Andy Serkis Keeps Animal Farm Adaptation's Innocence to Balance Darkness

The 58-year-old actor and filmmaker, Andy Serkis, is set to helm an animated take on George Orwell's dystopian fable, Animal Farm. The story follows a group of farm animals rebelling against their human owner to create a society where they can be free and equal. Serkis chose animation to tell the tale, citing its ability to maintain the innocence of the original book's storytelling while allowing for more depth in its themes. According to Serkis, live-action adaptations would necessarily have been darker from the start, whereas animation provides the freedom to balance emotional engagement with darker themes.

Key Takeaways:

• Serkis chose animation for Animal Farm to maintain the innocence of the story and allow for more depth in its themes.
• Live-action adaptations would have been darker from the start, while animation provides the freedom to balance emotional engagement with darker themes.
• The story questions core human values that are "slipping away," such as selflessness and honesty.
• The fable remains relevant, serving as a key instrument in understanding how the world works.
• Nicholas Stoller adapted the screenplay for Serkis's movie, which will be produced by Adam Nagle, Dave Rosenbaum, and Jonathan Cavendish.
• The project is a reflection of Orwell's description of the book as a fairy tale, which will be explored in the animated adaptation.

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Sources:

• Variety
• Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images
• Bang Showbiz & Sion Morgan ( Andy Serkis wants to keep his Animal Farm adaptation full of innocence to balance the book's darkness)