It’s been 20 years since Chicken Run was first released, and finally the stop-motion animated film about a bunch of feathered escapees is getting a sequel with Netflix, with Aardman Animation Studios beginning production next year.
The announcement was made at a digital panel at the Annecy Festival, and though rumours have been circulating for a while, Netflix’s distribution is new news on the market. Netflix UK confirmed the involvement over on Twitter.
POULTRY NEWS: Exactly 20 years to the day since the original was released, we can confirm there will be a Chicken Run sequel coming to Netflix!! Produced by @aardman, production is expected to begin next year. Eggsellent.
— Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) June 23, 2020
According to Variety, Sam Fell will direct, best known for his work on Paranorman and Flushed Away. The team has been brainstorming the sequel for years with co-writers Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, but were waiting for a distribution company that was “filmmaker friendly”. Peter Lord, Carla Shelley and Karey Kirkpatrick will all return as executive producers, and Nick Park will take on a consulting role.
Ginger, Rocky, Babs, Fowler and the rest of the gang will all return in this ‘Mission Impossible’ inspired story. The sequel picks up in the paradise where the chickens all live, and Ginger and Rocky have hatched an egg together and have a daughter called Molly. Molly begins to grow quickly and wishes to move on, but at the time terrifying rumours start to circulate of a new threat on the mainland.
Ginger must once again rally her troops to put their safety at risk for the rest of chicken-kind. They’ll be using all the gadgets and kit that we’ve seen before, pulling off the ultimate heist. There’s been no confirmation on whether Mr and Mrs Tweedy will be involved in this new threat with their chicken pie business (NOT apple pie), but we can only hope.
If you’d like to know what else is coming to the streaming platform, then take a look at our list of the best upcoming shows on Netflix, as well as the best movies you can watch right now. If you’re not signed up, Netflix subscriptions start from £5.99, and you can sign up over on the website.
Author: Hannah Cowton, Senior Staff Writer
Hannah Cowton is a Senior Staff Writer at Tech Advisor and Macworld, working across entertainment, consumer technology and lifestyle. Her interests and specialities lie in streaming services, film and television reviews and rumours, gaming, wearables and smart home products. She's also the creator of The London Geek, a geek culture and lifestyle blog.