Freedom!

Here's some good news from the good people over at Netflix, two decades after the original comedy first landed in cinemas.

Netflix has this morning announced that the 'Chicken Run' sequel, which has been in the works for a number of years, will finally begin production next year.

Aardman Animations, the animation company based in Bristol who have created the likes of 'Wallace and Gromit' and 'Shaun the Sheep' through stop-motion clay animation techniques, will begin work on the follow-up to one of their greatest animation ventures.

Netflix broke the news this morning, tweeting: "POULTRY NEWS: Exactly 20 years to the day since the original was released, we can confirm there will be a Chicken Run sequel coming to Netflix!! Produced by Aardman, production is expected to begin next year. Eggsellent."

The original 'Chicken Run' movie starred Julia Sawalha as head chicken Ginger, Imelda Staunton as Bunty, Timothy Spall as Nick, Miranda Richardson as the dastardly Mrs. Tweedy, and Mel Gibson as the "hero" of the hour, Rocky. Last we saw of the flock, they had managed to escape the clutches of Mrs. Tweedy and her chicken pie plan, and found themselves hatched up in a sanctuary where there were able to roam free. Will the whole gang be back for the sequel?

According to Variety, most of the cast will indeed return, including Gibson. The 'Chicken Run' sequel will continue to follow Ginger and Rocky on their island of paradise with the pair welcoming their daughter Molly. However, Molly begins to outgrow the island and longs for an adventure - meanwhile, there's news of a growing threat on the mainland which Ginger and her troops rally to help oust once and for all.

Oscar-nominated director Sam Fell is also lined up to direct, he who helmed 'Paranorman' and 'Flushed Away' in the past.