Additional high-res images from Santa Switch

Here are high-res promotional images from Hallmark's "Santa Switch" premiering December 7, 8pm ET.

As the Christmas season approaches, Dan Ryebeck (Ethan Erickson) is facing unemployment, and struggling to pay for the gifts he thinks will impress his two kids. Little does he know his luck is about to turn around when the real Kris Kringle (Donovan Scott) pays him a visit from the North Pole. Deciding to take a vacation and leave Dan in charge, Kris sends his hard-working elf assistant Eddie (Sean Astin) to guide Dan as the new Santa Claus, hoping he'll learn a lesson in Christmas spirit. As the fate of the whole world's Christmas rests in his hands, can Dan focus on what his family really needs without flubbing his greatest gig yet?

Also check out this cute article about how Sean is Mashed Potato King of Christmas in his home! :-)

Open images in new window for larger versions. More high res photos here.

Santa Switch premiere set for December 7 on Hallmark Channel

Sean Astin stars as an elf in a business suit in "Santa Switch" premiering on the Hallmark Channel Saturday December 7, 8pm ET/7pm CT (check your local listings). Here are some promotional and behind the scenes photos, plus a trailer and short clip for this new family holiday movie. [Updated 11/19/14 with higher res images.]

Ethan Erickson, Sean Astin and Donavan Scott star.

Sean Astin stars in Hallmark's "Santa Switch"

It's a holiday takeover when Santa agrees to share the reins with Sean Astin and Ethan Erickson in "Santa Switch," a Hallmark Channel Original Movie.

Ethan Erickson is a struggling dad who gets a new start when a strange encounter magically replaces his mall Santa gig with the real thing in World Premiere of Santa Switch, premiering Saturday, December 7 at 8pm ET/PT. 

Starring alongside Erickson, Academy Award Nominee Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings) plays Kris Kringle's uptight assistant Eddie who is determined to keep Christmas on schedule. Anne Dudek, Annie Thurman and Griffin Cleveland also star. 

As the Christmas season approaches, Dan Ryebeck (Erickson) is facing unemployment, and struggling to pay for the gifts he thinks will impress his two kids, Sally (Thurman) and Joe (Cleveland). Always chasing a new business idea, Dan hasn't had time for family, including his wife Linda (Dudek), who is finally fed up and filing divorce papers. Threatened by Linda's handsome and successful young boss, Trevor, Dan knows he must make this Christmas the best one yet to win his family back. But after auditioning for a mall Santa job and quickly losing his cool, Dan is frustrated and broke, blaming the holidays for his troubles. Little does he know his luck is about to turn around when the real Kris Kringle (Donovan Scott) pays him a visit from the North Pole. Deciding to take a vacation and leave Dan in charge, Kris sends his hard-working elf assistant Eddie (Astin) to guide Dan as the new Santa Claus, hoping he'll learn a lesson in Christmas spirit. With the sudden power to impress Linda and the kids by making every wild Christmas wish come true, Dan soon gets carried away. As the fate of the whole world's Christmas rests in his hands, can Dan focus on what his family really needs without flubbing his greatest gig yet?

Source

Sean Astin in "The Santa Switch" this Thanksgiving

Sean Astin stars as an elf in a business suit in the upcoming Hallmark Channel holiday movie "The Santa Switch." The movie also stars Ethan Erickson, Ann Dudek and Annie Thurman.

Christmas has never been good for Dan and this year is especially rough, his business has gone under and his divorce will become final in the New Year. But, when a mysterious man named Kris gives Dan the gift of being Santa this year, he finds himself with new powers which he tries to use to win his family back. 

The movie premieres Saturday, December 7, 8pm ET/PT.


Sources: here and here and the IMDB listing here.

Sean Astin interview in Dubai magazine

Sean Astin did an interview for Layalina Magazine while in Dubai for the Middle East Film and
Comic Con in April. My thanks to Abeer Mahmoud and Khaldoun Qaddoura who conducted the interview, and provided me with the English version and photos. Read on for Sean's thoughts on visiting the United Arab Emirates, plus some inside info on his upcoming roles in "Extraction," "Santa Switch," "Moms' Night Out" and "The Boys of Abu Ghraib."

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After the overwhelming success of last year, the Middle East Film and Comic Con April 5 & 6, 2013 had returned stronger and bigger. People queued for hours while dressing up innovatively as their favorite characters in order to get the chance to meet up with the celebrities and get their autographs.  It was a great privilege to get the chance to interview the American Actor Sean Astin, who starred as “Sam” in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy in addition to many other remarkable roles. Sean Astin, “Abu el Banat” as he calls himself (the father of daughters) gave us a brief about his future plans, and opinion about the Middle East Comic Con in which we got the chance to see further into his lovable personality.