Trailer For BBC's Animated Adaptation of The Brutal Children's Story WATERSHIP DOWN
Watership Down is considered to be one of the most traumatizing children’s stories for a lot of people. I remember being completely shocked when I first saw the original 1978 animated adaptation. It’s a fantastic story, but it really is quite brutal.
BBC and Netflix teamed up for a new animated adaptation of the story and today the first trailer for the four-part series has been released. The film tells the story of survival, pain, and hope as a group of rabbits faces numerous trials while searching for a new home.
Judging by the trailer, it doesn’t look like there will be as much blood as the original film, but it still looks like it will be brutal.
The series boasts an impressive cast that includes James McAvoy as Hazel, Nicolas Hoult as his little brother Fiver, Olivia Colman as Strawberry, and Gemma Arterton as Clover. In addition there’s John Boyega, Peter Capaldi, Daniel Kaluuya, Rosamund Pike, Taron Egerton, Ben Kingsley, Tom Wilkinson, Lee Ingleby, Gemma Chan, and Daniel Rigby.
Check out the synopsis for the miniseries here, then watch the trailer:
Set in the idyllic rural landscape of southern England, this tale of adventure, courage and survival follows a band of rabbits on their flight from the intrusion of man and the certain destruction of their home. Led by a stouthearted pair of brothers, they journey forth from their native Sandleford Warren through the harrowing trials posed by predators and adversaries, towards a promised land and a more perfect society.
The new adaptation was written by Tom Bidwell (My Mad Fat Diary) and directed by Noam Murro (300: Rise Of The Empire).
The animation for the series was headed up by Pete Dodd (Fantastic Mr Fox, Frankenweenie) and Hugo Sands; along with the animation studio Brown Bag Films, based in Dublin.
Watership Down debuts on BBC One from December 22nd to 23rd, and will be released on Netflix December 23rd. Check out the trailer below and tell us what you think!