Aardman announces third Shaun the Sheep movie: The Beast of Mossy Bottom
A Halloween-themed third Shaun the Sheep film is in the works from Aardman Animations, following hot on the heels of the success of Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.
'Expect smashed pumpkins, wayward science, and a wild hairy beast,' said Sarah Cox, chief creative director of Aardman, about the film, which launches international sales via studio StudioCanal at Cannes next week, but has already been acquired by Sky for UK distribution.
'Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom sees the residents of Mossy Bottom Farm looking forward to Halloween – until the clumsy farmer trashes the flock's beloved pumpkin patch!' runs a synopsis for the film.
'When Shaun turns mad scientist to fix the problem, things rapidly spiral out of control … With the farmer missing and a wild beast roaming the woods of Mossingham, all the ingredients are in place for a monstrously fun family adventure.'
Shaun the Sheep and some of his flock first appeared in the 1995 Wallace & Gromit film A Close Shave. Six TV series have followed – with a seventh reportedly due later this year – as well as a spin-off show for pre-schoolers, Timmy Time.
The two big-screen outings, 2015's The Shaun the Sheep Movie and 2019's A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon were both considerable hits, with the first in particular also attracting glowing reviews.
Even more than Wallace & Gromit or Aardman's other key property, Chicken Run, Shaun the Sheep has been a massive international export, thanks to the absence of dialogue and the easily comprehensible family dynamics. The TV show is broadcast in more than 170 territories worldwide, and there is a Shaun the Sheep theme park in Japan.
Nick Park will serve as one of the executive producers of the new film, while the writers and directors are graduates of the likes of Vengeance Most Fowl, The Shaun the Sheep Movie and Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas.
Halloween is a frequent touchstone for Aardman, which used it as the setting for 2005's Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. One of the most recent episodes of Shaun the Sheep, Pumpkin Peril, sees the flock trying to save the farmer's prized patch from a ghostly monster which devours them at night – and turns out to be some enthusiastic snails.
'Shaun the Sheep is an iconic character, beloved by viewers of all ages around the world. In our new animated movie, we bring family-friendly thrills to this light-hearted, spooky Halloween adventure,' said Cox
As well as winning two Baftas and being nominated for an Oscar, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl broke festive viewing records, after debuting on BBC One on Christmas Day, and on Netflix shortly after.
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