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Jennifer Saunders reunites with the cast of Absolutely Fabulous for a new documentary called Inside Out. Here are the details…

Following the huge success of Bottom: Exposed earlier this year, Gold have commissioned a similar feature length documentary about Absolutely Fabulous called Inside Out. While Bottom: Exposed featured many interviews and talking heads, Inside Out reunites most of the cast – Whitfield passed away in 2018.

Series co-star Jennifer Saunders said to the British Comedy Guide, “I loved making Ab Fab but I can’t remember a great deal, so much of this retrospective is a revelation to me. Thank you Gold for this kind and helpful programme”.

Its other co-star, Joanna Lumley, added: “It was a fabulous wander down memory lane by actresses who only have the faintest grip on reality. Really thrilling, and I hope vastly entertaining. I loved every second”.

Saunders, along with double act partner Dawn French, began...

Warning: contains spoilers for Doctor Who episode “Rogue”.

Just three episodes ago in “Boom”, the Doctor was trapped where he stood while a countdown ticked off the seconds until his death. In “Rogue”, he found himself in the same situation, but this time with the addition of a Kylie soundtrack and some excellent flirting.

Fifteen got out of the “Boom” trap by deactivating a landmine. He got out of the “Rogue” trap by properly introducing himself, both to Jonathan Groff’s bounty hunter, and to any new viewers late to this party. Rogue had mistaken the Doctor for the shape-shifting alien Chuldur he was on 19th century Earth to track down, and was seconds away from pressing the ‘incinerate’ button when the Doctor activated Rogue’s ship scanner and explained:

“I’m not a Chuldur. I’m something much older and far more powerful. I’m a Lord of Time...

February is here, and the countdown has begun at Netflix as many major titles are on their way out the proverbial door. With “Dune: Part Two” finally heading to theaters at the start of March, the streamer is giving subscribers one more month to rewatch (or catch up on) 2021’s “Dune,” starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and more. Plus, dive into other unfamiliar worlds with “Dredd,” “Snowpiercer,” and Prometheus.

Watch now before they’re gone: see The Streamable’s top picks for what’s leaving Netflix this month, and check out all the shows and movies leaving the streamer this February!

Sign Up $6.99+ / month netflix.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Leaving Netflix in February 2024? “Chicken Run” | Wednesday, Feb. 14

More than 23 years after its release, 2000’s “Chicken Run” still holds the record as the highest-grossing stop motion animated film of all time, beating all “Wallace and Gromit” features to top the list.

Kenneth Branagh tells us that he has follow-ups in mind for his Christmas film, In The Bleak Midwinter (also known as A Midwinter’s Tale).

In 1995, Kenneth Branagh wrote and directed a low budget Christmas comedy by the name of In The Bleak Midwinter. An ensemble piece that he tackled between the giant productions of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and his screen take on Hamlet, it’s such a charming movie, and a very, very funny one.

After years of trying, we managed to put on a very special screening of the film in London this month, and afterwards were delighted to be joined by Kenneth Branagh for a Q&a. Not just Branagh: cast members Julia Sawalha, Michael Maloney, Nicholas Farrell, Gerard Horan and Mark Hadfield were surprise guests on the evening.

Towards the end of the conversation, I asked Branagh to give us the exclusive on a possible sequel.

Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.

The Abyss: Special Edition (James Cameron)

One of the most-requested restorations from cinephiles for some time has been a new restoration and 4K release for James Cameron’s 1989 sci-fi aquatic adventure The Abyss. Your wish has now come true as The Abyss: Special Edition, a 4K remaster, recently returned to theaters for one night only last week and is now available digitally ahead of a home video release this March.

Where to Stream: VOD

Asteroid City (Wes Anderson)

A sultry, creamy western that feels more like a vacation, Asteroid City is an absolute delight, Anderson’s best since The Grand Budapest Hotel. It practically begs you to sit back, relax, and enjoy yourself. Hell, it might even want you to take a nap,...

Somehow, it has been almost 25 years since Aardman Animations released its first full-length stop-motion animated film, "Chicken Run." The then-fledgling DreamWorks Skg released the film in the summer of 2000, before the studio's fortunes would shift with the "Shrek" franchise the following year. For Aardman, though they netted an A-List celebrity in the form of Mel Gibson, "Chicken Run" was both thrilling and also somewhat modest. Riffing on World War II-era entertainment, "Chicken Run" was an exciting adventure about a group of chickens who band together to escape their cruel owners and a fine example of how animation could do more than just what was being offered by Disney and Pixar. Now, decades later, Aardman isn't the only stop-motion animation house working today, and DreamWorks' biggest days appear to be behind them. So for a sequel, subtitled "Dawn of the Nugget," Aardman is now pairing with Netflix for another lighthearted, fast-paced...

Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget Photo: Aardman / Netflix On paper, the original Chicken Run sounded more like the sort of film a character in a comedy movie might pitch: “It’s The Great Escape ... starring chickens!” For better or worse, Chicken Run committed to the bit, and as a...

Chicken Run: Dawn Of The NuggetPhoto: Aardman / Netflix

On paper, the original Chicken Run sounded more like the sort of film a character in a comedy movie might pitch: “It’s The Great Escape ... starring chickens!” For better or worse, Chicken Run committed to the bit, and as a result...

Plot: 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!

Review: Aardman Animation has become synonymous with claymation productions. Since the 1970s, Aardman has pioneered stop-motion short films and is the creator of the beloved Wallace & Gromit characters. Despite years of acclaim, Aardman did not make the leap to feature films until 2000’s Chicken Run. Since then, they have released seven feature films, two computer-animated. Twenty-three years after their first movie, Aardman’s sequel...

It’s the final month of the year, which means much of our attention will be turned to sharing various best-of-2023 rundowns throughout December. The month also brings many of the year’s most noteworthy films, which we’ve rounded up before––some of which will be opening in a more limited capacity and expanding next month.

We should also note some top November picks like The Boy and the Heron and May December are finally getting in front of wider audiences, with the former getting a wide release on December 8 and the latter arriving on Netflix this Friday. For this round-up we’re also not including films getting limited one-week-only runs this month, such as Noora Niasari’s Shayda on December 1 and Ava DuVernay’s Origin and Alice Rohrwacher’s La Chimera on December 8.

14. Memory (Michel Franco; Dec. 22)

Every year there’s at least one film that premieres at...

Voice acting can make or break the success of an animated film. In the past, Hollywood understood that in order to deliver the best possible film, actors able to convey a range of emotions without the assistance of their body language were brought in for the job. At some point, that skill was traded in for celebrity stunt casting, sparking endless debates surrounding casting decisions. That isn't to say that well-known actors don't frequently pull off character-defining performances -- quite the contrary. One of the best examples comes from 2000's "Chicken Run," which featured "Absolutely Fabulous" star Julia Sawalha as Ginger and Mel Gibson as "Rocky." Both performers are still working actors today, so one would think they'd return to voice the characters the long-awaited sequel "Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget," right?

Wrong.

"Shazam!" star Zachary Levi has replaced Mel Gibson as Rocky while Thandiwe Newton is joining the cast as Ginger.

Arriving nearly a quarter of a century after its predecessor, and this time with no Mel Gibson anywhere to be seen, the sequel to Chicken Run will now land on Netflix exactly a month from today. Helmed by ParaNorman director Sam Fell, the sequel Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget features the voice cast of Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey, Romesh Ranganathan, David Bradley, Daniel Mays, Jane Horrocks, Imelda Staunton, Lynn Ferguson, Josie Sedgwick-Davies, Nick Mohammed, and Miranda Richardson, and now ahead of a December 15 release, the first trailer has arrived.

Oliver Weir said in his review, “Many people (this reviewer included) scoffed at the announcement of Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. Something about the ludicrous title and 23-year hiatus gave the air of a studio in desperation, or one searching for an Oscar contender. How wrong we were. For in spite of the long wait and changes...

Many people (this reviewer included) scoffed at the announcement of Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. Something about the ludicrous title and 23-year hiatus gave the air of a studio in desperation, or one searching for an Oscar contender. How wrong we were. For in spite of the long wait and changes of personnel––Zachary Levi and Thandiwe Newton replace Mel Gibson and Julia Sawalha; Sam Fell replaces Nick Park and Peter Lord––this latest adventure is every bit as well-crafted, cleverly written, and stuffed with gallinaceous puns as its predecessor.

We rejoin the flock, like the cast, in much-changed circumstances. For one thing, they have built a small island paradise––it looks more like the Shire than Yorkshire––where they are free to work and roam without the threat of human intervention. There is also a lively new addition to the group: Rocky and Ginger’s chirpy chick Molly,...

The British production company Aardman, best known for award-winning shorts such as the evergreen Creature Comforts and short-to-feature franchises like Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep, specializes in “Claymation,” stop-motion animation done using figurines made of clay and similar material. Even by the glacial standards of animation practice, they take ages to produce new work. You might say their output is rare as hens’ teeth, to quote a Britishism, which is apt because their most successful feature (and the highest-grossing stop-motion film ever) is still Chicken Run (2000), a family-friendly film set on a 1950s chicken farm that stars a brood of fowl with anatomically incorrect, but very Aardman-esque, over-bitey teeth.

But good things come to those who wait, and the studio’s sequel, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, is a worthy successor. Rounding up the feathered friends who made a break for freedom in the last film, led...

Whenever a studio releases a sequel 23 years after the original movie, it’s fair to go in with some skepticism about the project, its intentions, and its quality. When Chicken Run was released in the year 2000, there was a farm fresh feel to it that resonated both with its target audience, but also with any accompanying adults. It was fun and silly, paying homage to The Great Escape via clay chickens. It captured the imagination with impeccable voice acting, genuine tension, and a litany of riotous gags suited for the whole family.

Netflix has unveiled the trailer for its sequel to the celebrated animated film, Chicken Run. Entitled Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the new movie is set to hit the platform on December 15th. Watch the trailer below.

Arriving 23 years after the original, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget takes place in the aftermath of the first film. The chickens, led by Ginger and Rocky Rhodes, have escaped from the chicken farm and have settled down in safety at a bird sanctuary. But when news of menacing new practices at the chicken farm reaches their idyllic home, they must take drastic measures to protect their freedom and their fellow chickens. “Last time, we broke out of a chicken farm — this time, we’re breaking in,” Ginger says in the trailer.

Despite being a sequel, most of the film’s original voice cast is not featured in Dawn of the Nugget.

Aardman Animations is one of the most celebrated animation studios in the world and certainly the most celebrated stop-motion studio this side of Laika. Aardman's work has a unique and signature look and feel, which for many outside of Britain has become synonymous with British humor, particularly when it comes to the quaint, low-key vibe, and cartoonish tone of the "Shaun The Sheep" and "Wallace & Gromit" shorts and movies.

This year, the studio has already dived into the galaxy far, far away with a delightful short that brought Wes Antilles back into the story in "Star Wars: Visions." But before they deliver a brand new "Wallace & Gromit" movie in 2024, Aardman is looking back at their feature debut, "Chicken Run."

Both Aardman's most financially successful film and the highest-grossing stop-motion film of all time, "Chicken Run" is a wry homage to "The Great Escape" which sees a group of chickens escaping from a farm.

Netflix has unveiled more cast, trailer (see below) and first-looks for its highly-anticipated Chicken Run sequel.

UK comic actor Peter Serafinowicz will play Reginald Smith in Dawn of the Nugget, while Miranda Richardson is reprising her role as archvillain Mrs Tweedy.

From multi-Academy and BAFTA-winning Aardman, Dawn of the Nugget comes more than 20 years after its hugely-popular predecessor. A trailer today gives more of a flavor of what viewers can expect when it launches on December 15. The movie follows Ginger, who, having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, 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.

Aardman/Netflix © 2023

Dawn of the Nugget features...

Netflix has released the trailer for the sequel to the 2000 stop-motion animated comedy, “Chicken Run.” The upcoming feature, titled “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” is set to premiere this December.

Featuring an all-new voice cast, “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” follows Ginger (Thandiwe Newton), as she sets up a peaceful sanctuary far from the human world having recently escaped from the evil Tweedy farm. Finally, with the hatching of Molly (Bella Ramsey), Ginger and Rocky (Zachary Levi) seem to have their “happily ever after.” But, unknown to them, outside their peaceful world chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat.

Newton takes over the role of Ginger from “Absolutely Fabulous” actor Julia Sawalha while Levi steps in for Mel Gibson, who voiced Rocky in the first movie. One voice actor who will be returning is Miranda Richardson (“Good Omens”), who is back as arch villain Mrs Tweedy. She will...

A Christmas turkey is a long-held tradition for carnivorous Brits – but how about something different this year? Say, a (pre-)Christmas chicken? All of which is a ridiculous way of saying, the long-awaited Chicken Run sequel Dawn Of The Nugget finally had a release date – and it’s coming our way in the festive period. Netflix to the beloved 2000 original will be hatching on 15 December.

The sequel – from director Sam Fell, and writers Karey Kirkpatrick (who penned the original), John O’Farrell and Rachel Tunnard – will return to the Tweedy’s Farm escapees, bringing back familiar faces like Ginger, Rocky, Babs and Bunty, while also introducing Ginger and Rocky’s young chick, Molly. And, as the title suggests, after having narrowly avoided being turned into pies, the chickens face an even more terrifying culinary innovation: chicken nuggets.

While the original characters are returning, the voice cast features some changeover – Thandiwe Newton...

In this episode, we’re popping off to a Yorkshire chicken farm in 1960s England, where an authoritarian farmer and her dim-witted husband are plotting the deaths of many to make pies. Welcome to Tweedy’s farm, where a determined chicken named Ginger is attempting a most remarkable prison break. So, grab a spoon for digging, beware of the dogs, and don’t believe every rooster who falls from the sky as we break into Aardman Animations‘ stop-motion animated classic Chicken Run.

Peter Lord and Nick Park direct this spirited film partly inspired by John Sturges’ 1963 classic The Great Escape. Starring the voices of Julia Sawalha, Mel Gibson, Jane Horrocks, Miranda Richardson, Phil Daniels, Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton, and more, Chicken Run is a grim yet hopeful tale of determination, cleverness, and giving a fascist their just desserts. Alongside a team of talented animators, Lord and Park used every trick...

The two companies have augmented their creative partnership.

Netflix and UK animation studio Aardman’s creative partnership has been cemented with the unveiling of a new Wallace & Gromit feature directed by Nick Park, plus details and a first-look image of the upcoming Chicken Run sequel.

Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run creator Park will direct the new Wallace & Gromit feature, alongside Aardman’s creative director of Wallace & Gromit, Merlin Crossingham, with Mark Burton on board to write and Claire Jennings producing. In the film, Gromit is concerned that Wallace has become too dependent on his inventions, as proven when...

Chicken Run actress Julia Sawalha has claimed she’s being replaced in the upcoming sequel for sounding too old, despite never being given the opportunity to do a voice test.

Sawalha played Ginger in the original film, but that character, along with Mel Gibson’s Rocky, will now be voiced by someone else in Chicken Run 2. She went on to decry what she perceives to be the ageism driving the decision, saying:

“Let’s be frank, I feel I have been unfairly dismissed,” added Sawalha. “To say I am devastated and furious would be an understatement. I feel totally powerless, something in all of this doesn’t quite ring true. I trust my instincts and they are waving a red flag.”

It’s a surprising, rather unfortunate cloud over a sequel fans have waited two decades to see enter development. Ageism, beauty-ism, those typically sexist concerns have always been...

If you were excited about a sequel to Chicken Run after 20 years, we have some news that is supremely disappointing. British actress Julia Sawalha, who voiced the character Ginger in the original stop-motion animated movie from Aardman Animation, recently revealed that she will not be reprising her role in Chicken Run 2 for one […]

The post ‘Chicken Run’ Star Julia Sawalha is Being Replaced in the Sequel Because Her Voice Sounds “Too Old” appeared first on /Film.

Julia Sawalha, one of the stars of the 2000 Aardman Animation classic “Chicken Run,” said Thursday she was not asked to return to the recently announced sequel because producers thought her voice now sounds “too old.”

In a statement shared Thursday, Sawalha said that an actress normally would be allowed to do a voice test to prove they can still match the pitch and tone of the original character, but she said she was informed by producers without being given that chance.

In response, she recorded her own voice demonstration and shared it with producers and posted it to Vimeo, in which she mimics the lines of her character Ginger from the original “Chicken Run.” You can listen to Sawalha’s demo here.

Also Read: Mel Gibson's Role in 'Chicken Run' Sequel Will Be Recast

“I went to great lengths to prove to the production that my voice...

Julia Sawalha has shared an open letter via her social media profiles expressing disappointment and anger at being left out of Aardman Animations’ upcoming “Chicken Run” sequel, confirmed as a Netflix pickup at June’s Annecy festival. Sawalha voiced Ginger in the Oscar-nominated original, which remains the top grossing stop-motion feature ever, 20 years after its release.

“To say that I am devastated and furious would be an understatement,” she said in the letter. “I feel totally powerless, something in all of this doesn’t quite ring true. I trust my instincts and they are waving red flags.”

According to Sawalha, she was informed about the decision last week by her agent, who speculated it was because her voice now sounds “too old” after receiving a letter of dismissal in which it was indicated that Mel Gibson would not be returning as Rocky for that very reason.

Sawalha says that voice...

Actor feels ‘plucked, stuffed and roasted’ having been informed the voice of Ginger in the upcoming Chicken Run 2 will be recast

Julia Sawalha has said she has been “plucked, stuffed and roasted” after being told that she would not be cast in the forthcoming sequel to the hit Aardman Animation film Chicken Run as her voice sounded “too old”.

In the original film, released in 2000, Sawalha voiced the lead role of Ginger, the plucky hen who inspires her fellow egg-layers to escape from a farm when they are threatened with being turned into pies. News of the development of a sequel first emerged in 2018, and Netflix’s involvement was announced in June. It is due to be directed by Sam Fell (ParaNorman) and start production in 2021.

British actress Julia Sawalha has claimed she is being chopped from the upcoming Chicken Run sequel because her voice now sounds “too old”.

In a statement published online, Sawalha said she has been told by producers via her agent that the character of Ginger will be recast with a younger actress for the second movie, and that she hadn’t been given the opportunity to do a voice test to determine her suitability for the role. The actress posted the hashtag #ageism in an accompanying tweet.

Sawalha took the step of recording her own voice test and posting it online (you can watch that via the link in the letter below). She said that this was sent to producers Aardman Animations, and they had responded with, “Some of the voices definitely sound older,” however they had also confirmed, “We will be going ahead to re-cast the...

There's trouble in the coop.

One of the lead voice stars of Aardman's animated hit Chicken Run — which was released in 2000 and remains the most successful stop-motion animation of all time — has accused producers of ageism for dropping her from the much-anticipated sequel (which The Hollywood Reporter first reported exclusively in 2018).

Julia Sawalha, who voiced Ginger in the original film, has published an open letter on social media — using the hashtag "#ageism — in which she says was "devastated and saddened" to be told via an email from her agent that she would ...

There's trouble in the coop.

One of the lead voice stars of Aardman's animated hit Chicken Run — which was released in 2000 and remains the most successful stop-motion animation of all time — has accused producers of ageism for dropping her from the much-anticipated sequel (which The Hollywood Reporter first reported exclusively in 2018).

Julia Sawalha, who voiced Ginger in the original film, has published an open letter on social media — using the hashtag "#ageism — in which she says was "devastated and saddened" to be told via an email from her agent that she would ...

Though a sequel to the Aardman stop-motion animated film “Chicken Run” is in the works, one of the original film’s voice actors Mel Gibson will not return, two individuals with knowledge of the production told TheWrap.

Because the “Chicken Run” sequel will go into production next year, one individual explains it’s too early to know about voice casting for an animated film, but Gibson, who voiced the character Rocky in the film from 2000, is not expected to be asked back for the sequel.

It’s also unclear if any of the other voice actors from the original film, which also included Julia Sawalha, Phil Daniels, Imelda Staunton and Timothy Spall, will return for the sequel.

Also Read: Winona Ryder Calls Out Hollywood Anti-Semitism, Repeats Mel Gibson's 'Oven Dodger' Comments

The film, which will be distributed by Netflix and will go into production next year, will pick up the...

Twenty years after the release of the stop-motion animated hit “Chicken Run,” Aardman studio on Tuesday announced that a sequel will go into production next year for distribution by Netflix (excluding China).

The film will pick up the story of the chickens who pulled off an escape from Tweedy’s farm in the original film where Ginger (voiced in the original by Julia Sawalha) 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!

It’s unclear if Mel Gibson, who voiced escape-plan leader Rocky in the original,...

Though Aaardman’s Chicken Run remains history’s highest-grossing stop-motion animation film, it’s managed to go two decades without producing a sequel. One was originally announced back in April of 2018, but it’s been all quiet on the Chicken Run 2 front since then. Today, that changed with confirmation that Netflix has acquired the sequel’s rights from Studiocanal and Pathé.

The streaming giant chose to reveal its Chicken Run 2 news on the first film’s 20th anniversary. The follow up flick will be helmed by Sam Fell (Flushed Away) and written by Karey Kirkpatrick, John O’ Farrell and Rachel Tunnard and Nick Park.

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.

— Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) June 23, 2020

“Poultry News: Exactly...

Chicken Run became the highest-grossing stop-motion animation film of all-time when it premiered in 2000 — and now its sequel is bounding into the arms of Netflix.

To celebrate 20 years to the day since the original was released, Netflix announced on Tuesday that it has swooped for the follow-up to the Aardman film. Production is set to begin next year.

Netflix tweeted: “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.”

Netflix has taken the rights to the sequel outside of China from Studiocanal and Pathé after Aardman first announced in 2018 that it was working with the companies on a second film.

The original starred Mel Gibson and Julia Sawalha as Rocky and Ginger, who led the escape efforts of a group of chickens, bidding...

Twenty years to the day on Tuesday, Aardman and Netflix announced at Annecy 2020 Online that full production will begin next year on the long-awaited sequel to “Chicken Run,” the legendary British studio’s first feature (in partnership with DreamWorks Animation) and the highest-grossing stop-motion movie in history ($106.8 million domestic and $224.8 million worldwide). Sam Fell (“ParaNorman” and “Flushed Away”) will direct, and Steve Pegram (“Arthur Christmas”) will produce. “Chicken Run” co-directors Nick Park and Peter Lord will be on hand as creative consultant and executive producer, respectively.

The sequel (scripted by “Chicken Run” writer Karey Kirkpatrick along with John O’ Farrell and Rachel Tunnard) picks up soon after the original ended. However, according to reliable sources, Mel Gibson will not return to voice Rocky, the laid-back American circus rooster. There’s no word yet on recasting Ginger (Julia Sawalha), the outspoken hen and leader of “The Great Escape” from the oppressive farm,...

Twenty years to the day on Tuesday, Aardman and Netflix announced at Annecy 2020 Online that full production will begin next year on the long-awaited sequel to “Chicken Run,” the legendary British studio’s first feature (in partnership with DreamWorks Animation) and the highest-grossing stop-motion movie in history ($106.8 million domestic and $224.8 million worldwide). Sam Fell (“ParaNorman” and “Flushed Away”) will direct, and Steve Pegram (“Arthur Christmas”) will produce. “Chicken Run” co-directors Nick Park and Peter Lord will be on hand as creative consultant and executive producer, respectively.

The sequel (scripted by “Chicken Run” writer Karey Kirkpatrick along with John O’ Farrell and Rachel Tunnard) picks up soon after the original ended. However, according to reliable sources, Mel Gibson will not return to voice Rocky, the laid-back American circus rooster. There’s no word yet on recasting Ginger (Julia Sawalha), the outspoken hen and leader of “The Great Escape” from the oppressive farm,...

“A voice for today’s youth” runs the strap line to the Junior Gazette, the fictional newspaper at the heart of Press Gang, a kids’ show first broadcast on ITV in 1989 which followed a team of school children turned budding journalists. The fact is, Steven Moffat was something of a youth himself at 25 years old when he landed his very first television writing gig. Press Gang was an idea his father Bill Moffat, a headmaster, had pitched to a producer who was visiting his school while filming an episode of Highway, and when a script was requested, Bill suggested Steven write it.

The show was a game changer. It won multiple awards, launched the career of its lead Julia Sawalha, turned Dexter Fletcher – now an extremely accomplished director – into a teenage heartthrob and gave Moffat the space to flex his writing muscles beginning a career which would see him create numerous iconic sitcoms,...

Mark Harrison Mar 15, 2019

How did The Curse Of Fatal Death, a Red Nose Day sketch, foreshadow Steven Moffat’s vision of Doctor Who?

This article comes from Den of Geek UK.

Remember that one Red Nose Day when Rowan Atkinson, Richard E. Grant, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Grant, and Joanna Lumley all played the Doctor in the same story? While Steven Moffat went on to write great Doctor Who episodes under Russell T. Davies and during his own era as showrunner, his first BBC-produced Who script was the extended Comic Relief sketch "The Curse Of Fatal Death."

The Red Nose Day telecast always brings the odd pop culture sketch, with tonight’s offerings including a 25th anniversary sequel to Richard Curtis’ Four Weddings And A Funeral and French and Saunders parodying Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again after their popular parody of the first film aired 10 years ago.

When "The...

Dame June Whitfield, the actress known for her work as Edina’s snarky mother on the British ’90s sitcom “Absolutely Fabulous” and as Minnie the Menace on “Doctor Who,” has died. She was 92.

Whitfield passed “peacefully” on Friday night, her agent told BBC.

Born in London, the actress’ career stretched back to the 1940s and included roles in the “Carry On” film franchise and the sitcom “Terry and June,” which ran from 1979-1987. Whitman also had appearances in 2016’s “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie,” “Friends,” “East Enders,” and was featured in more more than 1,300 radio and television shows.

Also Read: Ringo Lam, Hong Kong Director of 'City on Fire,' Dies at 63

Fellow “Absolutely Fabulous” actresses lead the tributes to the late actress, who was made a Dame — a title equivalent to the rank of knight — in 2017.

Joanna Lumley, who played Whitfield’s daughter, told ITV News: “I am...

Aardman have been producing lovable characters with their distinctive stop-motion animation utilising clay for nearly 50 years now. Whether it be the old-school days of the original Wallace and Gromit TV shorts or even the cheeky Morph character from the 70s, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t fallen for one of their characters. With the upcoming release of their latest instalment Early Man, we have decided to look at some of the best characters Aardman have created since their clay creations hit the big screen…

6. Mr Bobo – The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! (2012)

The studio clearly has a soft spot for animated animals as in all of their feature films they are depicted with human levels of intelligence. In fact, as with Mr Bobo in The Pirates!, our furry friends are often given a superior level of wits and capability than their human counterparts. As the...

Mark Harrison Jan 8, 2018

Now that Steven Moffat's tenure as Doctor Who showrunner has come to an end, we salute all the Moffat era gave to the show...

Steven Moffat has written more of Doctor Who for television than any other writer in history. He's also won more awards for writing Doctor Who than any other writer, which should tell you something about his hit rate.

See related The Simpsons: 50 best episodes 13 great Simpsons Treehouse Of Horror Halloween stories Watch Guillermo del Toro's couch gag for The Simpsons

Like anyone doing a job in this show for an extended period of time, he has his fans and his detractors, but there's no way of overstating his contribution to the show in the last 12 years, and going back before the revival was even on the cards, or forward into the future, with his Target-style novelisation of The Day Of The Doctor coming this April.

To mark the release of Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie on 5th December, we’ve been given 5 copies to give away on DVD. Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie reunites Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley as the iconic Edina and Patsy along with the rest of the original cast that includes Julia Sawalha as Saffy, Jane Horrocks as […]

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Title: Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie Director: Mandie Fletcher Starring: Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Julia Sawalha, June Whitfield, Jane Horrocks, Claudia Bing, Gwendoline Christie and Chris Colfer The witticism of ‘Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie’ is not up to the standards of British humour. Director Mandie Fletcher opts for a coarse slapstick entertainment, as she condenses in a film the U.K. television show ‘Absolutely Fabulous.’ The comedy’s screenplay was written by Jennifer Saunders, based on her eponymous sitcom, where she plays the character of Edina Monsoon, the owner of a barely successful metropolitan PR company. Her best friend and partner in crime Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley) relishes in the high life. Eddy [ Read More ]

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Chicago – As far as TV shows that fans wish could be movies, the cult hit “Absolutely Fabulous” was high on the list. The adventures of Patsy and Edina, two middle age Brits with an appetite for self medication, has had a dedicated following since it premiered in 1992. Even though there were six full TV seasons, and various reunions, “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie” has emerged.

Rating: 3.0/5.0

Although series creator (and portrayer of Edina) Jennifer Saunders wrote the screenplay, the film suffered with a not-quite-enough storyline that made 90 minutes seem longer. However, there are some magic and bizarrely funny moments in the film, even though the substance-abusing duo are getting a bit long in the tooth to keep the characters viable. But this is “Ab-Fab,” and viability is not really high on the radar, darling. For fans of the show, this is welcome fun, and for those not as familiar, caveat emptor.

Ever since Absolutely Fabulous swanned onto the BBC in 1992, there's been talk of a feature-film adventure — and now, 24 years later, Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie has left Brexit-land to splash down on our shores. Moviegoers are now in the enviable position of spending decadent quality time with P.R. guru Edina "Eddy" Monsoon (Jennifer Saunders) and her fashionista and champagne-and-coke savant bestie Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley). Diehard fans will find Eddy and Patsy even more AbFab on the big screen. The movie? Not so much. Too many locations, a convoluted plot,...

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie reunites fashionista-wannabee gal pals Edina Monsoon (Jennifer Saunders) and Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley) from the 1990s hit British TV comedy for more of their hard partying, party-crashing, champagne-swilling inappropriate shenanigans.

First off: if you are not already a fan steeped in the old British TV show Absolutely Fabulous but think Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie might give you a taste of what all the fuss was about, forget it – this film is not for you. Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie is strictly for fans, and unlike some movie adaptions, it does not give the uninitiated even much thought. It is possible to watch the whole film with nary a chuckle, having the nagging feeling there are plenty of in-jokes there soaring over your head. You would be right.

If you are a committed Ab Fab fan, the movie version may well be hilarious. At the promotional screening, there...

Seinfeld gets a lot of credit for being “the show about nothing,” but not much happened during Absolutely Fabulous’ multi-decade TV run, either. Generally, PR agent Edina Monsoon (Jennifer Saunders) and her ambiguously employed yet exceedingly well-connected pal Patsy (Joanna Lumley) would get into some sort of pill-and-booze-fueled trouble, make complete fools of themselves, and learn nothing because Edina’s daughter, Saffron (Julia Sawalha), was always there to bail them out. Ridiculous outfits were worn, backhanded compliments were exchanged, and a drunken good time was had by all.

That’s basically what happens in the movie, too, which is packed with the hilariously garish outfits—a sequined camouflage coat with a fur collar and a sweater covered in stuffed internet acronyms are but two of the highlights—and deliciously bitchy humor fans have come to expect from Saunders and Lumley. Saunders’ screenplay occasionally brushes up against bigger issues, like the...

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie Fox Searchlight Pictures Reviewed by: Tami Smith, Film Reviewer for Shockya Grade: C+ Director: Mandie Fletcher Written by: Jennifer Saunders Cast: Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Julia Sawalha, Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness, Jane Jorrocks, June Whitfield Release Date: July 22, 2016 Absolutely Fabulous (a.k.a.: Ab Fab) was a BBC television sitcom, which first aired in the U.K. on November 1992 and continued till May 1995. The program featured Edina Monsoon, a PR agent, trying to stay young and her best friend Patsy Stone, a magazine editor and alcohol abuser. The program was so successful that it returned for special episodes on December 2011, January and July 2012. As if [ Read More ]

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Appropriate for their big screen debut, Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone (Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley) are still oozing glitz and glamour, living the high life they are accustomed to; shopping, drinking and clubbing their way around London’s trendiest hotspots. But when they accidentally push Kate Moss into the river Thames at an uber fashionable launch party, Eddy and Patsy become entangled in a media storm surrounding the supermodel’s untimely demise and are relentlessly pursued by the paparazzi. Fleeing penniless to the glamorous playground of the super-rich, the French Riviera, they hatch a plan to make their escape permanent and live the high life forever more!

Fox Searchlight Pictures presents in association with BBC Films a DJ Films/Saunders & French production, starring Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, also starring Julia Sawalha, Jane Horrocks, June Whitfield, Chris Colfer, Kate Moss, Lulu, Emma Bunton, Robert Webb,...

Sends up one-upwomanship, egotistical self-help, and reflexive hedonism with zing. It is a sheer triumph to see two older women being really funny onscreen. I’m “biast” (pro): love the TV show

I’m “biast” (con): nothing

(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)

Did model Kate Moss fall off that balcony at a glitzy London fashion party, into the Thames and presumably drowned, her body lost to the currents of the river? Or was she pushed? Oh, of course she was pushed! But was it an accident, or did legendary PR veteran Edina Monsoon mean to take out the fashion icon?

Sweetie! Darling! Anyone who knows Eddie like we do knows she would never intentionally destroy her goddess, especially not when she was hoping to snag Moss as a new client. And know Eddie well we certainly do, we lovers of the BBC sitcom that...