More than 15 years after development on the project first started, Andy Serkis’s new take on Animal Farm finally arrives in UK cinemas this week.
The star-studded animation – which includes voice roles for Seth Rogen, Kieran Culkin and Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo to name just three – adapts George Orwell’s landmark satirical novel into a colourful, family-friendly film that’s somewhat tonally different to its source material.
But speaking exclusively to Radio Times, Serkis revealed that he thought long and hard about what the legendary author might make of his version of the story.
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“We considered it very, very, very deeply,” he said, explaining that he had worked closely with the Orwell estate. “Orwell was many things and [he] came from a particular background, but then sort of completely reviled that background he came from.
“He worked in Burma as a policeman and was involved in a rather brutal occupation and saw colonialism as not a great thing. He then obviously became a socialist. He then fought in the Spanish Civil War, as we all know, and then ended up fighting against communists.
“So one thing he was absolutely clear about in his writing was that he was an anti-authoritarian, and that is, I suppose, where the common link is for us. The story still represents that, it is about fighting against oppression.’
The changes Serkis made included adapting the setting to modern times, introducing a new young pig named Lucky and adding plenty of toilet humour, while he also altered the novel’s memorable ending by adding some new scenes.
Speaking specifically about that ending, he explained that he felt the need to make significant changes given there is no traditional third act in Animal Farm.
“It ends very abruptly at the end of a second act,” he said. “Which says life is hopeless. The animals look from pig to man and man to pig, and there’s no end to this. It’s just going to be bleak forever.
“And we felt that this world is as bleak as it can be and difficult enough to live in,” he added. “That in order to increase the potential for young inquiring minds to have a debate… we’re not tying everything up in a Hollywood ending with a nice big fat bow.
“We’re sort of saying, okay…. history repeats itself, and inevitably it goes wrong. Can it possibly be any better? And if so, how? And so that’s an artistic decision, but I think one which suits our times in a way, and that Orwell would approve of.”
Animal Farm is now showing in UK cinemas.
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