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I’m a little wary of Bad Santa 2 because not only are comedy sequels tough; the original felt like lightning in a bottle. No one expected something that was so delightfully mean-spirited yet had a heart buried somewhere deep beneath its cynical exterior. It’s hard to shock people twice, and it can’t just be with naughty language.

A Bad Santa sequel has been in development hell for years, but Entourage writer/director Doug Ellin is aiming to finally get it in front of cameras this year.

The big comment from Ellin is his revelation that he’s supposed to start shooting the movie in either September or October, but they’re currently working on the script. If they’re happy with the script, then Billy Bob Thornton is already on board. Unsurprisingly, they’re aiming for a similar tone, which will likely mean it’s another hard “R” movie.

While I’m not surprised that Ellin refused to provide a tease for the movie (especially if they’re still trying to hammer out the script), I’m curious to see how he plans to put his own stamp on the material, especially when the original had a difficult production with director Terry Zwigoff fighting both the Coen Brothers (who were uncredited screenwriters on the movie along with Zwigoff) and The Weinstein Company, who filmed additional sequences with another director without Zwigoff’s approval.

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Miramax and Broad Green Pictures announced that Billy Bob Thornton will reprise his role as Willie Soke in “Bad Santa 2.”

Geyer Kosinski will produce. Miramax will partner with Broad Green Pictures to co-finance and co-produce. Broad Green will distribute in the U.S. during the 2016 holiday season.

Sierra/Affinity will handle foreign sales with sales starting at the upcoming American Film Market.

“We’ve been waiting far too long to see Billy Bob’s Willie Soke mess with the holiday season in his own unique way,” said Zanne Devine of Miramax.

David Thwaites will oversee the project for Miramax and Victor Moyers for Broad Green Pictures. Principal photography will commence in January in Montreal.

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Billy Bob Thornton's 'Bad Santa 2' Lands 'Mean Girls' Director (Exclusive)
by Pamela McClintock
11/3/2015 2:09pm PST

Mark Waters has come aboard to direct the sequel for Broad Green and Miramax, while original castmembers Tony Cox and Brett Kelly have closed deals to return alongside Thornton.

The Mean Girls and Freaky Friday filmmaker will direct Bad Santa 2, the sequel to the 2003 raucous comedy that grossed $76.5 million at the global box office. Broad Green Pictures announced last week it has come aboard to co-finance and co-produce the movie alongside Miramax, with Billy Bob Thornton returning in the title role (the actor has long wanted to make the follow-up).

In addition to the news about Waters, original castmembers Tony Cox and Brett Kelly have closed deals to return. Broad Green will release Bad Santa 2 in the U.S. during the year-end holidays in 2016. Sierra/Affinity is representing international rights and will introduce the project to foreign buyers at the American Film Market this week.

Bad Santa 2 is being fast-tracked, with Waters set to start shooting in January from a script by Johnny Rosenthal, Doug Ellin (Entourage) and Shauna Cross (If I Stay). The sequel, whose producers include Geyer Kosinski, is currently out to a female lead.

In 2004, Mean Girls quickly turned into a hit, grossing $86.1 million domestically and $129 million worldwide. The comedy starred Lindsay Lohan, Tina Fey and Rachel McAdams. A year earlier, Freaky Friday, starring Lohan opposite Jamie Lee Curtis, scored with $160.8 million globally. Waters was last in theaters with Vampire Academy and Mr. Popper's Penguins, starring Jim Carrey.

Waters is represented by CAA and Kleinberg Lange. Cox is repped by Industry Entertainment and Jackoway Tyerman; Kelly, by Osbrink Talent Agency.

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Kathy Bates has closed a deal to join Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa 2, the sequel to the 2003 dark comedy.

Mark Waters (Mean Girls) is directing the movie which reunites him with his Freaky Friday producer Andrew Gunn. Geyer Kosinski is also producing.

Broad Green and Miramax are co-financing and co-producing the comedy.

Plot details for the new movie are being kept wrapped under the tree but Bates will play Sunny Soke, the foulmouthed, tough-as-nails mother to Thornton's mall Santa, Willie Soke.

Also in the movie are Tony Cox and Brett Kelly. Kelly played the kid character in the first movie and reprises the same role, this time as an adult.

Santa 2 will shoot in Montreal beginning in January.

Johnny Rosenthal, Doug Ellin (Entourage) and Shauna Cross (If I Stay) wrote the script. Miramax's Zanne Devine and David Thwaites, Broad Green's Gabriel and Daniel Hammond, Waters, Jessica Tuchinsky, and Ellin are exec producing.

Bates, repped by ICM Partners, has recently been a key player on American Horror Story, appearing in three seasons of the anthology show (Coven, Freak Show, and Hotel). Her work has garnered her two Emmy nominations and one win for outstanding actress in a limited series.

She is currently in pre-production on Xavier Dolan’s drama The Death and Life of John F. Donavan.

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Mad Men star Christina Hendricks will star as the love interest opposite Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa 2, the sequel to the 2003 dark comedy.

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