Cole Escola Joins Melissa McCarthy in Animated Holiday Adventure 'Margie Claus'

Margie Claus Returns: Melissa McCarthy and Cole Escola Lead Holiday Movie Revival

In the world of holiday movies, nothing stays buried forever. After years of sitting on the shelf, Warner Bros. is bringing back Margie Claus—but with a few surprises along the way. What started out as a live-action project starring Melissa McCarthy is now reimagined as a big-budget animated feature, with Kirk DeMicco, known for 'The Croods,' at the helm.

The story follows Margie Claus, voiced by McCarthy, as she steps up for the ultimate Christmas Eve rescue operation. The twist? Santa’s gone missing, and it’s up to Margie to save the holiday. Her team includes some out-of-retirement reindeer and Levi, a sharp, snarky head elf voiced by Cole Escola. Escola, fresh off a Tony Award win for 'Oh, Mary!' in 2025, is making their first splash in a major film role—this time bringing comic energy and personality to the North Pole.

From Live-Action Struggles to Animated Ambitions

When 'Margie Claus' was first announced back in 2017 with McCarthy and her husband, Ben Falcone, attached under the New Line Cinema banner, it looked like a surefire holiday crowd-pleaser. Falcone was set to direct, and McCarthy's knack for broad comedy put the idea of a funny, action-packed Christmas movie front and center. But Hollywood plans don’t always go as expected. The project got bogged down in development, stuck behind other productions and shifting studio priorities. Scripts were reworked, directors came and went, and just when it looked like 'Margie Claus' might fade away, Warner Bros. decided to try something new.

The big turning point came when the studio chose to switch gears, trading live-action for animation—a move that’s become more popular for big holiday releases. Animation gives room for epic North Pole scenes and magical action you just can’t capture with a camera and costumes. Enter Kirk DeMicco, whose credits on ‘The Croods’ and ‘Vivo’ show he’s no stranger to heartfelt, funny, family adventures. Bringing McCarthy’s signature style to Margie and giving Escola a new platform as Levi, the film aims for a playful blend of comedy, music, and festive heart.

The new creative team also includes Michelle Wong, known for work on 'K-Pop: Demon Hunters,' rounding things out as a producer alongside McCarthy and Falcone’s On the Day Productions. This trio aims not just for a one-off Christmas tale, but for a long-running franchise built around Margie and her North Pole crew.

With production now back on track, studio insiders are betting big on 'Margie Claus' as a future holiday tradition. The movie has locked in a theatrical debut for November 5, 2027—far enough out to build buzz, but just in time for a new generation of festive movie fans. And with Escola’s recent Broadway success fueling the transition to Hollywood voice roles, the film promises more than just holiday cheer—it could give a fresh comedic voice to classic Christmas stories. Only time will tell if Margie, Levi, and their reindeer sidekicks can live up to the hype.