Chicken Run 2 has finally landed on Netflix
WE MUSTN'T PANIC!
It was only earlier this year that Netflix confirmed Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget would be released, and now we are in December, the hugely-antipcated sequel has now landed on the streaming platform!
Released a whopping 23 years after the original film came out in 2000, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget stars Bella Ramsey, Thandiwe Newton and Imelda Staunton. Here's everything you need to know.
When does the Chicken Run sequel come out?
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget landed on Netflix on Friday 15th December.
Ahead of its release on Netflix, the British Film Institute revealed there would be preview screenings in October, as part of the 67th BFI London Film Festival. Along with the world premiere at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, there was also preview screenings of the film across the UK.
Speaking about the announcement, Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival director, said: "We are so excited to be sharing the magic and artistry of the Aardman studio and their favourite feathered friends with audiences this October with a film that’s brimming with fun and has such enormous heart."
Chicken Run 2: Who is in the cast?
The new movie welcomes back returning members of cast, as well as some HUGE new names. The original film starred Julia Sawalha as leader of the hens, and Mel Gibson as her love interest Rocky, documenting the efforts of a group of chickens attempting to escape their farm before being made into - gulp - chicken PIES.
Bella Ramsey
Known for her incredible role as Ellie in hit TV series The Last of Us, and Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones, Bella will be taking on the role of Molly.
On the role, Bella said: "Molly is an incredibly curious and very intelligent chicken with a huge heart and a strong sense of justice. She has inherited a rebellious wild side from her dad, and determination and all her social skills from her mum."
Thandiwe Newton
Known for her roles in films such as Mission: Impossible 2, The Pursuit of Happyness and All the Old Knives, Thandiwe joins the cast as Ginger.
Thandiwe said of the role: "Ginger is finally living her dream, she's content and all is right with the world. The biggest change for Ginger is that her and Rocky are now parents, they've hatched a little girl called Molly who they adore. Ginger is selfless and caring, and everything she does is for the good of her family and community. However, she soon realizes that her desire for peace and harmony is under threat, what is she to do? Ginger's story unfolds and it's exciting to see her character go on that journey!"
Zachary Levi
Best known for his starring role in the Shazam! films, Zachary is also no stranger to voice acting - lending his vocal cords to Tangled, as Flynn Rider, and Family Guy! Joining the Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget cast, Zachary will appear as Rocky!
On Rocky, Zachary said: "I think Rocky has changed a lot. He's no longer the cavalier, hot shot lone wolf that he used to be. He found love in marriage. And even more love in fatherhood. So it's all settled him down quite a lot. That said, we get glimpses of his former self as our new journey unfolds."
Imelda Staunton
Chicken Run fans are overjoyed with the news that Harry Potter, The Crown and Downton Abbey legend Imelda Staunton will be reprising her role of Bunty!
On her great return, Imelda said: "To be back in the form of Bunty is very nostalgic… And the enthusiasm of our director is palpable! I think the audience are in for an absolute treat. I'm glad to say Bunty has lost none of her oomph!"
David Bradley
Another Harry Potter legend, David Bradley, will also be joining the line-up, voicing feisty elderly rooster Fowler. The characer was originally voiced by Benjamin Whitrow, however he sadly passed away in 2017.
Josie Sedgwick-Davies
In what will be her biggest role yet, Josie Sedgwick-Davies joins the film as new character Frizzle.
On her role, Josie said: "The opportunity to work with such an iconic company as Aardman and Sam Fell and just to be part of such an incredible franchise… it's just boss isn't it!? Being part of Ginger and Rocky's adventures is one the coolest jobs I'll ever do, and I'm super proud to represent Liverpool as the world's first ever Scouse chicken! I hope everyone loves our Frizzle as much as I love voicing her!"
Lynn Ferguson
Voicing Ginger's wonderful assistant Mac is Lynn Ferguson - another returning cast member from the original 2000 animation. She is also known for her work on No Angels, Blessed, and onstage in The Good Person of Szechwan and Melody.
On voicing the loveable Mac once again, she said: "Mac is so completely solution-based. When there's something that needs to be done, she gets on with it. She might lose her way or worry that the engines can't handle it, but no matter what, she aims for the solution. She's really accepting of the others and never holds a grudge. I think that's a brilliant perspective right now when the world seems full of things that may be unfixable and so full of judgment."
Jane Horrocks
Another return from the original Chicken Run film is Jane Horrocks. Also known for her work on The Witches, Absolutely Fabulous, Life Is Sweet and Never Mind the Horrocks, Jane will be reprising her role as knitting fanatic Babs!
On her return, Jane said: "I'm thrilled to return for number two. I've been to Bristol and seen some of the sets and early footage, and it looks amazing. I love playing Babs… she has the best lines."
Daniel Mays and Romesh Ranganathan
The loveable duo Nick and Fletcher will be voiced by Daniel May - from The Adventures of Tintin, EastEnders and Vera Drake - and comedian Romesh Ranganathan - who appeared in Amazon's Cinderella in 2021. Daniel will voice Fletcher, while Romesh voices Nick.
What is it about?
The synopsis for the film reads: '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!'
Which original cast members are returning?
As reported above, Imelda Staunton will be returning as Bunty, Jane Horrocks as Babs and Lynn Ferguson as Mac.
Benjamin Whitrow, the voice of elderly cockerel Fowler, sadly passed away in 2017 - but Harry Potter and Doctor Who star David Bradley will take over his voice. Daniel Mays and Romesh Ranganathan, who will be voicing rats Fetcher and Nick, are taking over from Phil Daniels and Timothy Spall in the original.
Controversially, the voice roles of Rocky and Ginger have been replaced, having been originally voiced by Mel Gibson and Julia Sawalha respectively. Julia released a statement in July 2020 on Twitter, in a now deleted post, to announce that she wouldn't be involved.
Her original statement read: 'The reason they gave is that my voice now sounds "too old" and they want a younger actress to reprise the role. Usually in these circumstances, an actress would be given the chance to do a voice test in order to determine the suitability of their pitch and tone, I, however, was not given this opportunity.'
She posted a video of herself recreating some of the lines from the film, which has also now been removed from Twitter - but fans agreed at the time that there wasn't much difference.
When was the sequel announced?
Streaming service Netflix confirmed the news in a tweet in June 2020, in the process confirming that production would begin next year. It read: '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.'
Peter Lord, who directed the original sequel alongside Nick Park, said: "We’ve discussed it so many times over the years and come up with various ideas but never quite found one we loved enough. But it was always in the back of our minds.
"We’ve got the perfect story, and the relationship with Netflix is kind of perfect as well because they celebrate the filmmaker and are so filmmaker friendly. I feel now we can make the Chicken Run sequel we want to, the one we really care about."
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