Melissa McCarthy to Lead a Film set during Christmas in New York for Peacock

by Darian Scalamoni

    Tis the season for Christmas movie announcements! According to an exclusive from Deadline, Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids, The Heat) will star in a currently untitled Christmas-in-New York film that will be written by none other than Richard Curtis (Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral). Sam Boyd (Love Life, Tell Me Lies) will direct the film which will stream on Peacock.

    The currently untitled holiday hopeful is described as a fairy-tale comedy about a work-obsessed man who enlists help from a magical genie to help win his family back before Christmas. Sounds like a mixture of Enchanted and Aladdin with a dash of Elf in there, with the similarity of the Walter Hobbs-esque workaholic father. Since the film is just in early development now, we can expect this film to be released probably in time for Christmas 2023. There is no word yet on who McCarthy will play in the movie.

    McCarthy has most recently been featured on television right back where she got her breakout role as Sookie St. James in Gilmore Girls. Over the last couple of years, McCarthy has starred in Hulu's drama, Nine Perfect Strangers before re-teaming with her husband, Ben Falcone in the Netflix comedy, God's Favorite Idiot. She'll next be seen as the despicable villainess sea monster, Ursula in the live action take of The Little Mermaid in 2023. She just wrapped filming, Unfrosted, Jerry Seinfeld's directorial debut which follows the real-life battle between Kellogg's and Post to create the perfect breakfast cake, the Pop-Tart. 

    I think Melissa McCarthy's big attitude lends itself well to a Christmas film and I'm surprised she hasn't already starred in one before! This sounds like something that could be a sleeper hit for NBC's streaming service with Richard Curtis writing as well. I'm a huge fan of Love Actually as its one of my favorite romantic films of all-time having been set during the holiday season helps give Curtis the understanding of the true holiday spirit needed to truly bring a good Christmas film to life.

    Do you think Melissa McCarthy is a good choice to lead a Christmas movie set in New York for Peacock? Let us know in the comment section!