Rom com king Richard Curtis is making his first Christmas film since Love Actually…with HUGE A-list cast

Richard Curtis is making his first Christmas film since Love Actually and, of course, it is packed full of A-list celebrities.

The animation, which is set to be released on Netflix later this year, follows a series of entwined tales about love, loneliness, family and friends, all while Santa is trying to solve some big problems of his own. 

Succession megastar Brian Cox will be playing Father Christmas, while Love Actually's Bill Nighy, Killing Eve's Fiona Shaw and former Doctor Who Jodie Whittaker will all have starring roles.

It has also been revealed that Ed Sheeran has made a brand new song for the film, which he created with his older brother. 

Richard Curtis is making his first Christmas film since Love Actually and, of course, it is packed full of A-list celebrities

The animation, which is set to be released on Netflix later this year, follows a series of entwined tales about love, loneliness, family and friends, all while Santa is trying to solve some big problems of his own

Succession megastar Brian Cox will be playing Father Christmas, while Love Actually's Bill Nighy , Killing Eve 's Fiona Shaw and former Doctor Who Jodie Whittaker will all have starring roles

Succession star Brian Cox will voice Santa is Curtis upcoming animated movie 'That Christmas'

Actress Jodie Whittaker, who has played exceptional roles as the former Doctor Who, will also be in the new film 

Fiona Shaw attends Paramount's 'If' New York premiere at SVA Theater on May 13

Speaking about the opportunity the popstar said: 'I got to work with my older brother on this which is such a rarity and a gift to work so closely with my only sibling. 

'It felt so good to create something my children would watch, with their uncle, based in the country they live in.

'I find it mad that there isn't more animated Christmas films for kids, but this is going to become a holiday staple, at least in our household.

'Hope everyone loves it, and enjoys the song, we had such a great time creating it.'

The 33-year-old even teased a little bit about the film and the scene the song was written for in particular, describing it as 'heartbreaking' but 'real'.

'[it's] so emotional, yet so heartwarmingly funny, like all Richard Curtis movies. I find since having kids, there's a real lack of great animated children's Christmas movies, so I thought this was such an amazing thing to make and put into the world.

'The scene that we wrote this song for is so heartbreaking, but so real for many people at Christmas, spending it without the ones they love, for so many reasons.'

It has also been revealed that Ed Sheeran has made a brand new song for the film, which he created with his older brother

That Christmas has been directed by Simon Otto, who also animated How To Train Your Dragon, and the score has been composed by John Powell

The animation is based on a series of children's books by Richard Curtis (pictured above)

Curtis was delighted that 'the greatest British songwriter' had agreed to get involved in the movie, claiming the duo 'had been friend for years'

Bill Nighy will star in 'That Christmas', but he has been working with Curtis for a long time after playing an aging rocker in Love Actually in 2002

Hugh Grant as prime minister in love with his secretary in the Christmas classic Love Actually 

Liam Neeson, Thomas Sangster in Love Actually. Curtis is renowned for making rom com movies, including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and About Time

Andrew Lincoln and Keira Knightley in Love Actually.

While Curtis was delighted that 'the greatest British songwriter' had agreed to get involved in the movie, claiming the duo 'had been friend for years'.

'I'm so thrilled to have Ed's beautiful song in our movie.

'It's a film set in Suffolk ... Ed lives in and loves Suffolk and completely understood the pitch and tone of what we were trying to do.

'We've been friends for many years and – especially now that he's a husband and a father – it's really lovely to have him play such a key part in this film about love, children and family.

'And, of course, even if he wasn't a friend and didn't love Suffolk, how marvellous to have a wonderful new song by one of the greatest British songwriters ever.'

That Christmas has been directed by Simon Otto, who also animated How To Train Your Dragon, and the score has been composed by John Powell. 

Curtis is renowned for making rom com movies, including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill  and About Time. 

But one of his all time fan favourites is Love Actually. For millions of Britons no Christmas would be complete without a screening of the film which stars Hugh Grant as prime minister in love with his secretary and Billy Nighy as an ageing rocker who will do almost anything for one last shot at the big time.