Actor, director and producer Andy Serkis is set to take on a new challenge, as it has been announced he will direct a new animated adaptation of George Orwell's dystopian classic, Animal Farm.
First published in 1945, Animal Farm is a satirical fable that precedes Orwell's most well-known work, Nineteen Eighty-Four, written by the author as an effort to portray the horrors of the Soviet Union under Stalin and his experiences in the Spanish Civil War. The novella was first adapted into film in 1954, and although it bombed dramatically from a commercial standpoint, both book and novel quickly became cultural symbols to denounce authoritarianism in the same way 1984 did.
Serkis' new project will see the actor’s own production company, The Imaginarium, work alongside Aniventure and Cinesite to bring to life the new screenplay written by Nicholas Stoller, who said the story “remained relevant and a key instrument in understanding how the world works.” Serkis himself told Deadline he wants to make his version of “Orwell's ever-relevant masterpiece, emotionally powerful, humorous, and relatable for all ages." Serkis called the script and book extraordinary stories that both men want to bring closer to modern audiences.
Serkis' last film with directing credits was Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Sony's last successful Spider-Man spinoff movie, and he also played Alfred in The Batman. His company, on the other hand, has produced animated TV shows such as Death and Nightingales, Netflix's Half Bad and The Ritual, plus Taika Waititi's upcoming soccer-themed comedy Next Goal Wins. While no casting announcements have been made so far, it would not be surprising at all to see Serkis lend his voice to some characters in his own film.
Serkis and Stoller's words will probably strike a note in today’s world, as it’s estimated over half the planet’s population still lives under authoritarian regimes such as China, where movies like Fantastic Beasts or Fight Club are rendered practically pointless due to censorship. Animal Farm did get a more recent direct-to-TV live action adaptation in 1999, though substantial plot changes and its lack of appeal to children render it a greatly inferior film, even despite boasting the voice acting of big names like Sir Patrick Stewart, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Kelsey Grammer, among others.
Animal Farm's cultural influence extends beyond film and literature, as even the legendary English rock band Pink Floyd composed an entire album, Animals, inspired by Orwell's work, and the villainous pig remains a staple stage prop for Roger Waters up to this day. For those curious to find out what Serkis has in store, the original Animal Farm movie is suitable for all ages and the book is still considered to be one of the most important novels written in the English language.
Animal Farm is currently in production.
Source: Deadline