Netflix is bringing the famous allegorical novella of George Orwell to life in what's set to be a performance-capture film directed by 'Planet of the Apes' star Andy Serkis.
The project will see Serkis reuniting with Matt Reeves, director of 'Planet of the Apes' and 'War for the Planet of the Apes'. Reeves is set to produce with Rafi Crohn and Adam Kassan alongside The Imaginarium’s Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish.
Reeves made an overall deal with Netflix in January while Serkis and Cavendish originally acquired the rights to 'Animal Farm' in 2012.
"We are incredibly excited to have finally found the perfect creative home in Netflix for this extraordinarily zeitgeist work by George Orwell," Serkis said in a statement. "On top of that, to be re-united with my great friend Matt Reeves - with his acute sensitivity, storytelling intelligence and honesty and command in this realm - is to have the very best scenario for our long-held passion to bring this fable alive."
While Cavendish said the intention is to bring "Animal Farm to the screen in a thoroughly contemporary fashion, which will highlight the staggering relevance today of the satirical and dramatic power of Orwell’s re-imagined classic."
Reeves added: "Andy is such an incredible artist - he is truly a force of nature and a beautiful soul. To be able to work with him again and with Jonathan and Netflix to see Orwell’s classic tale brought to life in a totally new and exciting way is an absolute dream."
'Animal Farm' was previously adapted for a British animated feature in 1954 and again in 1999 for a made-for-TV live-action film.
The news comes just days after Netflix also announced it had picked up the worldwide distribution rights to Andy Serkis' upcoming mo-cap adventure, 'Mowgli', based in part on Rudyard Kipling's 'The Jungle Book'.
Via Deadline.
