The scent of pine needles and anticipation is already in the air as Sky Cinema gifts us a first glimpse of its upcoming festive feature, Tinsel Town. The film stars an unlikely pairing: Emmy winner Kiefer Sutherland and the ever-hilarious Rebel Wilson.
Sutherland, best known for his intense roles in “Designated Survivor” and “24,” trades high-stakes action for the quaint charm of a snow-dusted village. He stars as Bradley Mack, a once-shining Hollywood action hero whose career has seemingly taken a festive tumble. Fate — or perhaps a particularly persuasive agent, played by the sharp-witted Katherine Ryan — lands him in this idyllic locale to headline the town’s endearingly eccentric production of “Cinderella.”
It’s here, amidst the tinsel and theatrical chaos, that Mack encounters a vibrant tapestry of local characters who, we hear, slowly but surely melt his Hollywood heart. Leading this colourful ensemble is Rebel Wilson as Jill, the no-nonsense choreographer tasked with whipping the village’s ambitious production into shape.
The supporting cast reads like a who’s who of British talent, with legends like Derek Jacobi joining forces with the likes of Mawaan Rizwan, Maria Friedman, Jason Manford, Asim Chaudhry, Danny Dyer, Ray Fearon, Alice Eve, Lucien Laviscount, and James Lance. Adding a touch of directorial magic is Meera Syal, who takes on the role of the production’s director. Breakout star Savannah Lee Smith (Cruel Intentions) will also feature alongside Theodora Williams in her on-screen feature debut, Matilda Firth and Eden Hamilton.
A recently released first-look image offers a sweet snapshot of the film’s heartwarming core. It depicts a relaxed Bradley Mack (Sutherland) alongside his daughter Emma (Firth), enjoying a local school Christmas fair alongside Jill (Wilson) and her daughter Cara (Williams). The image hints at the unexpected connections and the simple joys that this small town offers the jaded Hollywood star.
The festive narrative is brought to life by a script penned by Frazer Flintham, Adam Brown, and Piers Ashworth, with additional material from Jake Brunger. Helming the project is Chris Foggin (Bank of Dave). The film is produced by Matt Williams and Pascal Degove at FAE, with a team of executive producers including Laura Grange, Piers Tempest, Martin Owen, and Julia Stuart steering the sleigh.
Mister Smith Entertainment is handling global sales, with distribution deals already secured in Spain (DeaPlaneta), Poland (Kinoswiat), the Middle East (Front Row Filmed Entertainment), Ukraine (Active Cinema Group), the Baltics (ACME), Ex-Yugoslavia (Blitz Film), Greece (Odeon/Femeway/The Film Group), Israel (United King), and South Africa (Empire Entertainment). Mister Smith will continue to drum up excitement at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival this week.
Tinsel Town looks set to be the perfect blend of festive cheer, fish-out-of-water comedy, and heartwarming connection. It’s definitely one to circle on your Christmas calendar, with the film arriving on Sky Cinema for Christmas 2025!
Featured image courtesy of Sky UK. Photographer: Matt Squire.
