Corden to play Santa in Curtis film

James Corden will play Santa Claus in a new movie.

The British actor has signed up to star as a modern-day Father Christmas in forthcoming festive film 'School For Santas', which is being made by Richard Curtis' Working Title films.

The movie will see James portray a down-on-his-luck father finding his "inner Santa" in a bid to win back his estranged children.

James is delighted to be appearing in the film, which has a script written by Richard Bean, who penned award-winning stage show 'One Man, Two Guvnors', which the former 'Gavin and Stacey' star appeared in, both in London and New York's Broadway.

James told The Sun newspaper: "All my life I've wanted to make a big family Christmas movie. To be making one with a company like Working Title Films is a dream come true. Re-teaming with Richard Bean and [producer] Kris Thykier is like all my Christmases have come at once. I can't wait to start."

Shooting will take place in New York and London next year.

The project has yet to hire a director.