Jason Statham stars as Santa’s stunt double in World of Tanks’ epic Christmas campaign

December 9 2024, 8:03 pm | BY Ricki Green | No Comments

In the lead-up to Christmas, Campaign Brief is shining a spotlight on the season’s most anticipated campaigns from around the globe. As these campaigns roll out, we’ll be rounding up the highlights to keep you in the loop.

It’s one of the most beloved seasons of the year, when everyone expects something magical. And that can only mean one thing: a Hollywood action hero doing what he does best – blowing up a bauble (or ten) in the new World of Tanks ‘Holiday Ops’ campaign.

Award winning production company 100% (formerly known as HALAL) has collaborated once again with creative agency Matter and Energy (formerly known as CUBO) and visual effects studio Glassworks – pulling out all the stops. The explosive new short features big stunts, mind blowing set designs, epic effects… and action legend Jason Statham as Santa’s most unlikely stunt double.

As one of the world’s most popular free-to-play online video games, World of Tanks has gained a reputation for its annual Holiday Ops short films – eagerly-anticipated festive films promoting its new in-game movie star commanders.This year’s offering, Holiday Ops 2025, puts Jason Statham in the driving seat of a 30-tonne tank.

Jason Statham stars as Santa’s stunt double in World of Tanks’ epic Christmas campaign

Produced by 100% and directed by Nez Khammal, the six-minute short playfully explores a meta-film-within-a-film concept, with an explosive opening scene that gives way to behind-the-scenes chaos on a Hollywood movie set. With Santa Claus injured, the stunt double is summoned… and turns out to be none other than the world’s biggest action hero. True to form, Statham hijacks the production, transforming the set into an action-packed spectacle – much to the comic dismay of the director.

Shot at London’s prestigious Warner Bros. Studios, the stunningly crafted film takes the Holiday Ops tradition of adrenaline-pumping stunts, intense tank sequences, and celebrity star power to new levels.

The project was brought to life through the seamless collaboration of Matter and Energy, 100%, and Glassworks, each playing a key role from the outset. Matter and Energy led the charge in strategy, creative concept development, and narrative building, guiding the project’s foundation through their innovative “Creative Sprint” methodology. Together with 100% and Glassworks, they envisioned an epic, immersive visual experience with a dynamic narrative that expertly balanced humor and action. Once the vision was defined, 100% took the reins in producing the campaign, bringing the creative concept to life. Glassworks then enhanced the project with stunning post-production work, integrating jaw-dropping visual effects throughout the film, blurring the lines between practical explosions and pyrotechnics with digitally crafted CG elements and diverse compositing techniques.

Blending reality and fantasy with a hefty dose of humour, this is the adrenaline-filled antidote to cosy Holiday ads that everyone’s been waiting for.

Lead: Jason Statham
Cast (Director) | Martin Bassindale
Cast (Santa) | Andrew Bradley

Post Production / VFX / Colour | Glassworks
Colourist | Vanessa Aparicio
VFX Supervisor & Lead 2D Artist | Kyle Obley
2D Artists | Alexis da Camara, Duncan Malcolm, Hannah Wilk
Lead 3D Artist | David Wanger
3D Artists |Hugo Rodriguez, Matt Fletcher, Felix Marrington-Reeve. Rüdiger Kaltenhäuser, Mateusz Kozlowski
COO / Executive Producer | Chris Kiser
Head of Production | Ashley Goodwin
Producer | Sezen Akpolat, Rose Harding
Production Support | Maryam Zahid, Natalia Bartyzel, Alina Smart

Edit | Stitch Editing
Editor | Max Windows
Edit assistant | Chris Hutchings
Edit producer | Maggie McDermott

Sound | 750mph
Sound Design & Mix | Sam Ashwell & Giselle Hall
Audio Producer | Olivia Ray & Carla Thomas

Jason Statham stars as Santa’s stunt double in World of Tanks’ epic Christmas campaign

In the lead-up to Christmas, Campaign Brief is shining a spotlight on the season’s most anticipated campaigns from around the globe. As these campaigns roll out, we’ll be rounding up the highlights to keep you in the loop.

Leave a Comment: Cancel reply