"Heartwarming" British comedy-drama with Ghosts and Slow Horses stars gets charming trailer

When you thought there couldn't possibly be another take on Charles Dickens' festive classic A Christmas Carol, a new holiday flick with a starry cast proves you wrong – and Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint actually sounds like a crowdpleaser.

The film, starring Games of Thrones' John Bradley as the titular Scrooge-adjacent misanthrope, has just debuted a feel-good trailer.

As Aubrey Flint plans to avoid Christmas altogether – "I don't like people," he replies when someone tells him that life is all about connecting with others – he lands himself into community service after a scuffle with a pensioner.

Related: UK film release dates

Joined by nonchalant community worker Kugan, played by Ghosts' Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Aubrey starts volunteering at a local retirement home run by the optimistic Ellen (Loki's Sophia Di Martino).

Meanwhile, the elderly residents risk losing their home to property developers, as evil Hugo Fox, played by Slow Horses' Dustin Demri-Burns, points out in the clip.

Resourceful Ellen then enlists the help of Aubrey and Kugan to run a community theatre at the retirement home so it could be saved on grounds of being culturally relevant. And what better choice than to put on A Christmas Carol for Christmas?

The trailer sees Aubrey gradually thawing to the bunch of retirees, played by Celia Imrie, Bridgerton's Adjoa Andoh and Nigel Planer, among others.

Guided by Jim Broadbent as the voice of Dickens, the gang throw themselves into the stage production as toy shop owner Mr Hopkins, played by an recognisable Richard E Grant, issues a caring warning to the protagonist.

"You don't want to end up old and alone," he tells Aubrey.

Directed by Jack Spring from a script by Chris Boyle-McQuarry, Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint also stars Adrian Rawlins, Ludwig's Karl Pilkington, EastEnders' Ann Mitchell, Dave Johns, Harriet Webb and Beau Thompson.

Lead star Bradley initially announced the project in October 2025, writing on his Instagram that it was "going to be a lovely one". Judging by the trailer, we're inclined to agree.

Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint will be released in UK and Ireland cinemas on 6 November.

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Reporter, Digital Spy

Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy. 

Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).