Chicken Run 2: Sequel confirmed after 18 YEARS – will original cast return?

The Aardman classic is still the most successful stop-motion animation of all time, and will now get a follow-up, according to a report.

The Hollywood Reporter claims that Sam Fell – who previously worked with the studio on Flushed Away – is on board to direct, with original writers Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell reunited to pen the script.

There’s no word on casting yet: the original starred Julia Sawalha as Ginger, Mel Gibson as Rocky, Miranda Richardson as Mrs Tweedy and Tony Haygarth as Mr Tweedy.

Other voice stars included Benjamin Whitlow, Timothy Spall, Phil Daniels, Jane Horrocks, Imelda Staunton and Lynn Ferguson. Sadly Haygarth and Whitrow have both passed away in recent years.

The first Chicken Run movie, released in 2000, amassed a global haul of $225 million, with an impressive $106 million coming from the US alone.

No stop-motion feature since has topped it, with close competition coming from Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit ($196.2 million), Flushed Away ($178 million), The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! ($123 million) and Shaun the Sheep Movie ($106.2 million).

Early Man, released earlier this year, struggled to perform and made around $48.9 million globally.

Back when Chicken Run was first release, creators were resistant to the idea of making another.

“I can tell you it is beyond their wildest dreams what has happened in the United States,” a spokesman said at the time.

“But it is playing and succeeding with a home crowd that has really got them excited.

“We are not going to consider a Chicken Run II.”

Chicken Run 2 is very early in the production process and does not currently have a release date.