‘Chicken Run’ sequel, ‘Wallace & Gromit’ film to premiere on Netflix
New details about the highly-awaited sequel to the 2000 acclaimed stop-motion animated film Chicken Run have finally emerged.
According to Netflix, executive producer Peter Lord confirmed on Friday that the upcoming sequel titled Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget will premiere exclusively on the streaming service next year.
“Over the years, a sequel was often discussed at Aardman but the studio needed the right story and the right partner,” Lord said. “Following Robin Robin, another collaboration seemed like a no-brainer and the perfect time to bring back our poultry heroes to the world.”
Shazam and Chuck actor Zachary Levi is voicing the character of Rocky in lieu of Mel Gibson, while Thandie Newton is taking over from Julia Sawalha to play the role of Ginger. They will be joined by Game of Thrones alum and The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey, who will voice Rocky and Ginger’s headstrong daughter, Molly.
Meanwhile, those who are 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).
Production of Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is already underway with Sam Fell (Flushed Away and Oscar-nominated ParaNorman) shepherding the comedy action-adventure animated film.
“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,” Lord added.
The official logline reads: “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!”
Aside from the eagerly-awaited Chicken Run sequel, Lord also announced that Wallace & Gromit is getting a new film with Nick Park reprising his role as the 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. Nick has always wanted—indeed needed—to continue the adventures of these two characters that he knows so uniquely well,” Lord said.
Here's the official logline of the still untitled Wallace & Gromit film: 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!
Park is helming the project alongside Aardman’s creative director of Wallace & Gromit, Merlin Crossingham, with Mark Burton attached to write.
Writing and storyboarding have already started on the still untitled film, which is slated for a 2024 release.