MJF’s next major project away from the wrestling ring is drawing positive early feedback from one of his high-profile co-stars. David Harbour, who returns as Santa Claus in Violent Night 2, has praised the AEW star’s work in the upcoming sequel, specifically pointing to MJF’s comedic ability, willingness to embrace physical scenes, and effectiveness during stunt-heavy moments.
The film is scheduled for release on December 4 and reunites Harbour with director Tommy Wirkola. Kristen Bell is also part of the cast as Mrs. Claus. While details surrounding MJF’s character and the extent of his role have not been publicly outlined here, his involvement places him alongside established screen performers in a prominent holiday action-comedy franchise.
For MJF, whose real name is Maxwell Jacob Friedman, the movie represents another notable acting opportunity while he remains absent from AEW television. His last appearance for the promotion came at AEW All In, where he entered the Casino Gauntlet match. Andrade El Idolo won that bout.
Harbour Highlights MJF’s Physical Commitment
Harbour spoke warmly about the experience of working with MJF, stressing that the wrestler was particularly strong in scenes requiring physicality. That is an unsurprising quality for a performer whose professional career has been built around demanding in-ring action, but film stunts present a different set of timing, safety, and technical requirements.
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“He’s very funny in the movie. He’s also great at the stunts,” Harbour said. “We would do things together where he’d be like, ‘I only want to do this a couple of times. Just hurl me across the room.’ ‘Alright, man.’ He looks fantastic in the movie.”
The comments offer a useful glimpse into the kind of on-screen assignment MJF may have in the sequel. Harbour’s description suggests that MJF was directly involved in physical sequences with the actor rather than being positioned only in dialogue-driven scenes. The image of Harbour throwing MJF across a room also fits the heightened action sensibility associated with the first Violent Night, which blended holiday imagery with hard-hitting, intentionally exaggerated fight scenes.
Wrestlers crossing into film frequently bring an obvious advantage to productions built around action. They are accustomed to choreography, camera awareness, repeated takes, and presenting impact in a way that looks convincing while maintaining control. Still, screen work requires performers to adapt to a format where action is assembled from different angles and where the demands of a scene can change significantly from a live wrestling environment.
Harbour’s praise indicates that MJF handled that transition well. His remark that MJF wanted to limit the number of times a physical spot was performed also underlines a practical reality of filming action: even controlled stunt work can be taxing when it must be repeated for coverage. The exchange appears to have been delivered with humor, but it also reflects MJF’s comfort with being part of the action rather than avoiding it.
Director Tommy Wirkola Calls MJF Enthusiastic
Wirkola likewise offered a favorable assessment of MJF’s contribution to the production. The director described him as a willing participant who brought an energy familiar to fans of his wrestling work.
“Max was a great sport. Very enthusiastic. He brought his wrestling energy. I really think he did a great job,” Wirkola said.
“Wrestling energy” can mean several things in a movie setting. MJF has built his reputation as one of AEW’s most recognizable personalities through confidence, expressive reactions, sharp verbal delivery, and a character presentation that is deliberately larger than life. Those traits can translate naturally to a heightened action-comedy, especially one centered on an unconventional version of Santa Claus.
At the same time, Wirkola’s comments should not be read as confirmation of the specifics of MJF’s role. No character details, storyline details, or match-up within the film have been established by these remarks. What is clear is that the director viewed MJF’s approach positively and believed the wrestler made an effective impression on set.
That distinction is important. An enthusiastic performance and praise from collaborators do not reveal whether MJF is playing a villain, an ally, a comedic foil, or another type of character. They do, however, establish that he was actively involved in the production and that his work resonated with people responsible for bringing the sequel to the screen.
A Significant Acting Showcase During AEW Hiatus
MJF’s absence from AEW programming has naturally left fans watching closely for indications of what could come next in his wrestling career. His most recent AEW appearance was at All In in the Casino Gauntlet, a match won by Andrade El Idolo. Since then, MJF has not appeared on AEW television.
No return date, storyline explanation, or additional AEW schedule detail is provided by the available information. As a result, it would be premature to connect his filming work on Violent Night 2 to any particular plan for his television absence. Wrestlers often balance outside projects with active commitments, and there is no basis here to state that the movie is the reason for his time away or that it determines when he will return.
Nevertheless, the timing gives the project added interest for AEW followers. With MJF off television, the December release provides supporters with a chance to see him in a different performance environment. It also continues a long-running pattern in which major wrestling names use their on-screen charisma beyond the ring, whether through films, television work, voice roles, or other entertainment appearances.
MJF’s appeal has never rested solely on athletic performance. His ability to speak with conviction, command attention, and switch between arrogance, intensity, comedy, and vulnerability has been central to his rise. A role in a movie such as Violent Night 2 gives him an opportunity to apply those strengths in a new medium while also demonstrating that he can meet the physical expectations of an action-oriented production.
What To Expect From ‘Violent Night 2’
The sequel returns Harbour to the role of Santa Claus, with Bell joining him as Mrs. Claus. The first film established a version of the character far removed from the traditional, gentle holiday figure, embracing violent action and dark comedy as part of its premise. The sequel’s title makes clear that it will remain connected to that established concept.
Harbour’s comments about MJF being funny and capable in stunt work suggest that the AEW star could be well suited to the film’s tonal mix. MJF has regularly shown a willingness to lean into comedy in wrestling, but he is also familiar with playing confrontational and dangerous. Those qualities can coexist effectively in a project where action sequences and absurd holiday imagery are intended to share the screen.
It is worth emphasizing that the full nature of MJF’s involvement remains under wraps in the information currently available. Fans should not assume billing position, character alignment, screen time, or the outcome of any action sequence based solely on the praise offered by Harbour and Wirkola. The remarks are best viewed as an early endorsement of his performance rather than a detailed preview of the film.
Still, such endorsements matter. Harbour is not only the leading performer in the franchise but also someone who worked directly with MJF in physically demanding scenes. Wirkola, meanwhile, oversaw the production creatively. Both men singled out the wrestler’s attitude and execution, with Harbour specifically placing him among the movie’s comedic and stunt-related strengths.
MJF’s Wrestling Skills Meet A New Platform
Professional wrestling can provide a valuable foundation for action filmmaking, but it does not eliminate the challenge of acting in a feature production. Ring performers work in front of a live audience and must sustain a character in real time. Film performers work in a more fragmented process, often building a scene piece by piece, repeatedly adjusting movement for camera placement, lighting, pacing, and editing needs.
MJF’s reported work on Violent Night 2 appears to have given him an opportunity to engage with both sides of that process. The comedy noted by Harbour points toward performance and timing, while the stunt praise reflects physical execution. Wirkola’s reference to MJF bringing his wrestling energy suggests that the qualities that have made him such a distinctive AEW presence were not left behind when he stepped onto a movie set.
The result will be available for audiences to judge when Violent Night 2 is released on December 4. Until then, the clearest message from those who worked alongside MJF is a positive one: he arrived prepared to participate, embraced the physical demands of the production, and left a strong impression on the star and director of the sequel.
For AEW fans awaiting MJF’s eventual return to television, the film offers a different kind of spotlight for one of the company’s biggest personalities. For movie audiences, it introduces a wrestler with considerable confidence in performance-based action into a franchise that appears designed to make full use of that skill set.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.