Emma Thompson’s New Christmas Film, Powered by George Michael’s Post‑humous Blessing
When Emma Thompson (yes, the 60‑year‑old queen of quirk) decided to pull George Michael’s classic “Last Christmas” into a rom‑com set in the snow‑kissed streets of London, she didn’t just add a catchy tune. She’s got the legendary singer’s spirit cheering from the beyond.
The Spark
It all began with a chat between Thompson and producer David Livingstone:
“David asked, ‘Write a rom‑com around “Last Christmas”? A new Christmas movie?”
Thompson replied: ‘Not really—“Last Christmas” isn’t my favourite.’
“Ring‑tone, then?
But we discovered a unique way to weave the song into a fresh, heartfelt story.”
Enter George Michael
Emma’s first instinct was to headline the music with George Michael’s timeless masterpiece. “He’s the kindest man you could imagine,” she said on Jimmy Fallon:
- Holocaust & homelessness were personal battlegrounds for George.
- He loved every angle of the film’s social message.
- He was “passionate” about bringing light to the forgotten.
Before the set could even be wrapped, the world was handed a cold reminder: on Christmas Day 2016, George was taken out of the spotlight—
“We missed him terribly,” Emma sighed. “I could see him grinning from the film’s cover—he’d love it.”
The Music Magic
Here’s the cherry‑on‑the‑cake moment: the film features 15 George Michael tracks, climaxing with a brand‑new tune titled “Heal the Pain.” Emma calls it the “ultimate soundtrack of empathy”:
“Feel the music wrap you like a huge hug—Heal the Pain feels like it was written just for this story.”
So next time you watch Thompson’s Christmas comedy, brush a tear and a grin onto the screen—George Michael’s blessing is humming in the background, and the movie’s heart is beating a little faster.
