Watership Down is one of those books/movies that you know someone has watched because of the deep-seeded trauma and horror that flashes in their eyes whenever the name comes up. If you’ve been sparred from this dark tale of adorable rabbits trying to survival in this cruel and dark world, you’ll have a new chance to experience for yourself in the BBC’s remake.
The BBC and Netflix are working are on a Watership Down mini-series, which will re-adapt the book by Richard Adams. Many remember the 1978 animated film made from the book, though not for the happiest of reasons. The story follows a warren of rabbits who must venture into the brutal world in order to find a new home. The hyper-realistic depictions of animal death and maiming turned the film into a cult classic.
The animated show will feature the voice talents of some big name stars, including John Boyega, James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, Daniel Kaluuya, Rosamund Pike, Ben Kingsley, Gemma Arterton, Peter Capaldi, and Olivia Colman. The mini-series will be directed by Noam Murro, who directed the film 300: Rise Of An Empire, which seems a little like an omen portending how violent and bloody this adaptation might be. Singer and songwriter Sam Smith will also be composing an original song for the show.
The story won’t be exactly the same. According to Nerdist, some of the rabbits of the warren, which were originally all male, will be female. There are supposedly some other minor changes, but it seems like they will have to be seen rather than told. The animation will be done using computer graphics, which might give viewers that same uncanny valley effect from the original.
Watership Down will premiere in the UK in December 2018, and will be available in the US through Netflix sometime shortly after.
