Universal Lands Hot Christmas Comedy Package ‘Naughty’ From Olivia Wilde, LuckyChap & ‘Cocaine Bear’ Writer Jimmy Warden

Justin Kroll
·2 min read
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EXCLUSIVE: Just before the holiday break, Universal Pictures has found an exciting package under its tree. Sources tell Deadline that the studio has landed rights to the Christmas comedy Naughty, which has Olivia Wilde directing and LuckyChap producing. The package is based on a spec by Cocaine Bear scribe Jimmy Warden, and the auction saw several studios in the mix with Universal ultimately delivering the winning bid.

Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara are producing through their LuckyChap production company along with Wilde and Warden.

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Described as Bridesmaids in the North Pole, the film follows Mallory, whose only hope of securing custody of her son from her gaslighting trash-bag ex is to find Santa Claus and convince him to testify in her divorce hearing.

Between LuckyChap’s recent success with the year’s biggest film in Barbie and Wilde being one of the more sought after female directors, Universal was aggressive to land the package.

Wilde most recently directed, starred in and produced Don’t Worry Darling, which opened at No. 1 at the U.S. box office in September 2022, going on to earn nearly $90 million worldwide. Her debut film, the acclaimed Booksmart, earned praise when it bowed and continues to be considered one of the better comedies of the decade.

Upcoming, she is attached to direct and executive produce a limited series adaptation of Jennifer Egan’s bestselling novels A Visit from the Goon Squad and its sequel The Candy House for A24. Wilde is represented by CAA and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.

LuckyChap has been on a roll of late, not only producing Barbie but also Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn, another contender this award season. Barbie has earned more then $1.44 billion at the worldwide box office and is in the mix for every major award this season.

LuckyChap also produced Fennell’s Promising Young Woman, which won Fennell an Original Screenplay Oscar and LuckyChap a Best Picture nomination in 2021. LuckyChap is represented by Entertainment 360, CAA and attorney Jeff Bernstein.

For Warden, this marks a reunion with Universal after writing the hit comedy Cocaine Bear, which was sold to the studio as an original spec. The film was produced by Lord/Miller and directed by Elizabeth Banks. Warden made his feature directorial debut with the forthcoming Borderline from the 2020 Black List script that he also wrote, with LuckyChap, Red A and Brian Duffield producing. Warden is repped by CAA, Grandview and Ziffren Brittenham.

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