Alan Ritchson has become a household name thanks to his bone-crunching portrayal of Jack Reacher on Prime Video, but the actor is about to swap his military jacket for something a little more festive. In just a few weeks, he'll be sharing the screen with another action icon, Arnold Schwarzenegger, in a holiday comedy that promises to be anything but traditional.
The Man with the Bag is officially set to premiere on Prime Video on December 2, 2026. Directed by Adam Shankman, the film pairs Ritchson with Schwarzenegger, who plays Santa Claus himself. Ritchson steps into the role of Vance, a career criminal who gets an unexpected call to save Christmas.
The plot kicks off when Santa's legendary red sack is swiped by a disgruntled elf with a chip on her shoulder. With Christmas Eve looming, Santa turns to the one person he knows can pull off a heist: a thief from his 'Naughty List.' Vance quickly assembles a crew of misfits with questionable skills, and with a little help from elves and reindeer, they set out on the most unconventional rescue mission ever attempted.
Joining Ritchson and Schwarzenegger is Awkwafina as Nadia Nyce, the rogue elf behind the theft. The supporting cast includes Jane Krakowski, Ken Jeong, Liza Koshy, Kyle Mooney, and Michael Cyril Creighton, adding plenty of comedic firepower to the mix. Shankman, known for Hairspray, directs from a script by Allan Rice.
While fans eagerly await this holiday mashup, Ritchson isn't slowing down on the Reacher front. The fifth season is currently in production, adapting Lee Child's novel Make Me. Though no premiere date has been announced yet, the new season will see Reacher stepping off a train in the tiny town of Mother's Rest, driven purely by curiosity about its odd name. There, he crosses paths with private investigator Michelle Chang, played by Amanda Ip, whose missing colleague sets off a chain of events that turns into something far more sinister.
The upcoming season also features Jay Baruchel as Chief Buck Bauer, Ciara Bravo as Eunice, and Kevin Durand as Nokes. For those who can't get enough of Ritchson's action chops, all four existing seasons of Reacher are currently streaming on Prime Video.
As the release date for The Man with the Bag approaches, it's clear that Ritchson is expanding his range beyond the tough-guy roles that made him famous. Whether he's throwing punches as Reacher or cracking jokes alongside Schwarzenegger, he's proving to be one of the most versatile stars in the business. For more on Ritchson's career, check out his surprising early role that fans might have missed.
And if you're curious about how Schwarzenegger's rivalry with another action legend shaped his career, our piece on the Stallone-Schwarzenegger feud offers some fascinating insight. With The Man with the Bag landing just in time for the holidays, it's shaping up to be a must-watch for fans of action, comedy, and a little Christmas chaos.
