Aardman reveals details on ‘Chicken Run’ sequel
With today marking the 20th anniversary of Aardman Animations‘ debut feature Chicken Run in 2000, the studio have officially revealed production details of the film’s much-anticipated sequel during an online panel at this year’s Annecy International Animation Festival. As originally announced when the studio first teased the film’s development back in 2018, the second Chicken Run will be directed by Sam Fell, who has previously co-directed Aardman’s 2006 CG feature Flushed Away as well as Universal’s The Tale of Despereux in 2008 and LAIKA’s ParaNorman in 2012.
Aardman have also revealed an outline of the story:
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!
Taking up the reins as Producer will be Steve Pegram, whose prior work with Aardman includes the CG feature Arthur Christmas (2011) and stop-motion Wallace and Gromit short film A Matter of Loaf and Death (2008). Carla Shelley, Karey Kirkpatrick and original Chicken Run co-director and Aardman co-founder Peter Lord will again take up their roles as Executive Producers, with Chicken Run co-director Nick Park (creator of Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep) on board as Creative Consultant.
Chicken Run directors Nick Park and Peter Lord with sequel director Sam Fell during their presentation at this year’s Annecy Animation Festival
With storyboarding presently underway, the film is planned to enter full production next year and will be released globally (excluding China) by Netflix.
Fans around the world have waited patiently for a sequel idea worthy of Chicken Run so we’re delighted to announce, on the 20th anniversary, that we’ve found the perfect story. Netflix feels like the ideal creative partner for this project too: they celebrate the film-maker, which means we can make the film we want to make – the one we really care about – and share it with a global audience.
-Peter Lord, Aardman Co-Founder and Creative Director
Speaking as part of the Annecy panel, director Sam Fell elaborated on story and character elements for the upcoming film:
Of all the characters that really grabbed me in the first film, Ginger I just rooted for the most; from the first frame of the first film you’re just longing for her to fly over that fence. That’s where we started with this script, just thinking about what’s the next chapter of her story.
It will be fun and games, seeing these chickens back in action – all the gadgets, the kit; we’re kind of moving towards a tribute to a Mission Impossible thing, with elements of heist – “how are they going to pull this amazing break-in off?”
Other upcoming projects from the Aardman camp include Dan Ojari and Mikey Please’s 30-minute musical Robin Robin, also with Netflix and set for a late 2021 release, as well as a new Wallace and Gromit story The Big Fix Up that will incorporate immersive technologies and augmented reality made in collaboration with Fictioneers. The studio also recently won the Jury Award at Annecy for their Greenpeace collaboration Turtle Journey, directed by Gavin Strange.
The original Chicken Run was a huge critical and commercial success that still boasts the title of the most successful stop-motion feature of all time, grossing $225 million worldwide. For more on the original film, Annecy Online festivalgoers can see Peter Lord and Nick Park’s special presentation on the film from today until June 30th. The film was also the focus of our latest episode of the Skwigly Film Club podcast, which you can listen to (or direct download) below: