On December 17, fans were pleasantly surprised when Arnold Schwarzenegger shared a festive picture on Facebook. The image showcased him in a sensational new look, quite different from his usual action-hero persona.
In this photo, Arnold is dressed in a vibrant red coat adorned with large toggle buttons. He pairs it with a colorful knit sweater and a long, patterned scarf. To complete the look, the 77-year-old actor sports a striking white beard and wavy, gray hair, ready to embody the role of Santa Claus.
This transformation is for his role in “The Man with the Bag,” where he stars as Santa Claus. Alongside him in the image stands his co-star, Alan Ritchson. Ritchson’s neutral-toned coat and dark cap provide a contrast to Schwarzenegger’s vivid festive ensemble.
The unexpected appearance of Schwarzenegger surprised his followers on Facebook.
One fan excitedly said, “Arnie looks great with longer hair,” while another admitted, “I didn’t recognize you, Arnie!”
Someone even made a whimsical reference to Schwarzenegger’s famous “Conan the Barbarian” role, joking, “White beard + white hair, this is Conan finally becoming the King in my dreams, for the last chapter of the trilogy! Crom, to hell with you!”
Though his new gray hair was generally well-received, one person confessed they needed a second glance to realize it was him. “For a moment I couldn’t tell it was Arnold until I read who posted this; it was the hairstyle that made him a bit unrecognizable,” they revealed.
Many fans praised the transformation, agreeing that his Austrian roots make him a perfect fit for the jolly Santa role. Some were so taken aback by the image that they initially thought it might be an AI creation.
In addition to unveiling his new festive look, Schwarzenegger took the opportunity to commend the film’s director, Adam Shankman, calling him one of the funniest directors he’s ever worked with.
Elder Ordonez, a celebrity photographer, shared more photos along with a video of Schwarzenegger filming in various New York City locations, providing a behind-the-scenes peek into the movie’s production.
While filming, the “Commando” star was spotted engaging warmly with the public, even waving and thanking drivers as he crossed the street.
The shoot caused a bit of a traffic delay on 5th Avenue, where onlookers watched Schwarzenegger cross the street and interact with passersby.
Another shot captures a serious moment between Schwarzenegger and Ritchson on set. In a post on Facebook, the “Terminator” actor praised New York’s vibrant holiday atmosphere as the perfect backdrop for the film and expressed his excitement about collaborating with Amazon on this project.
“I can’t wait to share all of this Christmas cheer with each and every one of you,” he wrote, clearly thrilled about bringing this story to life.
The film is set to deliver a delightful, action-packed narrative. After Santa’s magical bag is stolen, he seeks help from Vance, a former thief who finds himself on Santa’s “naughty list,” to retrieve it.
This movie marks Schwarzenegger’s comeback to Christmas films after nearly three decades. His last holiday movie, “Jingle All the Way” from 1996, has become a cherished classic over the years.
In that film, he played a father frantically hunting for a Turbo Man action figure for his son on Christmas Eve. The film boasted an impressive cast, including Sinbad, Rita Wilson, Phil Hartman, Robert Conrad, and Martin Mull.
Outside of acting, Schwarzenegger is known for his charitable deeds. In December 2023, he shared a video on TikTok of his yearly visit to the Hollenbeck Youth Center in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, where he distributed Christmas gifts to families and children.
“There is a reason I have been handing out presents at the @hollenbeckyouthcenter in Boyle Heights for over 30 years. When I first came to America, my friends at Gold’s Gym were so generous. They brought me in during Christmas time and made me feel so happy and included,” he captioned the video.
In the heartwarming video, Schwarzenegger is seen giving out gifts, engaging with families, and posing for photos, showing his dedication to spreading joy and goodwill during the festive season.
He fondly recalled his first Christmas in the U.S., reminiscing about celebrating the holiday with his gym friends, stating, “They invited me to their house. Fantastic. They gave me Christmas gifts, they had this beautiful Christmas tree, and I felt so included here in America, even though I was a foreigner, I just came to this country.”
He continued, “So I will never forget that kindness and inclusion. It inspired me to do the same once I was able. For over 30 years, I’ve been coming out here… It fills me with joy to share that kindness and encourage others to do the same.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s recent transformation for his film role, combined with his acts of goodwill, reinforce his status not only as a cinematic legend but also as a beacon of joy and kindness during the holiday season.
