Anjelica Huston and her brother Danny Huston are collaborating on an innovative animated film titled The Christmas Witch Trial of La Befana, blending unique animation styles for a captivating fantasy experience. This Anjelica Huston fantasy movie recently announced the casting of three promising actors: Natasha Negovanlis, Damian Romeo, and Sergio DiZio.
Natasha Negovanlis, known for her role in Carmilla, and Damian Romeo from Ginny & Georgia will portray the younger versions of the Huston siblings’ characters. Sergio DiZio, recognized from Flashpoint, has been cast as Sergio. The story is set in a remote Italian village where children capture a mysterious Christmas witch, putting her on trial to avoid her annual judgment. The film mixes hand-drawn animation with rotoscoped performance capture, aiming to deliver a distinctive visual style unlike any other.
Legacy of the Huston Family in American Cinema
The Huston family is one of Hollywood’s most legendary lineages, starting with Walter Huston, a celebrated character actor in early cinema known for films like The Maltese Falcon and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, the latter earning him a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. Walter’s son, John Huston, established a formidable directing career, helming classics such as Key Largo, The African Queen, and Prizzi’s Honor. John directed Prizzi’s Honor, which won his daughter Anjelica Huston a Best Actress Oscar. Anjelica is acclaimed for roles in The Addams Family, The Royal Tenenbaums, and the John Wick series.
Danny Huston, Anjelica’s half-brother, has also earned recognition for his work in films like Wonder Woman and Game Night, as well as television series such as Yellowstone and Succession. Their nephew Jack Huston has drawn attention through performances in Boardwalk Empire and Mayfair Witches.
Creative Team Behind The Christmas Witch Trial of La Befana
The film is scripted by David James Brock and Melissa D’Agostino, who, alongside Matt Campagna, helped conceive the project. D’Agostino and Campagna are directing the movie. The voice cast features talents like Jesse Gervasi (PAW Patrol), Maya Misaljevic (IT: Welcome to Derry), Luca Doulgeris (Star Trek: Discovery), Mia Swaminathan (Wordsville), Paolo Mancini (Frankie Drake Mysteries), Tarah Consoli (The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!), Juan Chioran (Mother Father Sister Brother), Phil Luzi (Bad Blood), and Melissa D’Agostino (Tactical Girls). Original music will be composed by Brock, D’Agostino, and Rebecca Everett. The production is handled by Canadian company HighballTV.
Anticipated Release and Future Prospects
The Christmas Witch Trial of La Befana is currently in production and is slated to premiere at film festivals before the end of the year. No official wide release date has been revealed. As Anjelica Huston and Danny Huston bring their family’s cinematic legacy to this new fantasy project, industry watchers are eager to see how the film’s unique animation approach and compelling story will resonate with audiences.
