The BBC has released the first trailer for their upcoming remake of Watership Down. Check out the footage in the video player below.
BBC1 and Netflix have united to adapt Richard Adams’ classic novel Watership Down, which tales the story of a group of rabbits fleeing human violence and the impending destruction of their home. Pass us the tissues, we feel like we are going to need them all over again!
James McAvoy, John Boyega, Nicholas Hoult and Olivia Colman are among the A-list stars lending their voices to the BBC1/Netflix adaptation.
In addition to X-Men’s Nicholas Hoult and James McAvoy as Fiver and Hazel, the cast includes: Ben Kingsley (Shutter Island, Iron Man 3) as General Woundwort, John Boyega (Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Attack The Block) as Bigwig, Gemma Arterton (Made In Dagenham) as Clover, Miles Jupp (Rev, The Thick Of It) as Blackberry, Freddie Fox (Pride) as Captain Holly, Olivia Colman (The Night Manager, The Lobster) as Strawberry, and Anne-Marie Duff (Suffragette) as Hyzenthlay.
For many children, this may be the first moment they are introduced to WATERSHIP DOWN and the CGI shows a very realistic take on the original animation hit. The festive season may be ruined though, as the sadness of the plot is up there with the death of Simba’s Dad in THE LION KING! Remember the 1978 film, starring John Hurt? Hopefully, it won’t be as devastating by showing the well-known, heart crushing graphic violence of many adorable bunnies being killed. *Crosses fingers and toes*
Adapted for the screen by Tom Bidwell and directed by Noam Murro, this tale of adventure, courage and survival follows a band of rabbits as they flee the certain destruction of their home. Watership Down is set in rural England and Fiver (Nicholas Hoult), a seer, is haunted by visions foreseeing their home’s destruction.
The group, led by Fiver’s brother, Hazel (James McAvoy), sets out on a treacherous journey towards a promised refuge: Watership Down.
What do you think of the new trailer? Will you be watching the film when it arrives on the BBC and Netflix? Let us know your thoughts below, tweet us @filmandtvnow or leave a comment on our Facebook page.
The four-part animated mini-series has been confirmed for Christmas 2018. The series will air on BBC1 in the UK, and be released on Netflix for international viewers.
