Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget Teaser Trailer Hatches

 

It's hard to believe it's been 23 years since Chicken Run was released. The Aardman Animation film is still the studio's most successful feature as well as the highest grossing stop-motion animation of all time. So the most surprising thing about the sequel is that it has taken so long.

With their distribution deal with DreamWorks Animation long having expired, Aardman were free to this time partner with Netflix. The two companies have previously worked together on a number of specials and series.

Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget is the long awaited sequel. Picking up shortly after the original film Ginger, Rocky and their friends have found a tranquil island where they are able to live in peace. Ginger and Rocky have recently hatched a daughter named Molly. But it soon transpires that a new threat has arisen that will put all of chicken-kind in danger.

Dawn Of The Nugget is directed by ParaNorman's Sam Fell with a screenplay by Karey Kirkpatrick, John O'Farrell and Rachel Tunnard. Steve Pegram and Leyla Hobart are producers and Peter Lord, Nick Park, Carla Shelley, Fell, Paul Kewley and Kirkpatrick are Executive Producers.

It stars Thandiwe Newton and Zachary Levi taking over as Ginger and Rocky, with Bella Ramsey as Molly. The cast also features Imelda Staunton, Lyn Ferguson. David Bradley, Jane Horrocks, Romesh Ranganathan, Daniel Mays and Nick Mohammed.

There was some controversy over the recasting as original Ginger Julia Sawalha was outspoken about not being asked to reprise her role, allegedly for sounding "too old". Mel Gibson (the original Rocky) has become a controversial figure in the years since he first voiced the role, so his recasting is less surprising.

The film is due to get its world premiere at the gala screening at BFI London Film Festival on October 14. It will simultaneously screen at multiple screens across the UK. It will then be released on Netflix worldwide on December 15.

Ahead of the release Netflix has debuted the first teaser trailer. The trailer introduces the basic set-up: " Last time we broke out of a chicken farm" Ginger says in a voiceover. "This time, we're breaking in." It promises more of the same- in the best way, with plenty of classic Aardman humour, brilliantly staged set pieces, and as this trailer reveals for the first time- the return of a villain from the past.

Check out the trailer, below.