New details have emerged today regarding the long-awaited sequel to Chicken Run.

The Aardman animation was a major hit with critics and audiences way back in 2000, yet a sequel was never green lit until eighteen months ago

It has been confirmed that the film will be entitled Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, with a release date set for 2023.

Furthermore, it has been revealed that a number of beloved characters will be returning, albeit with a mix of old and new voice actors.

As previously reported in 2020, original stars Julia Sawalha and Mel Gibson are NOT returning as our heroic duo of Ginger and Rocky. While Gibson’s recasting was an inevitable one, Sawalha’s was deemed more controversial with the producers being accused of ageism

Instead, BAFTA-winning actress Thandiwe Newton (Westworld, Line of Duty) will voice Ginger alongside Zachary Levi (Tangled, Shazam!) as Rocky and Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones, The Worst Witch) as their daughter Molly.

Filling out the chicken coop are British stars young and old. Reprising their roles from the first film are Jane Horrocks as Babs, Imelda Staunton as Bunty and Lynn Ferguson as Mac,

They are joined by new additions including Josie Sedgwick-Davies (Hound & the Rabbit) as Frizzle, David Bradley (Harry Potter series, Game of Thrones) as Fowler, Romesh Ranganathan (King Gary, Cinderella) as Nick, Daniel Mays (Good Omens, Code 404) as Fetcher and Nick Mohammed (Intelligence, Ted Lasso) as Dr. Fry.

The plot for the sequel sees Ginger having finally found her dream — a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland, the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat.

Sam Fell (Flushed Away, ParaNorman) directs the film, which is currently scheduled for release in 2023.