Chicken Run fans brand new voice in trailer ‘jarring’ after cast shake-up saw Julia Sawalha claim she ‘was axed for sounding too old’ and Mel Gibson replaced as Rocky

The much-anticipated Chicken Run sequel dropped its first trailer on Tuesday, 23 years after it became the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film in history.

But fans continued to crave Julia Sawalha’s familiar voice as heroine Ginger after producers replaced the actress, 54, with Thandiwe Newton, 50.

Viewers called Thandiwe’s voice “shocking and disappointing” when they reacted to the first teaser for the upcoming film Dawn Of The Nugget, which will be released on Netflix on December 15.

The casting stir sparked controversy when Aardman Animation announced plans to bring a sequel to their blockbuster hit, but with a different cast.

Julia, 54, said at the time that she was ‘picked, stuffed and roasted’ and claimed she was suspended because she ‘sounded too old’.

Mel Gibson, who played American Cockerill Rocky, was recast following the backlash of Winona Ryder’s claims that he called her an “oven dodger” at a party when he learned she was Jewish – something he vehemently denies.

Zachary Levi plays the role of Rocky in the sequel, and fans have flocked to X – formerly known as Twitter – with their first thoughts.

One wrote: ‘Let me get this straight, Julia Sawalha sounded ‘too old’ to come back and voice Ginger in the Chicken Run sequel (which is a lie by the way), but they cast someone who sounds NOTHING like Ginger’s voice in the movie. smallest. It puts me out of tune a bit, I won’t lie.’

Another viewer added, “Absolutely no interest in the new Chicken Run movie without Julia Sawalha, Phil Daniels or Timothy Spall in it.”

Timothy played mouse Nick in the franchise, while Phil played Fetcher, the other mouse.

In the sequel, Romesh Ranganathan takes on Nick and Daniel Mays is Fetcher.

David Bradley is the new Fowler, while Jane Horrocks, Imelda Staunton and Lynn Ferguson reprise their roles as Babs, Bunty and Mac.

Bella Ramsey, Nick Mohammed and Josie Sedgwick-Davies have voiced three new characters: Molly, Dr. Fry and Frizzle.

Others wrote: “It looks promising, although it is so shocking and disappointing not to hear Julia’s Sawalha’s voice as Ginger.”

‘I don’t really know who it is for? The modernization and recast suggest it’s for a new, young audience (fine, cool), but the whole thing is a sequel and Chicken Run conceptually feels like it’s appealing to the nostalgia of an older generation… Strange trailer,’ added another. .

“Can we all take a moment to realize that in an effort to be less controversial, the new Chicken Run movie features the character previous voiced by Mel Gibson, now played by…Zachary Levi LO L.”

In January, Zachary was criticized online after he posted a tweet critical of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer.

The Shazam! Fury Of The Gods faced backlash after tweeting a message from an account espousing anti-vaccine views that claimed Pfizer was “a real danger to the world.”

The trailer comes three years after Julia dropped out of Aardman Animation after being told her role in the anticipated Chicken Run sequel was being recast.

The British actress posted a statement telling fans that she was “unjustly fired” from the 2000 film sequel.

Posting a statement on Twitter under the headline ‘Chicken Run 2 Announcement! I’m officially picked, stuffed and roasted #ageism,” Julia wrote that she was told “out of the blue” that the film’s creatives were planning a recast.

“Last week I was told out of the blue, via email, through my agent that I would not be cast as Ginger in the Chicken Run sequel. The reason they gave is that my voice now sounds ‘too old’ and they want a younger actress to reprise the role,” she wrote.

“Usually in these circumstances an actress was given the chance to do a voice test to determine the appropriateness of their pitch and tone, but I didn’t get that chance.”

Determined to prove that her voice hasn’t changed in 20 years, Julia explained that she recorded a voice test at home and sent it to producers, with a link to the video.

But her efforts were wasted when she later received an email from producers saying they still planned to recast.

“I received my letter of resignation the day before it was announced that the ‘Lone Free Ranger’ had been dropped from the sequel and that the character of Rocky would be voiced again,” she continued, referring to the character being voiced by Mel. Gibson in the original.

“The reason given was that his voice is too old now. I feel like I’ve been fobbed off with the same excuse.

“I did my very best to prove to the production that my voice is virtually the same as in the original film. If they’re going to use some of the original cast members… let’s face it, I feel like I’ve been unfairly fired.”

She continued, “To say I’m devastated and furious would be an understatement. I feel completely powerless, something in all of this is not quite right. I trust my instincts and they are waving red flags.

“I am saddened to have lost the opportunity to work with Nick Park and Peter Lord, from whom I have learned so much. The three of us created Ginger together.’

“I can’t help but thank all of you who loved and still love Chicken Run as much as I did. I’ll get to work now,” she added, before signing off as Ginger.

MailOnline then contacted Aardman for comment.

Despite the controversy over the cast shake-up, Chicken Run was popular on X with many sharing their excitement over the film’s release.

One wrote: ‘What a gem the first coop is. Can’t wait for this sequel. It seems to be a very nice movie in the making. Seems very true to the original in every way.”

The plot followers Ginger and Rocky come with a little girl named Molly.

While the couple’s world seems complete, they are later forced to turn their attention to the dangers of the mainland.

The dynamic duo muster their forces and risk their freedom in an attempt to overcome the threat of the evil Mrs. Tweedy.