Arnold Schwarzenegger has unveiled a handsome new screen look, sporting long, wavy gray hair and a full white beard in footage from his upcoming Christmas film, The Man with the Bag.
The actor, 79, appears as Santa Claus in the festive comedy, with the newly released teaser offering a closer look at his transformation. Prime Video shared the trailer on September 30 ahead of the film's December release.
In the image featured in the Instagram post, Arnold's silver hair is swept back from his forehead in loose waves, curling around his ears. A neatly shaped white beard and moustache complete the look.
He wears a colourful patterned knit in navy, rust, cream and blue, sitting at a table with a tall milkshake glass and striped straw in front of him.
The scene also offers an introduction to his character's predicament. "My bag was stolen by a very naughty elf," reads the dialogue caption across the image.
© InstagramThe role behind Arnold's transformation
Arnold's makeover is part of his portrayal of Father Christmas, whose preparations are thrown into chaos when his magical bag goes missing.
To recover it, Santa turns to Vance, a thief played by Reacher star Alan Ritchson. Awkwafina plays the elf responsible for the theft, setting up an unlikely partnership as the pair try to save Christmas.
© Getty ImagesThe film's heist storyline gives Arnold another opportunity to combine action with comedy. His character recruits help from the naughty list, assembling a team with the skills needed to retrieve the stolen bag before his busiest night of the year.
Directed by Adam Shankman, whose credits include Hairspray and A Walk to Remember, the film also features Jane Krakowski, Ken Jeong, Liza Koshy and Kyle Mooney. Allan Rice wrote the screenplay.
What Arnold said about filming
Although the teaser is new, Arnold first gave fans a glimpse of his Santa transformation while filming in New York in December 2024.
At the time, he shared a photograph with Alan and expressed his enthusiasm for the project on Instagram. He praised the city as a filming location and spoke warmly about working with director Adam.
© Getty Images"I can't wait to share all of this Christmas cheer with each and every one of you," he wrote.
The update showed him embracing the character's festive wardrobe, including a red coat, well before viewers received this latest look at the finished film.
A return to Christmas comedy
The project brings Arnold back to a genre that already holds a familiar place in his career. Thirty years ago, he starred in Jingle All the Way, the 1996 Christmas comedy that became part of many families' festive viewing. His new role puts him at the centre of another seasonal scramble, this time as Santa himself.
© InstagramComedy has long been part of the actor's repertoire alongside the action films that made him famous. His credits include Twins and Kindergarten Cop, as well as The Terminator, Predator and True Lies. There is also a familiar nod to his action-hero history in the new trailer, with Arnold declaring: "I'm back!"
The Man with the Bag will premiere globally on Prime Video on December 2, 2026. The release pairs two generations of action stars, with Alan's thief joining Arnold's Santa for a story built around an unexpected friendship and a Christmas rescue mission.
