It was a hit in 2000 — and now the stop-motion animated “Chicken Run” will return as a sequel, which will to be streamed by Netflix.
The Aardman Animations’ production begins next year, with Sam Fell (“The Tale of Despereaux”) as director. Karey Kirkpatrick, John O’Farrell and Rachel Tunnard are writing the “Chicken Run 2” sequel.
Netflix confirmed the news in a tweet, adding “Eggsellent.”
Mel Gibson and Julia Sawalha voiced Rocky and Ginger in the original movie. The duo led chickens on an escape from Mrs. Tweedy’s farm, fearing they’d all be turned into chicken pot pies. In the sequel, the two have a little girl, Molly, but confront a new threat to their freedom.
The Gibson role is being recast; the studio is looking for a new actor to voice Rocky. No word yet if Sawalha, Phil Daniels, Imelda Staunton and Timothy Spall will return to voice their original roles.
Peter Lord, Aardman cofounder-creative director, said: “Fans around the world have waited patiently for a sequel idea worthy of ‘Chicken Run,’ so we’re delighted to announce, on the 20th anniversary, that we’ve found the perfect story. Netflix feels like the ideal creative partner for this project too: they celebrate the film-maker, which means we can make the film we want to make — the one we really care about — and share it with a global audience.”
Netflix has taken the rights to the sequel outside of China from Studiocanal.
Deadline first reported the news.