Chicken Run Sequel to World Premiere at London Film Festival 2023 – The Hollywood Reporter
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nuggetthe long-awaited sequel to Aardman’s 2000 hit chicken race – almost a quarter of a century later still the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time – celebrates its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival.
The movie that The Hollywood Reporter The first release was in 2018 and was later picked up by Netflix. It comes from Oscar- and BAFTA-nominated director Sam Fell (ParaNorman, washed away) and will bow at London’s Royal Festival Hall on October 14, with simultaneous preview screenings at venues across the UK
The London Film Festival screened the world premiere of last year Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchiowhich went on to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, Oscar favorite Aardman should be hoping the festival proves to be a similarly successful springboard (while the original chicken race Missing out on the awards in 2001 is said to have led to the creation of the Oscar category for Best Animated Feature, which was added in 2002.
Chicken Run: Dawn of the NuggetThe voice cast consists of coup newcomers and returnees and is led by Thandiwe Newton (Ginger), Zachary Levi (Rocky) and Bella Ramsey (Molly), alongside Imelda Staunton (Bunty), Lynn Ferguson (Mac) and David Bradley (Fowler), Jane Horrocks (Babs), Romesh Ranganathan (Nick), Daniel Mays (Fetcher), Josie Sedgwick-Davies (Frizzle) and Nick Mohammed (Dr Fry).
Set shortly after the original, the sequel is about brave chicken handler Ginger, who after a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm has finally found her dream – a peaceful island retreat for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky give birth to a baby girl named Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems perfect. But back on the mainland, the entire chicken species faces a new and dire threat. Even if it means jeopardizing their own hard-won freedom for Ginger and her team, this time they’re breaking in!
“What an honor to bring our film to its world premiere on home soil at the London Film Festival this year,” said Fell. “Dawn of the Nugget showcases the amazing talent and ingenuity of the Aardman crew, backed by the ongoing passion of the Netflix team. We’ve done our best to make this fun for both diehard fans and the new generation of families discovering it chicken race for the first time.”
Kristy Matheson, Director of the BFI London Film Festival, added: “We’re delighted to be able to share the magic and artistry of the Aardman studio and their favorite feathered friends with audiences this October – with a film that’s full of fun and all has a big heart.”
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is expected to debut worldwide on Netflix on December 15.
