It is a truth universally acknowledged that the original Chicken Run, the highest-grossing stop-motion film in history, is a cinematic work of art. Oh sure, it has been dubbed “The Great Escape but with chickens” by many a casual viewer. Diehard fans, of course, will know it better as an incredibly witty and extremely British tale of feminism, class warfare, revolution and, of course, poultry. And, while the standalone story seemed to be finished and done with for years, a sequel is about to drop on Netflix some 23 years later. 

While Dawn Of The Nugget has been accused of ageism by fans and actors alike (Julia Sawalha will not reprise her role as Ginger because, and we can’t quite believe we’re writing this, the producers informed her that her voice sounds too old), plenty more have been counting down the days until its premiere on the streaming platform.

Watch the trailer for Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget below:

But what, exactly, is the sequel about? And will it prove itself worth the wait?

Here’s what you need to know, then, about Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget.

What’s the plot of Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget?

Far from the clutches of Tweedy’s Farm, Ginger and Rocky – and the rest of the flock– are living an idyllic life as free chickens on an island bird sanctuary. Shortly after they welcome a new hatchling into the fold, though, trouble begins a-brewing on the mainland as an all-too-familiar and incredibly menacing foe threatens the entire chicken population. Will our brave birds be able to save the day once again?

Who stars in Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget?

As mentioned already, the original voice cast will not be returning for this one. Thandiwe Newton and Zachary Levi will step into the roost as Ginger and Rocky respectively, with Bella Ramsey as Molly, their adventure-seeking daughter.

The trio are joined by a powerhouse of vocal talent, including Romesh Ranganathan, Imelda Staunton and Miranda Richardson, among others.

What are people saying about Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget?

The film has received mixed reviews from critics so far, with some piling praise on its wit and charm and others lambasting its “sequel for sequel’s sake” energy.

Director Sam Fell hopes people will give it a chance, though, telling Collider: “The characters are very strong, they’re very iconic, and the themes in the first film are very universal – freedom and dreams. So that core idea of what’s it like to be a chicken in a world where humans find you delicious, it’s just such a big idea, you know?”

When can we watch Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget?

The Chicken Run sequel will become available to stream on Netflix from 15 December.

Images: Netflix