Today, Aardman and Netflix announced new details on the Chicken Run sequel and revealed a new Wallace & Gromit film. The news comes after Aardman and Netflix’s first collaboration, the acclaimed musical Robin Robin, which made the Oscars shortlist and BAFTA long list for animated short films.
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the eagerly anticipated sequel to the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time, will be coming exclusively to Netflix in 2023. Over the years, a sequel was often discussed at Aardman, but the studio needed the right story and the right partner.
Like its 2000 predecessor, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is a comedy action-adventure. When your heroes have to summon up all their resources to break into an impenetrable fortress, and those heroes are chickens, then comedy is deep in its DNA. But there’s also a very moving family story at its heart.
Ginger and Rocky will be played by Thandiwe Newton and Zachary Levi, respectively. Bella Ramsey will voice their headstrong daughter, Molly – a true chick off the old block who completes the family trio in this new chapter.
Reprising their roles are Jane Horrocks (Babs), Imelda Staunton (Bunty), and Lynn Ferguson (Mac), joined by new additions Josie Sedgwick-Davies (Frizzle), David Bradley (Fowler), Romesh Ranganathan (Nick), Daniel Mays (Fetcher) and Nick Mohammed (Dr. Fry).
Sam Fell (Flushed Away and Oscar-nominated ParaNorman) will direct the film, on which production is already underway.
Aardman has also announced the return of the iconic Wallace & Gromit. Nick Park is returning to his roots with a new film starring his beloved (and Oscar-winning) characters.
The film will premiere exclusively on Netflix around the world except in the UK, where it will debut first on the BBC before also coming to Netflix. Aardman says Nick has always wanted to continue the adventures of these two characters that he knows so uniquely well.
Nick will direct alongside Aardman’s Creative Director of Wallace & Gromit, Merlin Crossingham, with Mark Burton onboard to write. Writing and storyboarding have kicked off on the as-yet-untitled film, which is set for a 2024 release.
The company says that beyond these projects, they are also exploring how they work together with Netflix on brand-new characters and stories to make the classics of tomorrow.
CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET
Logline: Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger has finally found her dream – a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete.
But back on the mainland, the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat. For Ginger and her team, even if it means putting their own hard-won freedom at risk – this time, they’re breaking in!
Cast: Thandiwe Newton (Ginger), Zachary Levi (Rocky), Bella Ramsey (Molly), Jane Horrocks (Babs), Imelda Staunton (Bunty), Lynn Ferguson (Mac), Josie Sedgwick-Davies (Frizzle), David Bradley (Fowler), Romesh Ranganathan (Nick), Daniel Mays (Fetcher) and Nick Mohammed (Dr Fry).
Directed by: Sam Fell (Flushed Away, The Tale of Despereaux, ParaNorman).
Executive Produced by: Peter Lord, Carla Shelley, Karey Kirkpatrick, and Nick Park are returning as executive producers.
Produced by: Steve Pegram (Arthur Christmas) and Leyla Hobart.
Script by: Karey Kirkpatrick, John O’Farrell, and Rachel Tunnard.
UNTITLED AARDMAN WALLACE & GROMIT FILM
Logline: Gromit’s concern that Wallace has become over-dependant on his inventions proves justified when Wallace invents a “smart gnome” that seems to develop a mind of its own… As events spiral out of control, it falls to Gromit to put aside his qualms and battle sinister forces – or Wallace may never be able to invent again!
Directed by: Nick Park (Creator of Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep) and Merlin Crossingham (2nd Unit Director, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and Animation Director, Early Man).
Story by: Nick Park and Mark Burton (Madagascar, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Shaun the Sheep Movie).
Screenplay by: Mark Burton.
Produced by: Claire Jennings (Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and Coraline).
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills to cover the latest streaming, movie, TV, and game news.