Aardman’s Animation award-winning film Chicken Run is set to have a sequel without Mel Gibson.
It’s been 20 years since the stop-motion animated film Chicken Run premiered in theaters, and it’s finally making a return for a second film, but this time without Gibson. The actor originally played “Rocky,” the rooster who comes in to teach the entrapped hens how to fly to their escape and be freed. But the news of his absence from two sources from production, who spilled the tea to the media outlet The Wrap. Reports show the film is set to go into production next year but, it is too early to discuss voice casting, however, it’s already been confirmed that Gibson will not be asked back.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
According to the Blast, the decision to recast Gibson came after new accusations of poor misconduct and behavior. Earlier this month, Winona Ryder opened up to The Times U.K. about working alongside Gibson on the TV series “The Plot Against America.” In the interview, Ryder said she had been the victim of anti-Semitic jokes. “I have … in interesting ways. There are times when people have said, ‘Wait, you’re Jewish? But you’re so pretty!’ There was a movie that I was up for a long time ago, it was a period piece, and the studio head, who was Jewish, said I looked ‘too Jewish’ to be in a blue-blooded family.”
Ryder then said that she has been witness to Gibson’s discriminatory humor. “We were at a crowded party with one of my good friends, and Mel Gibson was smoking a cigar, and we’re all talking, and he said to my friend, who’s gay, ‘Oh wait, am I gonna get Aids?’ And then something came up about Jews, and he said, ‘You’re not an oven dodger, are you?’” She added that Gibson tried to apologize to her later. But Gibson’s racist, anti-Jewish, homophobic, misogynistic behavior has always kept up with him. Back in 2006, the actor was arrested for a DUI and was recorded shouting, “Fucking Jews… the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world. Are you a Jew?” Not to mention Gibson’s many other controversial actions and remarks.
However, a spokesperson for Gibson has since denied the claims, saying the story is “100 percent untrue.”
“She lied about it over a decade ago, when she talked to the press, and she’s lying about it now,” Nierob said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “Also, she lied about him trying to apologize to her back then. He did reach out to her, many years ago, to confront her about her lies and she refused to address it with him.”
In other news, the film will be distributed by Netflix, and the story will pick up where the chickens have successfully escaped from Tweedy’s farm. Ginger and Rocky have birthed a baby chick named Molly, and everything seems to be at peace in their new home. Meanwhile, on Tweedy’s farm, a new villain has emerged, and now the chickens are going to break back in to save the day once again.
The film will be directed by Sam Well, and the script was written by Karey Kirkpatrick, John O’Farrell, and Rachel Tunnard. Nick Park, the creator of the British animation studio Aardman, will have a consulting role in the film. Locked in as producers are Steve Pegram and Leyla Hobart, and Peter Lord, Carla Shelley, and Karey Kirkpatrick will come back as executive producers.
In 2000, “Chicken Run” earned $225 million at the global box office and is still the top-grossing stop-motion animated hit of all time. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Y’all excited?!
