The iconic British stop-motion duo, Wallace and Gromit, are set to return to screens this Christmas with a brand-new 70-minute feature-length special titled ‘Vengeance Most Fowl’. The film will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and will be available globally on Netflix.
Created by Nick Park, the much-loved characters of Wallace, an eccentric cheese-loving inventor, and his loyal dog Gromit, first appeared in the 1989 short film ‘A Grand Day Out’. The new film is written by Park and Mark Burton and directed by Park and Merlin Crossingham.
In ‘Vengeance Most Fowl’, Gromit becomes concerned that Wallace has become overly reliant on his inventions. This suspicion is confirmed when Wallace creates a ‘smart gnome’ that develops a mind of its own. Gromit must confront his fears and battle sinister forces to rescue Wallace from the consequences of his own creations.
The film also marks the return of Feathers McGraw, the notorious penguin supervillain from the 1993 short ‘The Wrong Trousers’. Feathers, a wanted criminal, has been behind bars since his last appearance but is now back and seeking revenge.
The voice cast includes Ben Whitehead as Wallace, along with the return of Peter Kay as Chief Inspector Mackintosh. New cast members include Lauren Patel and Reece Shearsmith, with cameos from Diane Morgan, Adjoa Andoh, and Lenny Henry.
Nick Park, creator of Wallace and Gromit, has long envisioned “a film about garden gnomes turning bad” and wanted to bring back Feathers McGraw. The villain’s involvement with the gnomes presented the perfect opportunity.
Merlin Crossingham, Creative Director of Wallace and Gromit, hopes that the film will appeal to both new and longtime fans, introducing fresh themes while retaining the cherished elements of Wallace and Gromit’s enduring story.
Charlotte Moore, Chief Content Officer at the BBC, promises an “unmissable adventure” that showcases the very best of British creativity.
‘Vengeance Most Fowl’ is the latest installment in the beloved Wallace and Gromit series, following films such as ‘A Matter of Loaf and Death’ (2008), ‘A Close Shave’ (1995), and ‘The Wrong Trousers’ (1993). The characters also spawned the spin-off series ‘Shaun the Sheep’.
