On Friday, Dec. 12, Angel Studios, the streaming platform that introduced the world to “The Chosen,” announced it will release a new animated adaptation of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” in theaters nationwide on May 1, 2026. The studio acquired theatrical distribution rights for the project, which is led by director Andy Serkis.
According to Angel Studios’ website, the streaming platform that is “powered by over 1 million Angel Guild members [is] driven by purpose, and built to share stories that amplify light.” In addition to “The Chosen,” Angel Studios has distributed “Sound of Freedom,” “The King of Kings,” Bonhoeffer,” “Homestead,” “Cabrini,” “Sound of Hope,” “The WingFeather Saga,” and the upcoming animated film “David.” It is also often heralded as a family-friendly alternative to the Disney+ streaming platform.
“Animal Farm” premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June and features a voice cast that includes Seth Rogen (“Superbad,” Pineapple Express,” “Kung Fu Panda,” “Knocked Up”), Glenn Close (“Fatal Attraction,” “The Natural,” “Guardians of the Galaxy”), Kieran Culkin (“Succession,” “Father of the Bride”), Woody Harrelson (“White Men Can’t Jump,” “Natural Born Killers,” “Zombieland,” “The Hunger Games”), Steve Buscemi (“Con Air,” “Armageddon,” “Reservoir Dogs”), Laverne Cox (“Orange Is the New Black”), Kathleen Turner (“Romancing the Stone,” “Peggy Sue Got Married”), Andy Serkis (“Lord of the Rings,” “The Batman,” “Black Panther”), Gaten Matarazzo (“Stranger Things”), and Jim Parsons (“The Big Bang Theory”).
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Brandon Purdie, executive vice president of theatrical and brand development at Angel, said that this is a “project of tremendous heart.”
“Andy Serkis’ visionary direction, combined with this powerhouse cast, creates a film that feels timely, urgent, and deeply human—even though the protagonists might be pigs, donkeys, and horses,” Purdie added. “We’re confident that moviegoers will see not just a story of farm animals, but a mirror held up to our world today.”
“Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ has never felt more relevant,” Serkis said in a press release. “In an age where power, propaganda, and inequality shape our societies, it’s vital that we remember his cautionary tale. This adaptation isn’t just a story for entertainment—it’s a reminder that democracy, freedom, and integrity are fragile, and must be watched over.”
Serkis hopes “audiences walk away moved, thoughtful, and inspired to stand up for the values that matter. I’m honored that Angel and the Angel Guild are willing to bring this film to big screens around the world.”
A synopsis of Orwell’s 1945 release, which was originally subtitled, “A Fairy Story,” describes the tale as follows:
A farm is taken over by its overworked, mistreated animals. With flaming idealism and stirring slogans, they set out to create a paradise of progress, justice, and equality. Thus the stage is set for one of the most telling satiric fables ever penned—a razor-edged fairy tale for grown-ups that records the evolution from revolution against tyranny to a totalitarianism just as terrible.
