Netflix’s Chicken Run sequel is ‘one we really care about,’ Aardman animators say

Over two decades later, Chicken Run is getting a sequel.

A follow-up to the 2000 stop-motion animated comedy has been whispered about for years, but during a Making of panel at Annecy International Animation Film Festival, directors at Aardman Studios announced a partnership with Netflix that would finally realize the sequel. Netflix confirmed the news on Twitter shortly afterwards.

Netflix previously distributed A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon.

Chicken Run follows a group of chickens on a chicken farm that dream of escaping from their impending doom. When a cocky American rooster named Rocky crashlands into the farm, Ginger, the leader of the chickens, recruits him to teach them to fly. The original was directed by Peter Lord and Nick Park. The sequel will come from Paranorman and Flushed Away director Sam Fell.

Lord said in the panel that Aardman discussed a potential sequel many times, but the story never quite fit together or became something they loved — until now.

“We’ve got the perfect story, and the relationship with Netflix is kind of perfect as well because they celebrate the filmmaker and are so filmmaker friendly,” he explained at the panel. “I feel now we can make the Chicken Run sequel we want to, the one we really care about.”

The movie will pick up on the human-free island where the chickens now live and center on Rocky and Ginger’s daughter, Molly. As Molly grows up, she begins to grow restless on the small island. Meanwhile, a new threat emerges from the mainland, forcing Ginger to get the chickens back into action in an “an almost-tribute to Mission Impossible” said Fell.

Filming is tentatively set to begin next year.

Roku Premiere Plus

• $60

Prices taken at time of publishing.

The Walmart-exclusive Roku Premiere Plus can stream in 4K and includes a voice command remote.

• $60 at Walmart

Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy.