James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie to voice 'Arthur Christmas'

LOS ANGELES - James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie and Jim Broadbent are lending their voices to Aardman Animations' 3D, CG-animated family comedy, "Arthur Christmas."

Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton and Ashley Jensen have also boarded the film, which will be released November 23, 2011 from Sony Pictures Animation.

The story of Arthur Christmas answers every child's question: "How does Santa deliver all those presents in one night?" It focuses on Santa's ultra-high-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole.

McAvoy leads the cast as Arthur, the good-natured but clumsy younger son of Santa and the only one in his family still captivated by the magic of the holiday.

Laurie, star of television's "House," will play Arthur's older brother Steve, heir to the operation who has given the North Pole high-tech efficiency and military-style precision.

Broadbent, who won an Oscar for his role in the 2002 film "Iris," plays Santa, who is now more of a figurehead as the operation has outgrown him.

Nighy plays Santa's 136-year-old father, Grandsanta, a cranky old codger who hates the modern world.

Jensen, from the BBC series "Extras," will play a lowly elf while Staunton rounds out the cast as Mrs. Santa.