What we know about Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Fetch the cheese and crackers and put the kettle on because Wallace and Gromit are back in their latest adventure Vengeance Most Fowl on Christmas day.

The film marks the duo’s second feature-length outing following 2005’s charming classic The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. However, Aardman Animations’ beloved dog and owner duo have had a long history of delivering the goods when it comes to quality animated content.

Created by Nick Park, Wallace and Gromit first landed on our radar in 1989’s space quest A Grand Day Out, followed by pants-panic The Wrong Trousers in 1993 and A Close Shave in 1995, the latter of which gave us Shaun the Sheep.

The pair were last seen on screen in the 2008 short A Matter of Loaf or Death, but their latest feature has links back to one of their classic earlier works. Here’s what we know about Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl…

When will Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl be released?

The new, 70-minute feature, Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, will air on BBC One on Christmas day. Those who miss it live on telly will be able to catch it on-demand via BBC iPlayer.

It’ll be available to stream on Netflix outside the UK from 3 January 2025.

Is Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl worth watching?

Film critics have praised Wallace and Gromit’s new film ahead of its festive release, with The Independent praising Aardman’s “continuing brilliance” and The Wrap calling the movie a “delight”.

The Guardian hailed Vengeance Most Fowl as a Christmas “cracker” with “all the trimmings”, but said it falls short of being a “top-tier Aardman” flick like the Shaun the Sheep Movie. Meanwhile, the Evening Standard said the “amusing” film feels too similar to previous Wallace and Gromit outings. Read the reviews below:

• The Independent: Vengeance Most Fowl is rib-tickling proof that newer isn’t always better (3-minute read)

• The Guardian: First they came for the trousers. Then they came for the robot gnome (3-minute read)

• Evening Standard: Chuckles rather than belly laughs from Aardman (3-minute read)

• The Wrap: Feathers McGraw returns in a hysterical sequel (5-minute read)

• Variety: Feathers returns in what could have been a perfectly charming short (5-minute read)

• Deadline: The return of Nick Park’s toon buddy movie pair is cause for celebration (3-minute read)

Is there a trailer for Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl?

In June 2024, Aardman Animations released a brief teaser that showed a familiar face being released from prison. The last time we saw Feathers McGraw, he was disguising himself as a chicken and using Wallace’s robotic trousers to try to steal a rare diamond.

Luckily, Gromit managed to put a stop to his evil plans before they could be carried out. However, by the looks of it, Feathers is now at large once again — and he has revenge in his sights. Watch the teaser below:

Another teaser landed in October, giving fans a first look at Wallace’s newest creation: a smiley, voice-activated smart gnome. Hopefully, no evil penguins will use that feature to their advantage...

Another trailer was released by the BBC in November when the film's Christmas day release date was confirmed. Watch it below.

What happens in Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl?

Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl will bring nefarious penguin Feathers McGraw back into contact with local inventor Wallace and his loyal dog Gromit. This time around, Wallace has invented a ‘smart’ garden gnome — but unfortunately, it seems to have a mind of its own.

“I’d had the idea of a film about garden gnomes turning bad for more than a decade, but I could never work out what made them bad,” explained Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park, who co-directed the film with Merlin Crossingham.

“It occurred to me that the single most asked question I get when I meet fans is, will the penguin Feathers McGraw, Wallace and Gromit’s original antagonist from The Wrong Trousers 30 years ago, ever return? We’ve had fun bringing him back in cameo capacities but now, three decades on, it felt like the right time.

“Then it hit me: What if Feathers was involved with these gnomes? We’re hoping that this film will appeal to fans of ‘Gnome Noir’ everywhere and that people will be gratified when they see what Feathers has been up to since The Wrong Trousers.”

We also know that Gromit will have to save the day once again, with the future of Wallace’s inventing abilities depending on his success.

Who stars in Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl?

Actor Ben Whitehead will play Wallace, taking over the role from The Last of the Summer Wine actor Peter Sallis who performed the character from its 1989 inception until his death in 2017. Whitehead has previously provided the voice of Wallace in other, smaller Aardman projects and will shepherd him into the future in this first extended performance.

Comedian Peter Kay will return to voice local copper PC Mackintosh — a character that first appeared in Curse of The Ware-Rabbit and who has now been promoted to Chief Inspector. Everyone’s Talking About Jamie actor Lauren Patel will co-star as new recruit PC Mukherjee.

Inside No 9’s Reece Shearsmith will voice Wallace’s smart gnome Norbot. A host of other British names will appear in cameo roles including Cunk On Earth star Diane Morgan, Bridgerton’s Adjoa Andoh and comedian Sir Lenny Henry.

Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl will air on BBC One and stream on iPlayer from Christmas day 2024.