Ludacris joins Vaughn on Claus

Let’s be honest, the concept doesn’t sound that great – Santa’s dead-beat brother rolls up to the North Pole just before Christmas, with his New York attitude and a bad case of not giving a shit. His arrival almost ruins the season.

It’s when you throw in the facts that Santa’s big bro is immortalised by lanky joke-flinger Vince Vaughn, with the imminently Watchable Paul Giamatti as Santa and all watched over by Wedding Crashers helmer David Dobkin – that’s when this sounds like a flick worth forking out for.

Currently shooting in the UK, the latest cast member to hook his wagons to the comedy project is Hustle And Flow star Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, who will play an elf with an attitude.

Fred Claus is set for release late 2007.