Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget

[Himmel]

Source: THR

'Chicken Run' Sequel in Works

Almost 20 years after Chicken Run became the most successful stop-motion animated film of all time (a record it still holds to this day), The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Aardman Animations is officially working on a sequel.

Details of the film are scarce at the moment, with the project not yet ready to hit markets. But THR understands that the U.K. animation powerhouse is developing the film alongside StudioCanal, with which it has partnered on its most recent titles, and Pathe, which co-financed the original with DreamWorks Animation and distributed it in Europe.

Sam Fell, who earned Oscar and BAFTA nominations for 2012's ParaNorman and also helmed Aardman's Flushed Away in 2006, is attached to direct, with Paul Kewley (Shaun the Sheep Movie) producing. Original writers Karey Kirkpatrick (Over the Hedge, Smurfs 2, The Spiderwick Chronicles) and John O'Farrell have been reunited to pen the screenplay. Aardman's co-founders Peter Lord and David Sproxton are executive producing.

The 2000 Chicken Run original – Aardman's first full-length feature and co-directed by Lord and Oscar-winning Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park – became a smash hit on both sides of the Atlantic, grossing $106 million in the U.S. and amassing a global haul of $225 million.

Telling the story of a group of plucky chickens attempting to escape certain death at the hands of their evil farm owner and boasting a voice cast including the likes of Mel Gibson and Timothy Spall, the film was also critically acclaimed, with a 97 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating alongside BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations.

[L.J.]

Remember liking the first one.

[Foggy]

Sure why not, the first film was great.

[CyberpunkCentral]

I didn't see this coming.

[filmbuffTX]

Maybe the first film will finally get a North American Blu-ray release. I believe Universal has the rights now.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by filmbuffTX

Maybe the first film will finally get a North American Blu-ray release. I believe Universal has the rights now.

I've never understood why this film has never had an official Blu-ray release in the UK either, along with their other animated film Curse Of The Were-Rabbit. The only thing on Blu are the Wallace & Gromit shorts.

[esteban²]

It's no secret I'm an Aardfan. And Chicken Run is their second best work of all, imo. So I'm excited and a bit nervous at the same time. Bring it on!

[TheAshCohen09]

Oooh, this could be good. Enjoyed the first one.

[kylor]

So will this be claymation, or just animated like Flushed Away?

[alexnow]

Originally Posted by kylor

So will this be claymation, or just animated like Flushed Away?

Clay most likely, Aardman and CG don't mix well financially. I'm mean their stop mo films don't do great but with CG it's even worse due to inflated budgets. Flushed Away costs 150m and only made 177m WW while Chicken Run was only 40 and made 220m WW

[akaun6899]

How do the rights work? In a trailer tease for Early Man, there were caveman drawings of Ginger and Rocky, and right under that was a copyright notice acknowledging DreamWorks.

[D00mM4r1n3]

Hopefully this means the first will get a US release on Blu-ray.

[Dailyan]

I’m conflicted on this. “Chicken Run” is one of my favorite animated films of all time. The original had a conclusive ending, I’ll be cautiously optimistic.

[kylor]

If this is claymation, then great! I hope this movie is like what Finding Dory is to Finding Nemo - a decent sequel.

[dallywhitty]

I still quote the original film to this day.

[Leonidas King]

I love Chicken Run by why release a sequel 18 years too late?

[Monterey Jack]

Originally Posted by Leonidas_King

I love Chicken Run by why release a sequel 18 years too late?

Especially considering Mel's recent box office pull (aka none).

[Chaotic]

I didn't know Mel was the reason the first one did so well. Animated movies don't need starpower to succeed.

[InuYashaCrusade]

Originally Posted by Leonidas King

I love Chicken Run by why release a sequel 18 years too late?

Nostalgia. Simple.

[esteban²]

Good sequels are never too late.