Animal Farm movie from Andy Serkis acquired by Netflix

Deadline is reporting that Netflix has acquired the Animal Farm movie adaptation of George Orwell’s classic story for director Andy Serkis (Mowgli), who has been set to direct the project for a number of years. Serkis’ directorial debut, Mowgli, was also recently acquired by Netflix from Warner Bros.

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Orwell’s novella, published in 1945, was inspired by the Russian revolution of 1917 and the subsequent Stalinist regime of the Soviet Union. The story focuses on a group of animals who rebel against the humans who own the farm to win their independence. The architects of the revolution create a utopian environment based on equality, but a pig named Napoleon twists the original intent, slowly eliminating his rivals and enacts seven commandments, the basis of which declares that “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

Matt Reeves, Rafi Chrohn, and Adam Kassan will produce for 6th & Idaho alongside Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish for The Imaginarium, who has owned the rights to the George Orwell Estate since 2012. Serkis has previously collaborated with Reeves on Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes.

“We are incredibly excited to have finally found the perfect creative home in Netflix, for this extraordinarily zeitgeist work by George Orwell,” Serkis said. “On top of that, to be reunited with my great friend Matt Reeves, with his acute sensitivity, storytelling intelligence and honesty, and command in this realm, is to have the very best scenario for our long-held passion to bring this fable to alive.”

“Andy is such an incredible artist — he is truly a force of nature, and a beautiful soul,” added Reeves. “To be able to work with him again and with Jonathan and Netflix to see Orwell’s classic tale brought to life in a totally new and exciting way is an absolute dream.”

Cavendish confirmed in a statement that the adaptation will be a contemporary tale highlighting the “staggering relevance today of the satirical and dramatic power” of Orwell’s Animal Farm.