Overview
- The animated feature is directed by Andy Serkis from a script by Nicholas Stoller and features voices including Seth Rogen, Glenn Close, Woody Harrelson, Kieran Culkin, Steve Buscemi, Gaten Matarazzo and Laverne Cox.
- Angel Studios will distribute the film in U.S. theaters on May 1, 2026, following a lengthy development and distribution hunt reported to span about 14 years.
- The new adaptation introduces a billionaire character, Frieda Pilkington (voiced by Glenn Close), and reorients the story’s target toward contemporary corporate themes.
- The trailer’s light, joke‑driven tone prompted online criticism that the film strays from George Orwell’s original political focus, with some commentators labeling the approach “woke.”
- Serkis has described seeking a more hopeful tone, while Angel Studios positions the project as a timely mirror to present‑day concerns.