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Despite its labor-intensive creation process, stop-motion animation is a woefully underappreciated art. The former backbone of practical effects has faded to near-irrelevancy with the rise of computer animation. Financially, it’s a no-brainer. Why spend a decade animating what can be done in just a few years? However, the artistry behind these films is part of the inherent charm.

Few films showcase that charisma like 2000’s Chicken Run. The classic DreamWorks adventure film is the perfect mix of storytelling, comedy, heart, and art. Its vivid scenes, carefully sculpted from clay, are as intriguing as they are engaging. However, despite its technical and cinematic prowess, Chicken Run never won an Oscar award. In fact, there was no annual Academy Award for animated films in 2000, as the category hadn’t been created yet. That left Chicken Run with only one path to the prestigious awards show, and everyone knew there was no...

It can be tricky to pick a British sitcom to watch when there are so many to choose from. The vast selection ranges from mockumentary to comedies that break the 4th wall, and narratives that explore relationships, work life and religion. On the plus side, such a wide variety means there is something for everyone, no matter a viewer's taste in TV.

Britbox is a great streaming service that supplies some of the best sitcoms. There's shows that date back to the '80s, and much modern shows that have yet to bring out another episode. Even though the choice is narrowed, it can still be hard to know which program to pick, so here are a few of the best sitcoms currently on Britbox.

The It Crowd Is Led by Two Computer Geeks

Starring Richard Ayoade and Chris O'Dowd as Britain's most comical tech geeks, The It Crowd has...

Jennifer Saunders reunites with the cast of Absolutely Fabulous for a new documentary called Inside Out. Here are the details…

Following the huge success of Bottom: Exposed earlier this year, Gold have commissioned a similar feature length documentary about Absolutely Fabulous called Inside Out. While Bottom: Exposed featured many interviews and talking heads, Inside Out reunites most of the cast – Whitfield passed away in 2018.

Series co-star Jennifer Saunders said to the British Comedy Guide, “I loved making Ab Fab but I can’t remember a great deal, so much of this retrospective is a revelation to me. Thank you Gold for this kind and helpful programme”.

Its other co-star, Joanna Lumley, added: “It was a fabulous wander down memory lane by actresses who only have the faintest grip on reality. Really thrilling, and I hope vastly entertaining. I loved every second”.

Saunders, along with double act partner Dawn French, began...

Warning: contains spoilers for Doctor Who episode “Rogue”.

Just three episodes ago in “Boom”, the Doctor was trapped where he stood while a countdown ticked off the seconds until his death. In “Rogue”, he found himself in the same situation, but this time with the addition of a Kylie soundtrack and some excellent flirting.

Fifteen got out of the “Boom” trap by deactivating a landmine. He got out of the “Rogue” trap by properly introducing himself, both to Jonathan Groff’s bounty hunter, and to any new viewers late to this party. Rogue had mistaken the Doctor for the shape-shifting alien Chuldur he was on 19th century Earth to track down, and was seconds away from pressing the ‘incinerate’ button when the Doctor activated Rogue’s ship scanner and explained:

“I’m not a Chuldur. I’m something much older and far more powerful. I’m a Lord of Time...

February is here, and the countdown has begun at Netflix as many major titles are on their way out the proverbial door. With “Dune: Part Two” finally heading to theaters at the start of March, the streamer is giving subscribers one more month to rewatch (or catch up on) 2021’s “Dune,” starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and more. Plus, dive into other unfamiliar worlds with “Dredd,” “Snowpiercer,” and Prometheus.

Watch now before they’re gone: see The Streamable’s top picks for what’s leaving Netflix this month, and check out all the shows and movies leaving the streamer this February!

Sign Up $6.99+ / month netflix.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Leaving Netflix in February 2024? “Chicken Run” | Wednesday, Feb. 14

More than 23 years after its release, 2000’s “Chicken Run” still holds the record as the highest-grossing stop motion animated film of all time, beating all “Wallace and Gromit” features to top the list.

Kenneth Branagh tells us that he has follow-ups in mind for his Christmas film, In The Bleak Midwinter (also known as A Midwinter’s Tale).

In 1995, Kenneth Branagh wrote and directed a low budget Christmas comedy by the name of In The Bleak Midwinter. An ensemble piece that he tackled between the giant productions of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and his screen take on Hamlet, it’s such a charming movie, and a very, very funny one.

After years of trying, we managed to put on a very special screening of the film in London this month, and afterwards were delighted to be joined by Kenneth Branagh for a Q&a. Not just Branagh: cast members Julia Sawalha, Michael Maloney, Nicholas Farrell, Gerard Horan and Mark Hadfield were surprise guests on the evening.

Towards the end of the conversation, I asked Branagh to give us the exclusive on a possible sequel.

Chicken Run 2 director, Sam Fell, explains his decision to recast the lead roles, saying it was necessary to evolve the movie for a new generation. Fell chose Zachary Levi for the role of Rocky because of his amazing performance in Shazam, while Thandiwe Newton was chosen for Ginger due to her vulnerability portrayed in Westworld. Fell sees Chicken Run 2 as a reboot as well as a sequel, with new characters and story changes, not just a romantic comedy between Rocky and Ginger.

Chicken Run 2: Dawn of the Nugget brought the Aardman Animation franchise back to screens after 23 years, but it didn’t come back without some controversial recasting choices. The original movie starred a stunning voice cast which included Mel Gibson and Julia Sawalha as the leads Rocky and Ginger respectively, but both were replaced in the sequel, making way for Zachary Levi and Thandiwe Newton taking...

Aardman Animations' claymation classic gets a banner sequel 23 years later on Netflix. Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget has the beloved poultry protagonists living an idyllic island life. Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) and Rocky (Zachary Levi) have a daughter, Molly (Bella Ramsey), who's "a chick off the old block." She's accidentally sent to Fun-Land, a supposed chicken utopia, only to discover it's a meat factory run by a goofy scientist and the villainous Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson). Ginger's nemesis has returned for a "chicken apocalypse."

Renowned animator Sam Fell takes over direction from Peter Lord and Nick Park. He worked with the original's screenwriter Karey Kirkpatrick to "conjure up a new type of movie" nearly "15 years" after Chicken Run's mammoth success. While the first film parodied The Great Escape, Dawn of the Nugget is a spin on Mission: Impossible, which Fell hilariously nickames 'Chicken: Impossible.' This time "they're breaking...

Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.

The Abyss: Special Edition (James Cameron)

One of the most-requested restorations from cinephiles for some time has been a new restoration and 4K release for James Cameron’s 1989 sci-fi aquatic adventure The Abyss. Your wish has now come true as The Abyss: Special Edition, a 4K remaster, recently returned to theaters for one night only last week and is now available digitally ahead of a home video release this March.

Where to Stream: VOD

Asteroid City (Wes Anderson)

A sultry, creamy western that feels more like a vacation, Asteroid City is an absolute delight, Anderson’s best since The Grand Budapest Hotel. It practically begs you to sit back, relax, and enjoy yourself. Hell, it might even want you to take a nap,...

Somehow, it has been almost 25 years since Aardman Animations released its first full-length stop-motion animated film, "Chicken Run." The then-fledgling DreamWorks Skg released the film in the summer of 2000, before the studio's fortunes would shift with the "Shrek" franchise the following year. For Aardman, though they netted an A-List celebrity in the form of Mel Gibson, "Chicken Run" was both thrilling and also somewhat modest. Riffing on World War II-era entertainment, "Chicken Run" was an exciting adventure about a group of chickens who band together to escape their cruel owners and a fine example of how animation could do more than just what was being offered by Disney and Pixar. Now, decades later, Aardman isn't the only stop-motion animation house working today, and DreamWorks' biggest days appear to be behind them. So for a sequel, subtitled "Dawn of the Nugget," Aardman is now pairing with Netflix for another lighthearted, fast-paced...

Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget Photo: Aardman / Netflix On paper, the original Chicken Run sounded more like the sort of film a character in a comedy movie might pitch: “It’s The Great Escape ... starring chickens!” For better or worse, Chicken Run committed to the bit, and as a...

Chicken Run: Dawn Of The NuggetPhoto: Aardman / Netflix

On paper, the original Chicken Run sounded more like the sort of film a character in a comedy movie might pitch: “It’s The Great Escape ... starring chickens!” For better or worse, Chicken Run committed to the bit, and as a result...

Plot: 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!

Review: Aardman Animation has become synonymous with claymation productions. Since the 1970s, Aardman has pioneered stop-motion short films and is the creator of the beloved Wallace & Gromit characters. Despite years of acclaim, Aardman did not make the leap to feature films until 2000’s Chicken Run. Since then, they have released seven feature films, two computer-animated. Twenty-three years after their first movie, Aardman’s sequel...

Quick Links Chicken Run 2 Latest News Chicken Run 2 Confirmed Chicken Run 2 Release Date Chicken Run 2 Cast Chicken Run 2 Story Details Chicken Run 2: Trailer Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is the highly anticipated sequel to the beloved Aardman Animation classic, releasing on Netflix in 2023. The sequel maintains the charm and family-friendly humor of the original, drawing on what made it memorable and building a new story around the beloved characters. Fans can expect an exciting new adventure as the heroic chickens face a new threat from an evil scientist, with the surprise return of the villainous Mrs. Tweedy adding an extra layer of danger.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is the long-awaited sequel to the Aardman Animation classic, releasing more than twenty years after Ginger, Rocky, and the villainous Mrs. Tweedy debuted in Chicken Run. First announced in 2018, updates on the new cast...

It’s the final month of the year, which means much of our attention will be turned to sharing various best-of-2023 rundowns throughout December. The month also brings many of the year’s most noteworthy films, which we’ve rounded up before––some of which will be opening in a more limited capacity and expanding next month.

We should also note some top November picks like The Boy and the Heron and May December are finally getting in front of wider audiences, with the former getting a wide release on December 8 and the latter arriving on Netflix this Friday. For this round-up we’re also not including films getting limited one-week-only runs this month, such as Noora Niasari’s Shayda on December 1 and Ava DuVernay’s Origin and Alice Rohrwacher’s La Chimera on December 8.

14. Memory (Michel Franco; Dec. 22)

Every year there’s at least one film that premieres at...

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is a long-awaited sequel to the original film, with Ginger and Rocky now living on a hidden island with their chicken friends. The cast features both new and returning faces, with Thandiwe Newton and Zachary Levi taking over lead roles. Director Sam Fell wanted to bring a fresh look to the film and take a more female-centric approach. The sequel has a new genre, becoming a heist thriller rather than a war escape drama. The story follows the chickens as they break into Fun-Land Farms to save Ginger's daughter and other captured chickens.

After over 20 years of waiting, Aardman is returning to one of their most iconic properties with Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. Having successfully escaped from Tweedy Farms in the original movie, the animated sequel finds Ginger and Rocky living a peaceful life with their chicken friends on a hidden island,...

Voice acting can make or break the success of an animated film. In the past, Hollywood understood that in order to deliver the best possible film, actors able to convey a range of emotions without the assistance of their body language were brought in for the job. At some point, that skill was traded in for celebrity stunt casting, sparking endless debates surrounding casting decisions. That isn't to say that well-known actors don't frequently pull off character-defining performances -- quite the contrary. One of the best examples comes from 2000's "Chicken Run," which featured "Absolutely Fabulous" star Julia Sawalha as Ginger and Mel Gibson as "Rocky." Both performers are still working actors today, so one would think they'd return to voice the characters the long-awaited sequel "Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget," right?

Wrong.

"Shazam!" star Zachary Levi has replaced Mel Gibson as Rocky while Thandiwe Newton is joining the cast as Ginger.

"Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget" is the highly anticipated sequel to the animated movie "Chicken Run" and will be released on Netflix next month. The sequel sees Ginger and Rocky facing a new and dangerous threat to chicken-kind, forcing them to put their own freedom at risk. The film takes place on a peaceful island sanctuary described as "Wakanda for chickens," where the chickens have created their own organic and idyllic world.

Ginger and Rocky take flight in the new trailer for the upcoming animated sequel, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. Due to be released on Netflix next month, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is the long-awaited sequel to the 2000 animated movie Chicken Run, and sees Aardman Animations join forces with the streaming giant. Check out the newly released trailer for Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget below:

Alongside the new footage from Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,...

Arriving nearly a quarter of a century after its predecessor, and this time with no Mel Gibson anywhere to be seen, the sequel to Chicken Run will now land on Netflix exactly a month from today. Helmed by ParaNorman director Sam Fell, the sequel Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget features the voice cast of Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey, Romesh Ranganathan, David Bradley, Daniel Mays, Jane Horrocks, Imelda Staunton, Lynn Ferguson, Josie Sedgwick-Davies, Nick Mohammed, and Miranda Richardson, and now ahead of a December 15 release, the first trailer has arrived.

Oliver Weir said in his review, “Many people (this reviewer included) scoffed at the announcement of Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. Something about the ludicrous title and 23-year hiatus gave the air of a studio in desperation, or one searching for an Oscar contender. How wrong we were. For in spite of the long wait and changes...

Many people (this reviewer included) scoffed at the announcement of Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. Something about the ludicrous title and 23-year hiatus gave the air of a studio in desperation, or one searching for an Oscar contender. How wrong we were. For in spite of the long wait and changes of personnel––Zachary Levi and Thandiwe Newton replace Mel Gibson and Julia Sawalha; Sam Fell replaces Nick Park and Peter Lord––this latest adventure is every bit as well-crafted, cleverly written, and stuffed with gallinaceous puns as its predecessor.

We rejoin the flock, like the cast, in much-changed circumstances. For one thing, they have built a small island paradise––it looks more like the Shire than Yorkshire––where they are free to work and roam without the threat of human intervention. There is also a lively new addition to the group: Rocky and Ginger’s chirpy chick Molly,...

The Chicken Run 2 team recently discussed their inspirations behind the upcoming sequel.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget finally had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival earlier this month, with the Aardman studio team briefly talking about the Netflix film's plot. One writer of the first Chicken Run, Karey Kirkpatrick, stated, “The last one was an homage to escape films, and this one is an homage to heist films." Whereas the first film was an escape, the sequel will be a break-in: "We knew it was a heist film, but what’s the diamond in this heist for chickens? They don’t care about money. So we thought, the diamond is a kid."

Related: The Strange Time Aardman Won an Academy Award...Against Itself?

Girl Power: the Hens Will Unite

In addition to paying homage to heist films, Dawn of the Nugget has also been dubbed...

The British production company Aardman, best known for award-winning shorts such as the evergreen Creature Comforts and short-to-feature franchises like Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep, specializes in “Claymation,” stop-motion animation done using figurines made of clay and similar material. Even by the glacial standards of animation practice, they take ages to produce new work. You might say their output is rare as hens’ teeth, to quote a Britishism, which is apt because their most successful feature (and the highest-grossing stop-motion film ever) is still Chicken Run (2000), a family-friendly film set on a 1950s chicken farm that stars a brood of fowl with anatomically incorrect, but very Aardman-esque, over-bitey teeth.

But good things come to those who wait, and the studio’s sequel, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, is a worthy successor. Rounding up the feathered friends who made a break for freedom in the last film, led...

Whenever a studio releases a sequel 23 years after the original movie, it’s fair to go in with some skepticism about the project, its intentions, and its quality. When Chicken Run was released in the year 2000, there was a farm fresh feel to it that resonated both with its target audience, but also with any accompanying adults. It was fun and silly, paying homage to The Great Escape via clay chickens. It captured the imagination with impeccable voice acting, genuine tension, and a litany of riotous gags suited for the whole family.

The director, Sam Fell, has explained that Mel Gibson was not brought back as the voice of Rocky in Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. Fell expressed that he is not concerned about the controversial headlines surrounding Zachary Levi, who voices Rocky in the sequel. Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget will be released by Netflix on 15 December 2023.

The director behind the upcoming animated sequel Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, Sam Fell, has offered some insight into why controversial Hollywood star Mel Gibson as replaced as the rooster, Rocky. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Fell explained why Gibson is not returning for the long-awaited Chicken Run follow-up, with the role instead being voiced by Shazam! star Zachary Levi.

“Mel was a fabulous choice for Rocky when he was this playboy rooster. He was a movie star and Rocky was a movie star. It was perfect. But now Rocky’s more vulnerable.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget director Sam Fell explains why some original voice cast members were replaced in the sequel, stating that he didn't want to make a carbon copy and wanted to make his own creative decisions. Mel Gibson's character, Rocky, has been recast because in this sequel he's a first-time father and the focus is more on Ginger, making his role different. Thandie Newton, Zachary Levi, and David Bradley are among the new cast members, while Miranda Richardson and Jane Horrocks reprise their roles.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget director Sam Fell discusses why Mel Gibson and other key characters from the original animated comedy were recast for the forthcoming sequel. Directed by Peter Lord and Nick Park, the original Chicken Run, which was released in June 2000, follows a group of chickens seeking to escape their captivity on a farm in England and become free-range chickens.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget director Sam Fell recently discussed why the cast's original voices were changed.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter ahead of Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget's premiere, director Sam Fell talked about the decision behind the main characters' voice recasting. Fell emphasized the reverence he has for the original film, but that ultimately, Netflix's Chicken Run sequel needed a fresh start, including the voices. "We’re 23 years later," the director stated. "It’s a long time. It’s almost a reboot to be honest. It’s a new director and a new era."

Related: Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget Sets London Film Festival Premiere, New Look Revealed

Tension Behind Chicken Run's Recast

The original Chicken Run, which premiered in 2000, had Mel Gibson as Rocky and Julia Sawalha as Ginger, the two chickens behind the daring escape from the evil Tweedy's farm.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the long-awaited sequel to the stop-motion classic, will be available on Netflix on December 15. The film takes place in a paradise-like sanctuary, described as "Wakanda for chickens," with an organic and idyllic setting. While some original actors will not return, big stars like Thandiwe Newton and Zachary Levi will lend their voices to the leading characters in the sequel.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget director Sam Fell reveals unexpected parallels between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the upcoming animated film from Aardman Animations and Netflix.

More than 20 years after the premiere of Chicken Run, the stop-motion classic will finally release its sequel. After years of development, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget hits the Netflix screen on December 15.

The story takes place some time after the events of the first movie, with Ginger and the rest of the chickens living in their own paradise,...

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget aims to create a bigger scale with an idyllic, organic island home for the talking chickens, and director Sam Fell has compared it to the McU's Wakanda. The original Chicken Run was a massive success, and the sequel will have to meet high expectations to live up to it. With the support of Netflix for international distribution and talented voice actors, the sequel has the potential to be a worthy continuation of the Aardman classic.

Sam Fell, director of the upcoming animated sequel Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, has provided an unusual comparison to one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most iconic locales. Following on from the hit 2000 stop-motion comedy Chicken Run, Dawn of the Nugget will pick up after the escaped chickens from Tweedy’s farm have established new lives for themselves on an island bird sanctuary. While a small handful...

Chicken Run 2, titled Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, is set for release in December 2023, and fans are eagerly anticipating its arrival after over 20 years of waiting. The original voice cast members will return for the sequel, bringing back beloved characters like Ginger and Rocky, while also introducing new additions to the franchise. The cast includes talented actors such as Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey, Romesh Ranganathan, and more, ensuring a stellar ensemble that will entertain audiences with this stop-motion animated sequel.

The long-awaited follow-up to the hit animated movie Chicken Run is arriving in December 2023, and the Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget cast will see familiar and new cast members when Ginger, Rocky, and the villainous Mrs. Tweedy return. Created by UK studio Aardman Animation, the studio behind Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep, Chicken Run was released in 2000 and served as a fun and...

Netflix has unveiled the trailer for its sequel to the celebrated animated film, Chicken Run. Entitled Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the new movie is set to hit the platform on December 15th. Watch the trailer below.

Arriving 23 years after the original, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget takes place in the aftermath of the first film. The chickens, led by Ginger and Rocky Rhodes, have escaped from the chicken farm and have settled down in safety at a bird sanctuary. But when news of menacing new practices at the chicken farm reaches their idyllic home, they must take drastic measures to protect their freedom and their fellow chickens. “Last time, we broke out of a chicken farm — this time, we’re breaking in,” Ginger says in the trailer.

Despite being a sequel, most of the film’s original voice cast is not featured in Dawn of the Nugget.

Netflix has released a new teaser for Aardman Animations' upcoming stop-motion film Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.

The opening line sets the tone for the Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget teaser with Ginger saying, "Last time, we broke out of a chicken farm. This time... we're breaking in." As well as playing with heist movie tropes, the teaser clearly maintains the Chicken Run franchise's signature humor. Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget's teaser ends by showcasing Miranda Richardson's villainous Mrs. Tweedy, who served as the main antagonist of the previous film.

Related: Daisy Ridley, Stephen Fry Star in Stop-Motion Leonardo Da Vinci Movie Trailer

Mrs. Tweedy's Return in Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget

In a statement featured on the Aardman website, director Sam Fell addressed Mrs. Tweedy's appearance in Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. "They say a movie is only as good as its villain and Ginger’s nemesis,...

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget trailer reveals the plot of the Aardman sequel, which sees Rocky and Ginger breaking into a chicken farm after a new threat emerges. The trailer shows off the new voice cast for the sequel, which includes Zachary Levi as Rocky, Thandiwe Newton as Ginger, and Bella Ramsey as Molly, their chick. The trailer also unveils Mrs. Tweedy's return. The trailer also showcases Aardman's iconic stop-motion animation style and maintains the original movie's humor and tone, promising an enjoyable experience for both new audiences and those who enjoyed the first film.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget's first trailer has arrived, revealing the first proper look at the long-awaited sequel. The first Aardman Animation movie became a beloved hit upon its release in 2000, but a sequel didn't get the official green light until 2018, with the project moving to Netflix in 2020.

Now, the Netflix...

Aardman Animations is one of the most celebrated animation studios in the world and certainly the most celebrated stop-motion studio this side of Laika. Aardman's work has a unique and signature look and feel, which for many outside of Britain has become synonymous with British humor, particularly when it comes to the quaint, low-key vibe, and cartoonish tone of the "Shaun The Sheep" and "Wallace & Gromit" shorts and movies.

This year, the studio has already dived into the galaxy far, far away with a delightful short that brought Wes Antilles back into the story in "Star Wars: Visions." But before they deliver a brand new "Wallace & Gromit" movie in 2024, Aardman is looking back at their feature debut, "Chicken Run."

Both Aardman's most financially successful film and the highest-grossing stop-motion film of all time, "Chicken Run" is a wry homage to "The Great Escape" which sees a group of chickens escaping from a farm.

Netflix has unveiled more cast, trailer (see below) and first-looks for its highly-anticipated Chicken Run sequel.

UK comic actor Peter Serafinowicz will play Reginald Smith in Dawn of the Nugget, while Miranda Richardson is reprising her role as archvillain Mrs Tweedy.

From multi-Academy and BAFTA-winning Aardman, Dawn of the Nugget comes more than 20 years after its hugely-popular predecessor. A trailer today gives more of a flavor of what viewers can expect when it launches on December 15. The movie follows Ginger, who, having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, 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.

Aardman/Netflix © 2023

Dawn of the Nugget features...

Netflix has released the trailer for the sequel to the 2000 stop-motion animated comedy, “Chicken Run.” The upcoming feature, titled “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” is set to premiere this December.

Featuring an all-new voice cast, “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” follows Ginger (Thandiwe Newton), as she sets up a peaceful sanctuary far from the human world having recently escaped from the evil Tweedy farm. Finally, with the hatching of Molly (Bella Ramsey), Ginger and Rocky (Zachary Levi) seem to have their “happily ever after.” But, unknown to them, outside their peaceful world chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat.

Newton takes over the role of Ginger from “Absolutely Fabulous” actor Julia Sawalha while Levi steps in for Mel Gibson, who voiced Rocky in the first movie. One voice actor who will be returning is Miranda Richardson (“Good Omens”), who is back as arch villain Mrs Tweedy. She will...

A Christmas turkey is a long-held tradition for carnivorous Brits – but how about something different this year? Say, a (pre-)Christmas chicken? All of which is a ridiculous way of saying, the long-awaited Chicken Run sequel Dawn Of The Nugget finally had a release date – and it’s coming our way in the festive period. Netflix to the beloved 2000 original will be hatching on 15 December.

The sequel – from director Sam Fell, and writers Karey Kirkpatrick (who penned the original), John O’Farrell and Rachel Tunnard – will return to the Tweedy’s Farm escapees, bringing back familiar faces like Ginger, Rocky, Babs and Bunty, while also introducing Ginger and Rocky’s young chick, Molly. And, as the title suggests, after having narrowly avoided being turned into pies, the chickens face an even more terrifying culinary innovation: chicken nuggets.

While the original characters are returning, the voice cast features some changeover – Thandiwe Newton...

We finally have our first footage from the Aardman Animations and Netflix sequel, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, thanks to a brand-new teaser. Coming courtesy of Netflix UK & Ireland, the brief teaser reveals our first look at the long-awaited follow-up, in which our heroes Ginger and Rocky welcome their mischievous daughter, Molly. Check out the new Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget teaser trailer below.

Breaking News: It's the poultry movie event of the year... Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget hatches on Netflix 15 December! pic.twitter.com/Febaf5CYTz — Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) June 15, 2023

Coming over two decades after the first Chicken Run, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget picks up with Ginger having successfully escaped from Tweedy's farm in a daring and risky manner. Ginger has now discovered her ideal place – an idyllic island retreat where the entire flock can live in harmony, without any risks from humans.

With over two decades of anticipation, Netflix's Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget must live up to the hype. Known for its quirky comedy, impressive animation and talented cast, the original Chicken Run made its mark on cinema before being overshadowed by DreamWorks Animation's contemporaries that followed in its wake. Over two decades later, times have changed, the stage is set, and Aardman Animations has plenty to prove as Chicken Run's sequel flies solo.

Released in 2000, Chicken Run debuted in theaters as an animated comedy inspired by World War II prison movies like The Great Escape; the film followed a flock of fowls trying to escape a dinner plate fate as pot pies. Starring Julia Sawalha and Mel Gibson, Chicken Run was a collaboration between DreamWorks Animation and award-winning studio Aardman Animations. After Chicken Run received critical praise and broke box office records as the highest-grossing stop-motion feature,...

Netflix recently released a new Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget image that gets the whole gang back together. Created by Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, and Early Man studio Aardman Animations, the upcoming film is a direct sequel to the popular 2000 stop-motion comedy, Chicken Run. When American circus rooster Rocky Rhodes (Mel Gibson) crash lands inside a British egg farm's large prison-styled chicken run, Ginger (Julia Sawalha) enlists the newcomer to lead the flock's way to freedom before they're killed and cooked by their owners Mr. and Mrs. Tweedy.

A new image from Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (via Colldier) reunites the most feathered characters from the original film. Check out the image below:

Ginger stands front and center as she points to a mock-up of a new compound, likely planning an elaborate break-in. She is joined by hens Mac, Bunty, and Babs, the older rooster Fowler,...

Aardman Animations’ critically acclaimed movie Chicken Run (2000) is an animated classic, popular with adults and children alike. Now over 20 years old, it remains the highest grossing animated movie of all time, a testament to its gripping and emotive action-driven story, and memorable characters. Chicken Run is a prisoner-of-war style escape movie, starring Claymation chickens, who defy their profit-hungry owners, Mr. and Mrs. Tweedy. With the infallible Ginger at the helm (voiced by Julia Sawalha), the chickens strive to evade Mrs. Tweedy’s attempts to turn a profit with her mechanized chicken pie machine, with an ultimate escape into an egalitarian utopia.

In this episode, we’re popping off to a Yorkshire chicken farm in 1960s England, where an authoritarian farmer and her dim-witted husband are plotting the deaths of many to make pies. Welcome to Tweedy’s farm, where a determined chicken named Ginger is attempting a most remarkable prison break. So, grab a spoon for digging, beware of the dogs, and don’t believe every rooster who falls from the sky as we break into Aardman Animations‘ stop-motion animated classic Chicken Run.

Peter Lord and Nick Park direct this spirited film partly inspired by John Sturges’ 1963 classic The Great Escape. Starring the voices of Julia Sawalha, Mel Gibson, Jane Horrocks, Miranda Richardson, Phil Daniels, Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton, and more, Chicken Run is a grim yet hopeful tale of determination, cleverness, and giving a fascist their just desserts. Alongside a team of talented animators, Lord and Park used every trick...

The two companies have augmented their creative partnership.

Netflix and UK animation studio Aardman’s creative partnership has been cemented with the unveiling of a new Wallace & Gromit feature directed by Nick Park, plus details and a first-look image of the upcoming Chicken Run sequel.

Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run creator Park will direct the new Wallace & Gromit feature, alongside Aardman’s creative director of Wallace & Gromit, Merlin Crossingham, with Mark Burton on board to write and Claire Jennings producing. In the film, Gromit is concerned that Wallace has become too dependent on his inventions, as proven when...

Actress Julia Sawalha has revealed that she won't be reprising her role Ginger in Chicken Run 2 Though it was admittedly not her decision. Sawalha very much wants to return, but the producers have said that she now sounds "too old" to play the part. This, even though Sawalha has made a video reciting some of her lines from the first movie to demonstrate that she sounds nearly the same.

The news was revealed in a letter posted by Julia Sawalha online. Ginger was one of the key characters in the first Chicken Run, which was released back in 2000. It was recently confirmed that Aardman Animation has teamed up with Netflix for the long-awaited sequel. However, Sawalha won't be part of it. Here's what she had to say.

"Last week I was informed out of the blue, via email, through my agent that I would not be cast as Ginger in the Chicken Run sequel.

Chicken Run actress Julia Sawalha has claimed she’s being replaced in the upcoming sequel for sounding too old, despite never being given the opportunity to do a voice test.

Sawalha played Ginger in the original film, but that character, along with Mel Gibson’s Rocky, will now be voiced by someone else in Chicken Run 2. She went on to decry what she perceives to be the ageism driving the decision, saying:

“Let’s be frank, I feel I have been unfairly dismissed,” added Sawalha. “To say I am devastated and furious would be an understatement. I feel totally powerless, something in all of this doesn’t quite ring true. I trust my instincts and they are waving a red flag.”

It’s a surprising, rather unfortunate cloud over a sequel fans have waited two decades to see enter development. Ageism, beauty-ism, those typically sexist concerns have always been...

If you were excited about a sequel to Chicken Run after 20 years, we have some news that is supremely disappointing. British actress Julia Sawalha, who voiced the character Ginger in the original stop-motion animated movie from Aardman Animation, recently revealed that she will not be reprising her role in Chicken Run 2 for one […]

The post ‘Chicken Run’ Star Julia Sawalha is Being Replaced in the Sequel Because Her Voice Sounds “Too Old” appeared first on /Film.

Julia Sawalha, one of the stars of the 2000 Aardman Animation classic “Chicken Run,” said Thursday she was not asked to return to the recently announced sequel because producers thought her voice now sounds “too old.”

In a statement shared Thursday, Sawalha said that an actress normally would be allowed to do a voice test to prove they can still match the pitch and tone of the original character, but she said she was informed by producers without being given that chance.

In response, she recorded her own voice demonstration and shared it with producers and posted it to Vimeo, in which she mimics the lines of her character Ginger from the original “Chicken Run.” You can listen to Sawalha’s demo here.

Also Read: Mel Gibson's Role in 'Chicken Run' Sequel Will Be Recast

“I went to great lengths to prove to the production that my voice...

Julia Sawalha has shared an open letter via her social media profiles expressing disappointment and anger at being left out of Aardman Animations’ upcoming “Chicken Run” sequel, confirmed as a Netflix pickup at June’s Annecy festival. Sawalha voiced Ginger in the Oscar-nominated original, which remains the top grossing stop-motion feature ever, 20 years after its release.

“To say that I am devastated and furious would be an understatement,” she said in the letter. “I feel totally powerless, something in all of this doesn’t quite ring true. I trust my instincts and they are waving red flags.”

According to Sawalha, she was informed about the decision last week by her agent, who speculated it was because her voice now sounds “too old” after receiving a letter of dismissal in which it was indicated that Mel Gibson would not be returning as Rocky for that very reason.

Sawalha says that voice...

Actor feels ‘plucked, stuffed and roasted’ having been informed the voice of Ginger in the upcoming Chicken Run 2 will be recast

Julia Sawalha has said she has been “plucked, stuffed and roasted” after being told that she would not be cast in the forthcoming sequel to the hit Aardman Animation film Chicken Run as her voice sounded “too old”.

In the original film, released in 2000, Sawalha voiced the lead role of Ginger, the plucky hen who inspires her fellow egg-layers to escape from a farm when they are threatened with being turned into pies. News of the development of a sequel first emerged in 2018, and Netflix’s involvement was announced in June. It is due to be directed by Sam Fell (ParaNorman) and start production in 2021.

British actress Julia Sawalha has claimed she is being chopped from the upcoming Chicken Run sequel because her voice now sounds “too old”.

In a statement published online, Sawalha said she has been told by producers via her agent that the character of Ginger will be recast with a younger actress for the second movie, and that she hadn’t been given the opportunity to do a voice test to determine her suitability for the role. The actress posted the hashtag #ageism in an accompanying tweet.

Sawalha took the step of recording her own voice test and posting it online (you can watch that via the link in the letter below). She said that this was sent to producers Aardman Animations, and they had responded with, “Some of the voices definitely sound older,” however they had also confirmed, “We will be going ahead to re-cast the...

There's trouble in the coop.

One of the lead voice stars of Aardman's animated hit Chicken Run — which was released in 2000 and remains the most successful stop-motion animation of all time — has accused producers of ageism for dropping her from the much-anticipated sequel (which The Hollywood Reporter first reported exclusively in 2018).

Julia Sawalha, who voiced Ginger in the original film, has published an open letter on social media — using the hashtag "#ageism — in which she says was "devastated and saddened" to be told via an email from her agent that she would ...