Geekery: ‘Watership Down’ Gets a 3D Adaptation with an All Star Cast
Richard Adams’ best selling novel tells stories of heroism, leadership, and exile via a group of rabbits as they fight to survive in the British countryside. It’s considered to be a literary classic, and has been adapted into a feature film, and even an RPG. This month a new animated series is coming to Netflix.
It’s been 40 years since the award winning 2D animated adaptation that introduced a generation to the story of Hazel, Fiver, and their colony. This new series from the BBC and Netflix tells the story of the colony leaving their warren, which is being taken over by a housing development. During their journey to a new home have to outrun predators and hunters, and face many hardships along the way. The story is not all dark and danger, it also has moments of joy and humor.
The new series focuses less on the violence – making it different from the 1978 version that may or may not have scarred you as a child – but it’s still not a feel good kids series, and contains a good deal of death that could be disturbing for younger kiddos. Watch it with them.
The voice cast is just as star studded as the 2D version, which included John Hurt. This time around you’ll hear Peter Capaldi, John Boyega, Gemma Arterton, Taron Egerton, Nicholas Hoult, Ben Kingsley, James McAvoy, Rosamund Pike, and Murray McArthur.
Watership Down debuts on BBC One December 22 and Netflix December 23.
And since we’re on the topic of original Netflix releases, here’s the rest of what’s coming up this month:
- Andy Serkis’ Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (today)
- Dogs of Berlin (today)
- Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma (12/14)
- Tidelands (12/14)
- The Protector (12/14)
- Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: A Midwinter’s Tale (12/14)
- Baki (12/18)
- Bird Box (12/21)
- Diablero (12/21)
- Sirius the Jaeger (12/21)
