Santa Claus
Legendary Christmas figure kidnapped on Christmas Eve.
Santa Claus is a legendary Christmas figure who, according to the 2024 film *Red One*, is a real person living at the North Pole with his wife Mrs. Claus. He is protected by a security detail headed by Callum Drift, and his location is a closely guarded secret known to the clandestine organization MORA. In the film, Santa is portrayed by J. K. Simmons and is depicted as a beloved figure who maintains a Naughty List, which tracks people's increasingly toxic behavior. He has an estranged adoptive brother named Krampus, who originally created the Naughty List. Santa is kidnapped on Christmas Eve by the winter witch Grýla, who siphons his magic to render him unconscious, setting the plot of the film in motion.
- field
- Folklore and Christmas tradition
- known_for
- Bringing gifts on Christmas Eve; association with flying reindeer and Christmas
- origin
- Western Christian culture; influenced by Saint Nicholas and Father Christmas
- depiction
- Portly, jolly, white-bearded man in red coat with white fur trim
Lore & Background
In the 2024 film *Red One*, Santa Claus is a real figure living at the North Pole with his wife Mrs. Claus (played by Bonnie Hunt). He is protected by the ELF (Enforcement, Logistics, and Fortification) security team, headed by Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson). Santa's location is known to the Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority (MORA), a clandestine military organization that protects a secret peace treaty between humans and mythological creatures. On Christmas Eve, a black ops team breaks into the North Pole complex and kidnaps Santa. He is held by the winter witch Grýla (Kiernan Shipka) in a vault that siphons his magic, rendering him unconscious. Santa's estranged adoptive brother Krampus (Kristofer Hivju) originally created the Naughty List, which tracks people's behavior. Santa and Krampus acknowledge each other and part ways peacefully at the film's end. Santa invites Jack O'Malley (Chris Evans) and his son Dylan to accompany him on his Christmas Eve run, helping Jack regain his sense of wonder.
Reader's Guide
In *Red One*, Santa Claus is a central figure whose kidnapping drives the story. He is portrayed by J. K. Simmons and is depicted as a legendary Christmas figure who lives at the North Pole with Mrs. Claus. Santa's security is managed by Callum Drift, head of North Pole security, who plans to retire after one last Christmas run due to disillusionment with people's increasingly toxic behavior, as evidenced by the growth of Santa's Naughty List. Santa is kidnapped by Grýla, a winter witch who works with her sons (the Yule Lads) to mass-produce Glaskäfigs (magical imprisoning snow globes) to imprison everyone on the Naughty List. Santa is eventually rescued by Callum, Jack, Zoe Harlow (Lucy Liu), and Krampus, who arrives to help. Santa defeats Grýla with the help of the flying reindeer and seals her inside a Glaskäfig. He then invites Jack and Dylan to join him on his Christmas Eve run, restoring Callum's faith and convincing him not to retire.
Did You Know?
- In the film *Red One*, Santa Claus is portrayed by J. K. Simmons.
- Santa has an estranged adoptive brother named Krampus, who originally created the Naughty List.
- Santa is kidnapped on Christmas Eve by the winter witch Grýla, who siphons his magic to render him unconscious.
- Santa's location is protected by the clandestine organization MORA (Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority).
- Santa defeats Grýla with the help of flying reindeer and seals her inside a Glaskäfig (a magical imprisoning snow globe).
More in Mythological & Legendary Figures 1-20
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