Watership Down trailer: Rabbits face mortal peril in £20m adaptation
Watership Down trailer: Rabbits voiced by James McAvoy and Olivia Colman face mortal peril in £20m adaptation
The first trailer for the CGI adaptation of Watership Down has been released, with voices of Olivia Colman and James McAvoy facing mortal peril as rabbits seeking a new home.
The latest version of the 1972 children’s novel sees a group of rabbits facing all manner of danger after being forced to leave their idyllic countryside home, for the two-part miniseries which is believed to have cost around £20 million.
While many have shared their excitement for the remake, others have been quick to slam the ‘video game-level’ animation, with many insisting they prefer the 2D version, which despite it’s violent bloodshed has remained a cult classic.
Dramatic: The first trailer for the CGI adaptation of Watership Down has been released, with voices of Olivia Colman and James McAvoy facing mortal peril as rabbits seeking a new home
In the preview we are introduced to the key clan of rabbits who will embark on an epic quest to find a new home, with a stellar voice cast featuring James McAvoy, Olivia Colman, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley and Rosamund Pike.
Olivia Colman embraces her role as ‘ugly, beautiful’ Queen…
Gemma Arterton looks effortlessly chic in seasonal attire as…
Books aren’t just for Christmas — they make great TV too!…
Gemma Arterton oozes glamour in chic patchwork navy gown at…
Share this article
The official synopsis for the miniseries reads: ‘Set in the idyllic rural landscape of southern England, this tale of adventure, courage and survival follows a band of rabbits on their flight from the intrusion of man and the certain destruction of their home.
‘Led by a stouthearted pair of brothers, they journey forth from their native home of Sandleford Warren through the harrowing trials posed by predators and adversaries, towards a promised land and a more perfect society.’
Terrifying: The latest version of the 1972 children’s novel sees a group of rabbits facing all manner of danger after being forced to leave their idyllic countryside home
Big budget: The two-part miniseries, made in collaboration with Netflix, is said to cost a staggering £20 million
Dramatic: In the latest CGI version, a group of rabbits will face all manner of sinister threats, from other animals and their own kind, as they desperately try to search for a new home
At odds: It also features a star-studded voice cast, including James McAvoy, John Boyega, Rosamund Pike and Olivia Colman
At risk: Many of the rabbits are already facing near-death in this first trailer, for the series which is based on the classic 1972 novel by Richard Adams
Threats: In standard fashion, several of the rabbits will also find themselves in danger from human hunters
The trailer provides glimpses of the epic adventure which sees the rabbits forced to find a new home, and battling all manner of animal and human obstacles in their way.
While the preview does not focus on any particular element of the famous story, it provides an overlook of some of the rabbits’ epic journey, as they even come face-to-face with enemies from their own kind, along with other animals and the all-too-real human threat.
It also features some more psychedelic visuals than fans of the original novel may be familiar with, perhaps adding a modern twist to this adaptation.
It remains to be seen whether this version will feature the same dark and bloody violence which emotionally scarred a generation the first time around, when John Hurt famously led the cast of an animated film version in 1978.
Dangerous: While the preview does not focus on any particular element of the famous story, it provides an overlook of some of the rabbits’ epic journey
Not good: While many fans were quick to praise the action-packed trailer, others slammed the CGi as ‘PS2 level,’ adding that it paled in comparison to the classic film
Iconic: This new version comes after the original 1978 classic animated version, which while held in high regard, is recalled to have emotionally scarred many children
Gory? This trailer provides little hints as to whether it will feature as much bloody violence as the original
Sinister: It does tease the famous battle between our protagonist rabbits and their rivals
Family friendly: Executive producer Rory Aitken said the new BBC remake won’t be as ‘scarring’ as the original
While many fans were quick to praise the action-packed trailer, others slammed the CGi as ‘PS2 level,’ adding that it paled in comparison to the classic film.
One wrote: ‘That looks really poor. Should have spent the money cleaning up and ‘up res-ing’ the original. Terrible.’
Another added: ‘Looks like cheap video game graphics. AWFUL animation. What the b***** HELL were they thinking…? This is a CLASSIC. The original still looks better!! This is a mistake -.-‘
A third also commented: ‘Looks like a PS2 game.’
Controversial: Viewers had previously flooded Twitter with complaints after the original film was aired on Easter Sunday, with many saying how much it affected their children
A bit cleaner? One memorably nasty scene showed a bunny choking on a snare while another clip captured the bloody fights breaking out between the rabbits
Nice: Rory Aitken said: ‘While we won’t shy away from the darkness in the book, visually it won’t be as brutal and scarring. The idea is to bring it to a wider family audience’
Playing it safe: So far this trailer hints at a paired-down adaptation of the original novel, with less violence and gore
Executive producer Rory Aitken said the new BBC remake won’t be as ‘scarring’ after many parents flooded Twitter with complaints when the original was re-aired on Easter Sunday.
One memorably nasty scene showed a bunny choking on a snare while another clip captured the bloody fights breaking out between the rabbits.
He told The Daily Telegraph: ‘The thing about Watership Down is that it’s an epic adventure story.
‘While we won’t shy away from the darkness in the book, visually it won’t be as brutal and scarring. The idea is to bring it to a wider family audience.’
Watership Down will air on Saturday 22nd December and Sunday 23rd December on BBC One.
Touching: The trailer also teases a touching love story of sorts, as the family of rabbits try to find a new place they can call home
Watership Down will air on Saturday 22nd December and Sunday 23rd December on BBC One
Source: Read Full Article