Unveiling the Absence of Mel Gibson in Chicken Run 2
Discover the surprising casting change in Chicken Run 2, as Mel Gibson's iconic role as Rocky is recast Uncover the reasons behind this decision in Dawn of the Nugget, the highly anticipated sequel
The long-awaited sequel to Chicken Run, titled Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, is now available on Netflix. However, fans may notice the absence of original star Mel Gibson. So, what's the reason for his absence?
At the turn of the millennium, Aardman released the beloved stop-motion film Chicken Run, which portrayed a group of chickens plotting an escape from their pie-making, farm-turned-factory owner.
The studio's first movie opened the door for Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and Flushed Away. Despite demands for a sequel, an unexpected partnership with Netflix led to the creation of Chicken Run 2, now a top chart-topping film worldwide. Fans will be interested to learn that Rocky's voice will not be Mel Gibson's and wonder who has taken over the role this time.
Why is Mel Gibson not in Chicken Run 2?
Mel Gibson wasn’t asked to return for Chicken Run 2, so Zachary Levi is playing Rocky instead.
After meeting Aardman’s directors Nick Park and Peter Lord at the Oscars, Gibson was originally cast in Chicken Run. "He invited us to lunch at his cigar lunch and there we discovered he was a Wallace and Gromit fan, which was quite separate from choosing him to play Rocky," Park told the BBC. "Later, when we were watching Maverick, his character was not that far from Rocky. We tested his lines by stealing lines from Maverick and animating to his voice. We thought he would be perfect. You can’t audition Mel Gibson, you have to know you want him… I’m sure he’ll be offered more poultry roles after this."
Netflix is gearing up to release the sequel to #ChickenRun titled 'Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget' in 2023. The film will feature Zachary Levi as Rocky and Thandiwe Newton as Ginger, taking over from Mel Gibson and Julia Sawalha.
Gibson’s reputation in both Hollywood and the public eye took a major hit in the 2000s. Accused of homophobia in the late ’90s, he faced further controversy after making anti-Semitic comments during a DUI arrest. He apologized, but in 2010, recordings of him using racist language were released publicly. His ex-wife Oksana Grigorieva filed for divorce after accusations of domestic violence, in addition to backlash to The Passion of the Christ. While he’s since directed and starred in movies, including the Oscar-nominated Hacksaw Ridge and Dragged Across Concrete, he’s by no means a mainstream star in modern pop culture.
After the announcement of Chicken Run 2, there was speculation about whether Mel Gibson would return to his role. However, in June 2020 it was confirmed that he would not be reprising the role. This decision was reportedly not related to his past controversies, but rather to the decision to focus on younger chickens and therefore seek younger voice actors. This decision came after Winona Ryder's allegation that Gibson had made offensive remarks about her in 1995.
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is on Netflix now. Check out our other coverage below:
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z fan, I'm excited about the release of Chicken Run 2, but I'm also disappointed that Mel Gibson won't be returning to voice Rocky. Gibson's portrayal of Rocky in the original film was iconic, and I think it's a shame that he won't be able to reprise the role. I understand that the decision not to bring him back was made due to his past controversies, but I still think it's a loss for the film.
I think it's important to separate an actor's personal life from their work, and I don't think Gibson's past actions should prevent him from continuing to work as an actor. He's a talented performer, and I think he would have brought a lot to the sequel. I hope that in the future, Gibson will be able to put his past behind him and continue to make great films.
