EXCLUSIVE: Briarcliff Entertainment CEO Tom Ortenberg has acquired domestic distribution rights to Christmas At The Kringles, a genre-bending holiday comedy currently in production in Los Angeles. Pic will get a planned wide theatrical release in November.

Directed by Kevin Lewis (Willy’s Wonderland), the film blends comedy, action, and horror into a Christmas story. Ron Livingston (Band of Brothers) and Rachel Bilson (The O.C.) lead an ensemble cast featuring Rob Riggle, Arden Myrin, Beverly D’Angelo, Thomas Lennon and Donald Faison, latter two of whom reunited in the Scrubs reboot.  

In the Zack Imbrogno-scripted comedy, the Severson family starts fresh in a quiet suburban neighborhood. Their next-door neighbors, the Kringles, seem fine save for a penchant for celebrating Christmas year-round. What begins as charming quickly turns unsettling, as Mark and Julie grow concerned about their son’s growing attachment to the family. After a heated confrontation, Mark heads next door to bring his family home only to uncover the Kringles’ true intentions: to hypnotize and indoctrinate them.

Pic is produced by Andrew Ortenberg of 19th Hole Productions, Tom Ortenberg, Liam Finn, Kevin Lewis and Jordan Dykstra, whose new company will be repping international sales rights to the film at Cannes. Executive Producers include Stacy Kemp, Scott Hubert, Meritt Hubert and Kevin Weisberg.

Lewis said he had been “looking to do another zany and bonkers genre film in the vein of Willy’s Wonderland and I found it in Zack Imbrogno’s unique and original screenplay. I feel so fortunate to be surrounded by such a talented cast and crew to bring this crazy train of a movie to life.”