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 Farmis a satirical fablethat 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 way1984did.
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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 wasVenom: Let There Be Carnage, Sony’s last successfulSpider-Manspinoff movie, and he also played Alfred inThe Batman. His company, on the other hand, has produced animated TV shows such asDeath and Nightingales, Netflix’sHalf BadandThe Ritual, plus Taika Waititi’s upcoming soccer-themed comedyNext 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, wheremovies likeFantastic BeastsorFight Clubare rendered practically pointless due to censorship.Animal Farmdid 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 legendaryEnglish rock bandPink 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 originalAnimal Farmmovie is suitable for all ages and the book is still considered to be one of the most important novels written in the English language.
