The British company Aardman Animation has confirmed its intention to release a sequel to the popular 2000 plasticine cartoon Escape from the Coop. The project will be directed by Sam Fell, known for the animated films “Paranorman, or How to Train Your Zombies” and “The Despero Adventures”. This was reported by representatives of the studio on the sidelines of the Annecy International Festival of Animated Films, which takes place online this year.

It also became known that the streaming giant Netflix acquired the rights to distribute the picture.

One of the founders of the studio, director, producer and screenwriter of the first part, Peter Lord, said that Aardman Animation has long considered the possibility of making a sequel.

“We have a great story, and relations with Netflix are excellent, because the directors respect the service and create favorable conditions for cooperation. I feel that now we can make the sequel “Chicken Run Escape” the way it was intended to be really valuable to us, ”Variety quotes Lord.

According to Sam Fell, one of the characters in Chicken Run Escape will be Ginger Chicken, which, in the story, now lives in a chicken paradise without people. There, Ginger and Rocky hatch a daughter. Soon there are rumors of a new terrible threat on the mainland. Ginger has to gather his troops and risk his own hard-won freedom for the common good.

“I promise you will be very fun to see these chickens in action again. All gadgets, all the equipment - it seems to me, weaving scenes with a brilliant hacking and robbery into the plot canvas, we are moving towards almost the tribute to the saga “Mission Impossible,” the director said.

It is expected that the filming of the cartoon will take place next year. In addition to Peter Lord, Karl Shelley and Carey Kirkpatrick will return to the project as executive producers. Also, producer Steve Pegram and screenwriter Rachel Tunnard will take part in the work on the tape. One of the directors, producers and screenwriters of the first part of Nick Park this time will act as a consultant.

"Karate Boy" Netflix

A day earlier it became known that on the Netflix will also be available three seasons of the comedy series "Cobra Kai", which is filmed under the auspices of Sony Pictures Television. This is a continuation of the story from the 1984 tape "The Karate Boy", also known for the remake of "Karate Boy" with Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith.

According to Jeff Frost, president of Sony TV, Cobra Kai is the company's pride. “We are proud of the Cobra Kai series and are shocked by the incredible response of the fans. “Josh Hild, John Harvitz, Hayden Schlossberg, Ralph Machchio, William Zabka and the whole cast have shown themselves brilliantly in this wonderful series, and the wide response and feelings that the audience evokes only serves to confirm this,” said Frost.

The first two seasons of Cobra Kai were the original YouTube product. The video service broadcast them in 2018 and 2019, and it was planned that the third season would be released there. However, then YouTube changed its business model: earlier the platform distributed part of the content by subscription, now the video service management is focusing on generating revenue from embedded advertising. Based on the new concept, YouTube was forced to inform Sony TV that after the end of the third season, the platform will not be interested in continuing. Therefore, the Sony leadership decided to place the already released two seasons and the planned third entirely on Netflix.

  • © kinopoisk.ru

Two Cobra Kai seasons will be available on Netflix this year. The premiere date of the third has not yet been announced. It is noteworthy that for the rights to the series Netflix fought with Hulu and other competitors.

“No matter how many years have passed, the saga of“ The Karate Boy ”still attracts viewers, and in the new season of“ Kobra Kai ”the story, without changing the rhythm, will continue from the moment we stopped before ... We are We look forward to introducing the series to a new generation of fans and are pleased that our platform will become his new home worldwide, ”said Brian Wright, vice president of Netflix for original projects.

Festival cinema and animated "The Witcher"

Also in June, Netflix acquired the rights to the romantic comedy The Perfect Find. The full-length adaptation of the novel by Tia Williams will be removed by Numa Perrier (Jezebel), and Gabriel Union (Cadillac Records) will play one of the roles.

In addition, the platform will show a new festival movie. A documentary tape (winner of the Sundance Audience Award) by Giving Voice of James D. Stern will be added to the library. 

Another important acquisition of Netflix could be the film “The Case of the Chicago Seven,” which Paramount was planning to release in 2020.

Nevertheless, several other companies own the rights to show this film in different regions, therefore, in order for the deal to take place, the parties have to resolve a number of issues.

The streaming giant is also preparing several serial projects. So, on August 17, filming of the second season of the series The Witcher is planned. The premiere is expected in 2021. Netflix also has an animated film called The Witcher: The Nightmare of the Wolf.

On August 21, the company will present the first of 16 episodes of the fifth season of the Lucifer series, which was based on the comics of the same name by Neil Gaiman and Sam Keith. It was assumed that he would be the last, but at the end of May the tape was extended for the sixth season.