Chase Sui Wonders Joins Olivia Wilde's Anticipated Christmas Comedy 'Naughty'

Actress Chase Sui Wonders has been confirmed to join the Christmas comedy Naughty, directed by Olivia Wilde. She will star alongside Jennifer Aniston and Peter Dinklage, Deadline reports. The news marks a new step for Chase after appearing in the series The Studio.

In Naughty, Aniston plays Mallory, a mother fighting for custody of her child. She must track down Santa Claus—played by Dinklage—to persuade him to testify at her divorce hearing. Chase will play a friend who accompanies Mallory on a desperate journey to the North Pole. The plot promises a touching adventure comedy, not just seasonal laughs.

Olivia Wilde revealed that Naughty is a project she fought hard for. “This is a project we have worked on for years; I fought hard to make it happen,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. She called the film a comedy that leads with heart, inspired by Rob Reiner's work. “Universal placed great trust in me, especially to direct Jen and Peter,” she added.

This will be the fourth film directed by Olivia Wilde. She previously made Booksmart (2019), Don't Worry Darling (2022), and The Invite. She admitted that directing herself in the latest film gave her a new perspective. “This is the most enjoyable acting experience of my life. It’s like playing on an NBA All-Star team—suddenly I’m there, and everything feels easy,” she told Boston Hassle.

Universal's decision to finance an original theatrical comedy amid the dominance of franchises and streaming content is an intriguing bet. Comedies with top stars like Aniston and Dinklage still have market appeal, especially for adult audiences who long for light yet character-driven stories. However, the challenge is attracting younger generations who are more familiar with digital platforms.

For the Indonesian film industry, this move can serve as a mirror. Original comedies with famous actors still have a chance in cinemas, as long as they are packaged with a strong story and proper marketing. Domestic production houses can learn from Universal's strategy of daring to take risks on original scripts in a conservative market. Moreover, family comedies like Naughty have the potential to become cross-generational viewing.

With a November 2027 release date, Naughty still leaves Olivia Wilde time to perfect the production. The question is whether the film can repeat the success of classic Christmas comedies like Elf or The Holiday, or whether it will sink in the flood of year-end releases. Audiences are waiting to see whether the chemistry between Aniston, Dinklage, and Chase Sui Wonders can deliver the warmth viewers are looking for.