It’s been a decade since Andy Serkis first decided to direct an animated adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, but at long last, the project is finally moving forward.
It’s been reported that production on the Animal Farm movie is underway at Cinesite with Andy Serkis directing for Aniventure and his company The Imaginarium. First published in 1945, George Orwell’s novel chronicles “a group of farm animals who rebel against their human owner in hopes of creating a society where they can be equal, free, and happy.” Nicholas Stoller (The Muppets) penned the script and will also produce the film with Adam Nagle, Dave Rosenbaum, and Jonathan Cavendish. In a statement, Andy Serkis said:
The challenging journey to bring this extraordinary story to the screen has been finally rewarded by the opportunity to partner with the brilliant team at Aniventure and Cinesite. Together we hope to make our version of Orwell’s ever relevant masterpiece, emotionally powerful, humorous, and relatable for all ages. A tale not only for our times, but for generations to come.
Producer Adam Nagle added, “Ever since 1945, when George Orwell first published Animal Farm, the story has remained relevant and a key instrument in understanding how the world works. Andy has had a special talent for creating unique and memorable characters during his remarkable career and we’re thrilled to be working with him, Jonathan and Cinesite to adapt Animal Farm for modern audiences.” Andy Serkis has certainly had the Animal Farm movie on his slate for some time, so it’s great to know that it’s finally happening. Serkis recently helmed Venom: Let There Be Carnage and can currently be seen playing Alfred in The Batman, which is now streaming on HBO Max.