EXCLUSIVE: Soul Surfer director Sean McNamara has signed on to Young Santa, an adaptation of L Frank Baum’s The Life And Adventures Of Santa Claus.

Joel Smith, Gudrun Giddings, David Brookwell, Daniel Wagner and Christian Arnold-Beutel are producing the live-action feature and Stuart Pollok is on board as executive producer.

David Casci adapted the screenplay about how a little boy became Father Christmas.

“We very much look forward to bringing Sean McNamara’s vision of L Frank Baum’s holiday fantasy to the big screen,” said Smith and Arnold-Beutel. “With such icons known all over the world and a great producing team we believe to create an instant family entertainment classic”.

“It’s always been my dream to direct a Christmas movie and now I have that opportunity with this wonderful script and L Frank Baum story,” added McNamara.”