Aardman, Netflix, and the BBC are collaborating to bring Wallace and Gromit back to our screens in 2024, 16 years after the release of A Matter of Loaf and Death in 2008.
Directed by original creator Nick Park and the duo’s Creative Director Merlin Crossingham, it seems Aardman are staying largely in-house for their most famous protagonists’ next outing.
“Tapping into modern day fears over automation, the film will focus on Gromit’s concern that Wallace has become over-dependent on his inventions.
“As events spiral out of control, it falls to Gromit to put aside his qualms and battle sinister forces or Wallace may never be able to invent again.”
This popular film franchise spurred the creation of subsequent Aardman spin-offs including Shaun the Sheep, with its latest release The Flight Before Christmas picking up rave reviews over the festive period.
Aardman MD Sean Clarke could not contain his excitement, stating: “Wallace and Gromit are so loved by everyone at Aardman – they’re like family to us, and we couldn’t be more excited to be creating a brand-new film for them to star in.”
Chief content officer at the BBC, Charlotte Moore, agreed, stating: “It’s incredibly exciting to be taking British audiences on a cracking new adventure with Wallace and Gromit and to be continuing our long relationship with Aardman and Nick Park following the success of Shaun the Sheep this Christmas.”
The studio have also announced the title of their long-awaited Chicken Run sequel, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, which will premiere on the BBC in 2023 before becoming available on Netflix across the globe.
Thandiwe Newton and Zachary Levi will be leading the cast, replacing Julia Sawalha and Mel Gibson from the original, while Bella Ramsay, Romesh Ranganathan and David Bradley are also confirmed to star in new roles.
While a more definitive release date for either film may be some way off, it looks like Aardman will be keeping busy for some time to come.
Words by Maddy Raine
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