Billy Bob Thornton will return for 'Bad Santa 2'

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Billy Bob Thornton will return to star in Bad Santa 2.

Broad Green Pictures announced the 60-year-old actor is confirmed to reprise Willie T. Stokes in the long-awaited sequel Thursday.

"Billy Bob Thornton returns for Bad Santa 2!" the company wrote on Facebook. "Broad Green, in partnership with Miramax, will release the highly-anticipated sequel for the 2016 holiday season."

Bad Santa opened in 2003, and earned over $76 million at the box office. The movie follows Willie, a professional thief who moonlights as Santa to rob shopping malls. The character turns around after developing a friendship with a bullied boy (Brett Kelly).

"We've been waiting far too long to see Billy Bob's Willie Stokes mess with the holiday season in his own unique way," Miramax film and television executive vice president Zanne Devine said in a statement.

"Bad Santa has been part of our family holiday tradition ever since we saw it together at our neighborhood theater," Broad Green Pictures CEO Gabriel Hammond added. "We are excited to bring this memorable character and new chapter back to the big screen."

Thornton completed a well-received run as Lorne Malvo on FX series Fargo in 2014, and last appeared in Our Brand is Crisis with Sandra Bullock. He is also slated for London Fields with Amber Heard and Fun House with Margot Robbie.