Disney’s The Naughty Nine is a 2023 Christmas comedy film that follows a group of nine kids who decide to steal Christmas from Santa after they find out they’re all on the naughty list.
The American Christmas heist film is directed by Alberto Belli from the scripts of Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas, the two screenwriters have also executive produced the film with Suzanne Todd.
Production companies involved in the film are NeoReel and Rotten Eggs Productions. It was released on November 22, 2023, on the Disney Channel and will be released on Nov 23, 2023 for Disney+ subscribers.
The Naughty Nine Filming Locations
Disney’s the Naughty Nine was filmed in and around Montreal during early 2022. Principal filming commenced on February 6, 2022 and wrapped up on April 10, 2023.
Camila Rodriguez some photos on the movie set while shooting was ongoing. She also tagged the filming location as Montreal, Quebec.
The city of Montreal served as the primary filming location for the movie. Production team set up camp in the municipality of Pointe-Claire, which is located on the Island of Montreal.
Despite the scenic beauty, the filming process faced a minor challenge. In order to create a makeshift parking lot for large trucks and trailers, the production team covered the grassy median of Avenue de Killarney Gardens with a bed of gravel.
This temporary transformation sparked some concerns among residents, who expressed their desire for more considerate filming practices in their neighborhood.
Ho! Ho! Holiday Viewing shared another clapperboard photograph during the shooting of The Naughty Nine.
Mont-Saint-Hilaire town, located about 45 minutes south of Montreal, served as the setting for the film’s fictional North Pole. The Saint-Antoine-de-Verchères train station, which is located about an hour south of Montreal, was used for a scene in which Santa Claus arrives at the North Pole.
Derek Theler shared a picture on his Instagram during the filming in Montreal. He wrote in the caption, ‘Good news, it’s still snowing in Montreal. 🇨🇦❄️.’
The involvement of real snow makes the film even more authentic and exciting to stream in the holiday season. Montreal has a long history of hosting films and television productions and ‘The Naughty Nine’ is one of them.
Some of the other notable films and television shows that have been filmed in Canada include A Season for Family, Navigating Christmas, and Fugueuse.
Behind the Scenes
Camila shared a sweet photograph on the last day of filming in Montreal. She wrote a really big caption talking about all the good memories she had with other cast members.
She said, ‘I cannot describe of how much I love and care about the people I met here. The people I met on this movie are the most sweetest and funniest people ive ever met. You guys mean the world to me. it was hard saying goodbye but I know with all my heart that this isnt the last of us. I tried lots of new things here that i will always remember.’
Director Alberto Belli revealed in an interview with Mama’s Geeky that the reindeer shown in the movie were actually CGI. He explained that real reindeer shed their antlers in the winter, which made it difficult to train them. Instead, the production team used CGI to create realistic-looking reindeer that the children could act with.
The use of CGI reindeer was a wise decision, as it allowed the filmmakers to have more control over the animals and avoid any potential safety hazards. It also allowed them to create reindeer that looked more magical and fantastical, which is fitting for a Christmas movie.
The Naughty Nine Cast
The cast of The Naughty Nine is as follows:
- Winslow Fegley as Andy Steele
- Camila Rodriguez as Duice
- Anthony Joo as Lewis
- Deric McCabe as Jon
- Clara Stack as Rose Wingert
- Madilyn Kellam as Laurel Steele
- Derek Theler as officer Bruno
- Ayden Elijah as Albert
- Imogen Cohen as Ha-Yoon Si-u
- Danny Glover as Santa Claus
What is the plot of The Naughty Nine?
When Andy, a mischievous fifth grader, discovers he’s on Santa’s naughty list, he feels unfairly treated and decides to take matters into his own hands.
He assembles a team of eight other “naughty list” kids to embark on an big heist to Santa’s Village at the North Pole, determined to retrieve the presents they believe they deserve.
Along their adventure, the group faces unexpected challenges and learns that the true spirit of Christmas lies in kindness and generosity, leading them to reconsider their actions and redirect their unique talents for good.
