“Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” is a charming tale about female heroics and parental problems. This 2023 British stop-motion animation continues the story begun in the 2000 “Chicken Run,” but  while the first film spoofed “The Great Escape,” this film pecks at a James Bond and Mission Impossible parody.

While the first movie might have you thinking twice before eating chicken pot pie, this film will make you worry about where those chicken nuggets come from. But before that, you’ll meet the old gang–Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) and her husband Rocky (Zachary Levi), the cynical Bunty (Imelda Staunton), nerdy Mac (Lynn Ferguson) and knitting expert Babe (Jane Horrocks)– in their chicken paradise, an island in a lake,  just far enough and small enough to be of interest to humans. Yet the island is not so far that a couple of rats, Nick and Fetcher (now voiced by Romesh Ranganathan and Daniel Mays), can’t make the trip with their wares.

Ginger (now voiced by Thandiwe Newton) has married Rocky (now voiced by Zachary Levi), the retired American circus rooster, and they’ve managed to hatch one egg that turned into Molly (Bella Ramsey).  In a montage, we see Molly growing from egg to young teen who wants to see the world outside of the island. Ginger realizes that there’s something going on nearby. Trees are being cut down and trucks for a chicken farm can be seen on the roads at the edge of the lake.

“You can’t right all the world’s wrong, duck,” Bunty warns.

At a community meeting, Ginger decides, they need to hide. They must camouflage their huts and gardens and Rocky must not crow.

Yet when Molly sees trucks for the chicken farm, she’s curious. Rocky and Ginger have never told her about the dangers of humans. Molly decides to run away, but as a chicken without any street smarts, she’s saved from being hit by a vehicle by another chick, Frizzle (Josie Sedgwick-Davies). Together, they travel hoping to get into what is being billed as a playground for chickens: Fun-Land Farms. Yet despite the endless food and fun, there’s something sinister beaching the facade: the villainess Tweedy, returns with a new husband Dr. Fry (Nick Mohammed) and a finger-linking good new financial plan.

Ginger, Rocky and their old gang will have to leave the island to save Molly and Frizzle. Instead of breaking out, they are breaking in.

If you can get over chicken having teeth and the vegan/vegetarian message, this is a clever fun little family-friendly romp. Older kids might question why there is only one couple in the whole island, only one youngster and only two roosters (Rocky and the elderly Fowler), and why that makes it a chicken paradise. For fans of the previous film though there might be other questions.

The original voice cast were not all asked to returned that was apparently because they were no spring chickens. The 67-year-old Mel Gibson who originally voiced Rocky was replaced by the 43-year-old Levi. Julia Sawalha who voiced the original Ginger was also recast because according to Deadline, she was “told by producers via her agent that the character of Ginger will be recast with a younger actress for the second movie.” The actress responded by a tweet with the hashtag #ageism. (The tweet no longer seems to be available.)  Deadline further reported:

Mel Gibson voiced Rocky in the original, and last month it was reported his part would be recast, though there was speculation that announcement was linked to accusations of anti-semitism, which had resurfaced against the actor just days before. However, in her letter today Sawalha claims that decision was also down to Gibson now sounding “too old”.

• Chicken Run 2 Called Ageist For Recasting Original Main Characters (10 July 2020)
• ‘Chicken Run’ Actress Julia Sawalha Says She Is Being Re-Cast In Sequel For “Sounding Too Old” (10 July 2020)

What the recasting does do is add diversity to the main cast members. Thandiwe Newton, 51,  is of Zimbabwean descent via her mother.  Bella Ramsey identifies as non-binary. Zachary Levi, 43, who replaced Gibson, despite his stage surname, is not Jewish.

Also replaced was Timothy Spall, 66, who voiced the original Nick, now voiced by the 45-year-old British-Sri Lankan actor Romesh Ranganthan.  The 65-year-old Phil Daniels who voices Nick’s friend and partner was replaced by the 45-year-old Daniel Mays.

The voice for Fowler had to be replaced because the original actor, Benjamin Whitrow died (1937-2017). The 81-year-old David Bradley replaces him. Tony Haygarth who was the original Mr. Tweedy also died in 2017, but Haygarth’s Mr. Tweedy is replaced by introducing a new character, Dr. Fry (the 43-year-old Nick Mohammed who is Indo-Trinidadian on his father’s side).

The 65-year-old Miranda Richardson returns as Mrs. Tweedy as do the 59-year-old Jane Horrocks as Babbs, the 67-year-old Imelda Staunton as Bunty, and the 58-year-old Lynn Ferguson as Mac.

It’s worth remembering that diversity also means supporting older actors, particularly women although the age difference between Newton and Sawalha seems minor. I have mixed feelings about this recasting–while I applaud the greater racial/ethnic diversity I want to cry fowl over the lack of loyalty and possible ageism.  And although I don’t generally eat chicken nuggets, I’ll still eat chicken pot pie.

“Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” made its world premiere at the 67th BFI London Film Festival (14 October 2023). The film will be released by Netflix on 15 December 2023.