Hugh Laurie and James McAvoy Cast In ARTHUR CHRISTMAS

Aardman Animations is releasing ARTHUR CHRISTMAS in 2011, and Hugh Laurie and James McAvoy have been added to the cast to voice two of the 3D characters, Sony Pictures has announced.

Arthur Christmas answers the puzzling questions “How DOES Santa deliever all those presents in one night?” and sets the focus on the high-tech north pole operation that Santa is running.

Sarah Smith is directing and has co-written the screenplay with Peter Baynham; and Barry cook is co-directing as well.

McAvoy (Wanted, The Last King of Scotland) will lend his voice to Arthur, the younger son of Santa, and the only one in the family that still cares about the magic of the Christmas season. Laurie (TV’s House) voices Arthur’s older brother Steve, who is the heir to the North Pole and has instituted a high-tech, military-style solution to the delivery situation.

McAvoy and Laurie join the voice cast of Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, and Ashley Jensen, and Arthur Christmas is expected to hit theaters November 23, 2011.