North Pole (film)

North Pole is a 2023 American Christmas epic war film directed by Bill Condon and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, inspired by the First World War. It is the first installment in the North Pole film series and was produced by David Heyman. Set in 1915, the film is narrated under the voice of different elves, who recount the sequence of events in the first months of a great war between the forces of North Pole and the evil demonion of Krampus. The film's screenplay was written by Simon Beaufoy, who conceived the idea of ​​the project and its respective follow-ups. The film stars François Arnaud, Patrick J. Adams, James Allodi, and Elisha Cuthbert.

A epic war untitled film was announced by Warner Bros. in June 2020, Simon Beaufoy hired to written; the cast signed on between August and November and Bill Condon signed on to direct in January 2021. Production contracts were only secured for the first film, relying on its success before a sequel would be greenlit. Principal photography began on October 29, 2022 with filming taking place in the Canadá, United Kingdom and France before finishing on February 7, 2023. Alan Menken will compose the score, marking his second collaboration with Condon after Beauty and the Beast (2017).

North Pole premiered at the on November 19, 2023 at the Grand Rex in Paris, France, premiered in Los Angeles on December 9, and was released in the United States on December 15, in 2D, 3D, 4D, Dolby Cinema, and IMAX formats, by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film was a box-office success grossed over $814.3 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing Christmas film of all time and the third-highest-grossing film of 2023. Its opening domestic weekend is the fifth largest for a non-sequel. It was positively received by critics for its screenplay, direction, production values, emotional weight, musical score, special effects and atmosphere as well as his social criticism regarding the excessive use of firearms and received four nominations at the 96th Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects.

Plot
In August 1915, during a massive shutdown of North Pole production plants due to a Great "Human" War, a series of attacks by Pruning Souls (creatures of dark energy and plasma) ravage the inhospitable forests of Canada. Mr. S. Claus, and the chancellor of production, declare war against the attackers and give the call to gather "troops" for the protection. A team of tactical allies begins to discuss how to deal with the situation, although S. Claus is confident that they can firmly combat their Opponents once they reach the Canadian Arctic. In the defense line of the Arctic Islands, Mart, a Elf, is recruited, who prepares with his friend, Arl and the 2nd army for an offensive on Igloolik Island. Although the actions are carried out, the Opponents besiege the Canadian boreal forest system and multiple production plants and forts are destroyed or invaded.

Meanwhile, and after days of small confrontations, Mart and his squad began their line of defense on Igloolik Island, which, despite their efforts, ends in defeat for the Allied North front and causes a great retreat. On Somerset Island, Kitikmeot-Fort Ross, where S. Claus and his faithful circle of elves Spirit also fought, the news is heard and although in smaller numbers, the 1st and 4th armies, faced Opponents. Although the battle becomes tiresome, some allies perish in battle and spirits are lowered, the Allies achieved a great win. Thus, the line of defense gives way to Trench Warfare; supporting the great withdrawal, where Mart and Arl were. Despite this and the fact that they took strength on part of the arctic front, in Quebec, Canada, the Opposers formed a perimeter over the Arctic and Greenland, this after months of conflict against Force One allies in Canada. The leader of the opposition, Krampus, was finally revealed as the mind of the conflict, albeit unaware that there are deep flaws in the central battle strategy of its military leadership. Days later, the Allies and the 2nd Army moved to Baffin Island already dominated by a group of Souls; S. Claus calls on his forces and says that, as warriors for peace, they themselves are the light of hope that they seek so much. This manages to revitalize the low forces of the armies and after this, the allies and Mart start a strong battalion, until the latter and a few other companions manage to break through to No Man's Land, where they finally give victory over the Opposition Nucleus of Baffin and causing a persecution massive towards Qikiqtaaluk Region.

Shortly thereafter, on December 25, a triumphal ceremony is held at the newly established Allied Arctic base at Baffin, commemorating the fallen and the loyal victory achieved. Although there is Christmas spirit and hope, Mart, inside, can't help but feel uneasy about the war.

Development
In 2011, Simon Beaufoy conceived the initial idea for the project, a Christmas-themed dark fantasy war film. Initially, he submitted the project to Legendary Entertainment, however it was ultimately rejected and the project stalled. In late 2019, he became interested again and brought the project as a writer-attachment to Warner Bros. and the studio acquired the film rights to "an untitled christmast-war film" in October 2020. In March 2021, Warner Bros. announced that the release of the film was scheduled for a 2023 release. Variety reported in May of the same year that Bill Condon, David Slade, Andrew Adamson, Gary Ross, and other directors were in talks with the studio to direct the film. Bill Condon had previously expressed interest in the project in November, saying that "an old dream of mine is to direct a kind of special war movie and I finally think it's here." Condon's enthusiasm for directing the film earned the respect of Beaufoy, who called Condon and quickly hired him after he outlined part of his vision for the film. He chose to make a detailed presentation and also felt that "this film can be my world" due to his experience directing fantasy films. In June 2021, Condon was officially confirmed to direct the film.

Beaufoy still expected it to be released sometime in the winter 2023 season before being given in June 2022 a release date of December 15, 2023, before filming began in October. The film's title, North Pole, was confirmed in a press release in July 2022. Its plot centered on a 1915 parallel to World War I, where an army led by Santa Claus would face dark forces commanded by the villain Krampus. Online reception was mostly positive, with commenters praising the quirky concept. North Pole included several contributors to Condon's filmography, such as cinematographer Tobias A. Schliessler. film editor Virginia Katz and production designer Patrice Vermette. The film was produced by Beaufoy's associate producer, David Heyman, who would produce under his Heyday Films studio, Brian Herbert and David Hoberman.

Writing
Beaufoy chose to change conceptual aspects of the project before and during the writing process, as he wanted to spend time developing the film's universe and co-writing it himself along with the director.

El primer borrador del guión se terminó en 2021 y se trataba de una película, por aquel entonces, con tintes de los años 60, aunque Beaufoy descartó rápidamente la idea de ceñirse a una estética más apegada a la de los primeros años de la siglo XXI, especialmente el transcurso de los años de la Primera Guerra Mundial, a partir de los cuales se basaría la historia.

Release
North Pole is scheduled to be released on Decembrer 15, 2023.