and most definitely on the naughty list. But if he helps save Santa, he just might make it onto the nice list.
J. K. Simmons as Santa Claus
Born: July 03, 2025
J.K. Simmons was born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, and started making some minor movie and TV appearances in 1986, but hisbreakout role wasn’t until he landed Vernon Schillinger in HBO’s prison dramaOzin 1997. Following his successful six-season run on the show, he started appearing more regularly in movies, often playing a father figure or mentor-type character with some kind of grumpy grit. Some of his most notable performances are inAmerican Beauty,Juno,Whiplash,and theSpider-Manmovies.
Being the Ricardos (2021)
Oz (1997 to 2003)
Vern Schillinger
J.K. Simmons has just the right grumpy demeanor to put a bit of spunk into Santa. In a scene from the trailer, Johnson as Drift helps him with some weights at the gym, and it is clear that Santa has some major muscles. It’s almost like he’s been wrapping presents himself all year long instead of his worker elves. Funnily enough, this isn’t Simmons’s first time playing Santa, voicing him in Netflix’s 2019 animated filmKlaus. This time, though, he gets to actually put on the titular red suit.
Lucy Liu as Zoe Harlow
Born: June 06, 2025
Lucy Liu was born in Queens, New York City, and made her film screen debut inRhythm of Destiny.Herbreakout role was as the sinisterLing Woo inAlly McBeal, which ran for four seasons on Fox from 1997 to 2002. Liu has also been cast for her athletic skills, showing off her physical prowess in bothCharlie’s Angelsand its sequel, not to mentionKill Bill: Volumes 1 & 2.Liu has continued a steady career in movies and television over the last 30 years and is one of the most well-respected actresses in the industry.
Rhythm of Destiny (1992)
Ally McBeal (1998 to 2002)
Set it Up (2018)
Old Guy (2024)
Anata
Lucy Liu is no stranger to snowy sets, from her bloody battle against Uma Thurman inKill Bill: Volume 1to her icy dalliance with death intheice-capped mountains of Mongolia inCharlie’s Angels: Full Throttle. InRed One,she plays Zoe Harlow, the straight-laced leader of the Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority, aka M.O.R.A.Her team helps monitor the world’s magical creatures and when St. Nick is kidnapped, she pairs up Drift and O’Malley to save him.
Keiran Shipka as Grýla
Born: November 10th, 1999
Keirnan Shipka was born in Chicago, Illinois, and got herbreakout role in 2007 at only seven years old playing willful Sally Draper inMad Men. Shipka was critically acclaimed for her role as Don Draper’s boundary-pushing daughter and made a name for herself as a great child actress. Her next biggest role would be staring as teenage witch Sabrina Spellman in Netflix’s dark dramaThe Chilling Adventures of Sabrina(2018 to 2020).Even at 25,she’s continued on the teen movie trajectory with roles inLet It Snow,Wildflowers,and most recently,Totally Killer.
Mad Men (2007 to 2015)
Flowers in the Attic (2014)
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018 to 2020)
Twisters (2024)
Addy
Shipka is taking on the mantle of the devious entity Grýla inRed One. Not much is known about her character in the movie,but she is based on Icelandic folklore that characterizes her as a greedy ogre who snatches up naughty children around Christmas.The movie’s makeup department decided to go a different route, instead accentuating Shipka’s natural beauty with black eyeshadow and dark red lips. But odds are, this version of Grýla is just a trick and hopefully, the audience will get the pleasure of seeing Shipka transform into her natural monster habitat.
Bonnie Hunt as Mrs. Claus
Born: July 16, 2025
Bonnie Hunt was also born in Chicago, Illinois, and while on a lunch break from her shift as a nurse, she won the role of waitress Sally Dibbs inRain Man.Herbreakout role wasn’t until she played Alice Newton in the family classicBeethovenin 1992, and its subsequent sequel the following year.JumanjiandJerry Maguireare also notable films of hers.
Beethoven’s 2nd (1993)
Cheaper By The Dozen 2 (2005)
Kate Baker
Hunt is the perfect person to play sweet ole Mrs. Claus. She has a natural warm and cheery disposition. Similar to Simmons often playing father figures in film,Hunt has played some of the most endearing and loving movie and TV moms over the past several decades.Hunt doesn’t appear too much in the trailer, but given that her husband seems quite stoic, she’ll most likely be the disarming force to bring out his sweeter side. If she can handle 12 kids, surely she can manage 9 reindeer.
Red One Supporting Cast & Characters
The Supporting Actors List Sports Some Familiar Faces
Reinaldo Faberlle as the voice of Agent Garcia- Faberlle plays Agent Garcia, the anthropomorphic polar bear agent and bodyguard featured in all the trailers. Faberlle voiced the Behemoth inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3and appeared inThe Suicide Squad. The actor’s notable TV shows includeOzark,Ordinary Joe,Raising Dion, andMayor of Kingstown.
Kristofer Hivju as Krampus- Hivju plays a strong supporting role as Krampus, Santa’s estranged brother, Krampus being the perverted inverse of Santa in European folklore. Hivju, of course, is best known for his work as Tormund Giantsbane inGame of Thrones. Other TV shows includeBeck,Twin, and voicing Andvari inTwilight of the Gods. Hivju’s notable movie roles includeThe Thing2011 remake,Cocaine Bear,The Fate of the Furious, andForce Majeure.
Nick Kroll as Ted- InRed One, Nick Kroll plays Ted, a mercenary possessed by Grýla. Kroll is known for his long comedy resume as the creator and head writer of, among others, the TV showsBig Mouth,Human Resources, andKroll Show, as well as a long run playing Ruxin onThe League. Recent projects include roles inWhat We Do in the ShadowsandOur Flag Means Death,Don’t Worry Darling, and voicing Uncle Fester in the animatedAddams Familymovies.
Mary Elizabeth Ellis as Olivia- Mary Elizabeth Ellis plays Olivia inRed One, though it’s unclear who the character is. Ellis is a veteran character actress who has appeared in both movies and TV shows. Her notable movies includeMasterminds,Free State of Jones,Godmothered, andLicorice Pizza. However, she’s better known for her TV work, which includesLadder 49,It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,Santa Clarita Diet,New Girl,The Grinder, andPerfect Couples.
Marc Evan Jackson as Uncle Rick- Similar to Olivia, not much is known about Jackson’s Uncle Rick. Marc Evan Jackson, however, is a known entity, as he’s appeared in a plethora of projects. His biggest TV projects includeBrooklyn Nine-Nine,The Baby-Sitter’s Club,Parks and Recreation, and especiallyThe Good Place, where he played the immortal being Shawn. Movies includeKong: Skull Island,Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, and22 Jump Street. He’s also been involved with the popular podcastThe Thrilling Adventure Hourfor a number of years.
Wesley Kimmel as Dylan- Wesley Kimmel plays Dylan, Jack’s wayward teenage son. BeforeRed One, Kimmel appeared in several projects under the Disney umbrella, includingThe Mandalorian,The Book of Boba Fett, andWandaVision. He’s also appeared in a few episodes ofCrank Yankers, andGood Girls, where he played Tim, and in several episodes ofThe Jimmy Kimmel Show, being the nephew of the titular late-night host.
Red One
Cast
After Santa Claus is kidnapped, the North Pole’s Head of Security (Dwayne Johnson) must team up with a notorious bounty hunter (Chris Evans) in a thrilling, globe-spanning mission to save Christmas. This action-packed holiday adventure mixes comedy and festive magic, with an ensemble cast that includes Lucy Liu and J.K. Simmons.
