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Netflix has announced that two new Aardman Animation titles will be coming soon for audiences enjoyment. Esteemed characters Wallace and Gromit are making their return in a brand-new film for the streaming platform, alongside Ginger and Rocky, reprising their roles from the highly acclaimed 2000 film Chicken Run with a new Netflix sequel.
The upcoming Netflix film will be the first for Wallace and Gromit since 2008's Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death. The fourteen-year absence of the classic stop-motion British comedy ignited questions from audiences about the narrative's direction, but answers finally revealed that the duo would be making a much-anticipated return.
The new untitled Wallace and Gromit film will be directed by Nick Park of Aardman Animations, alongside Merlin Crossingham, and will focus on Gromit's worriment that Wallace has become overdependent on his inventions. The concern proves to be telling when Wallace forges a "smart gnome" that starts to develop a mind of its own. As chaos ensues, with comedic elements sure to be applied, Gromit must put aside his differences to assist a friend in need of support. The untitled film will premiere exclusively on Netflix around the world besides the United Kingdom, where it will make its debut on the BBC before finding its way onto the streaming platform.
The second film to hit Netflix from Aardman Animation will be the sequel to Chicken Run, heralded as the highest-grossing stop-motion film of all time. Anticipation has been building for decades since the original film hit theaters, but the wait for a sequel seems to be subsiding. The sequel, titled Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, will center its attention around Ginger, who has established a tranquil island community for the flock after escaping Tweedy's farm in the original. Things seem complete when Ginger and Rocky hatch a daughter named Molly, but new threats linger on the mainland, threatening their new home. The film will make its Netflix debut in 2023, bringing back familiar faces with a few different voices behind the animation.
Julia Sawalha and Mel Gibson were the voices behind Ginger and Rocky in the original, but both saw their roles recast for the upcoming sequel. Zachary Levi will replace Gibson as Rocky after accusations of racism attached to the former actor had surfaced. Aardman Animation, however, made it clear that the decision to recast the role occurred long before Gibson's troubles had arisen. On another note, Thandiwe Newton will replace Julia Sawalha as Ginger, a decision Sawalha chucked up to ageism from the film producers. Meanwhile, Game of Thrones and The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey will voice Molly for the sequel. It's hard to decipher how these changes will affect the atmosphere of the narrative, primarily since the original performed so well at domestic and international box offices.
The new Wallace and Gromit film and Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget are welcomed additions to the streaming platform, and one's audiences have been anticipating for a while. A significant amount of time has passed since these projects were last and first introduced, which creates an air of uncertainty around audience investment from younger demographics. Nonetheless, the films are coming to Netflix, and those itching for the return of these iconic characters will soon be able to bask in their comedic authenticity once more.
Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget are in development for Netflix.
Source: Netflix