On Tuesday, Dec. 16, Angel Studios provided a more thorough response to the backlash it received for the upcoming release of an animated adaptation of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” directed by Andy Serkis.
Serkis is known for his role as Gollum in Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” franchise and for directing “Venom: Let There Be Carnage.” Serkis has also starred in “The Batman,” “Andor,” “Black Panther,” and “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” and he voiced Snoke in “Stars Wars” Episodes VII-IX.
“Animal Farm” features a star-studded 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”).
Despite being approved by Angel Guild members, the film was hit with criticism for its “cute” trailer and for featuring Laverne Cox, who is trans, and Jim Parsons, who is married to a man.
“As social and mainstream media respond to incomplete or erroneous information, it’s important to get the facts straight. There are four,” Angel’s statement said. “Angel is the distributor of this film, not its producer, nor with creative control. Angel Guild members viewed the film and voted heavily to support it.”
The statement continued, “While the title is the same as the classic book, updates were made to make it relevant to a broad-based, values-centric, family-friendly audience.”
The statement concluded, “This is an anti-communism film, and the Angel Guild will ensure that it stands by the principles of our members.”
Read more about the film and the criticism it is receiving here.
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