Last May, Andy Serkis wrapped production on his long-gestating animated film based on George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.” Nicholas Stoller (“The Muppets”) penned the screenplay. It’s been a long time coming as Serkis has been working on this project for almost 15 years.
“Animal Farm” has now seemingly set up a premierevat the Annecy Film Festival. Serkis’ animated film also announced its starry voice cast; Seth Rogen, Steve Buscemi, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Woody Harrelson, Kathleen Turner, and Serkis will also lend his vocal talents.
“Animal Farm” was Orwell’s political allegory in which a group of farm animals rebel against their human farmer, hoping to create a society where all animals are equal. Led by the pigs, especially the cunning Napoleon and the idealistic Snowball, they initially achieve their dream. However, as time passes, the pigs become increasingly authoritarian, eventually mirroring the oppressive behavior of the humans they replaced.
The book served as a critique of totalitarianism, showing how power can corrupt even those with the noblest intentions. Orwell’s material has long been deemed unfilmable due to its nuance and symbolism, but with Serkis at the helm, there is renewed hope that modern filmmaking techniques might finally bring Orwell’s vision to life.
