Fantastic Mr Fox to open London Film Festival

Wes Anderson's debut animation gets world premiere in capital.

by Amber Wilkinson

Fantastic Mr Fox will open the London Film Festival on Wednesday, October 14.

The film, based on the Roald Dahl children's book, marks the animation debut of Darjeeling Limited director Wes Anderson.

Anderson co-wrote the screenplay for the stop-motion film with The Squid And The Whale's Noah Baumbach and it features an all-star voice caset, including George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Michael Gambon, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson and Jarvis Cocker.

The classic tale - which was shot at London's Three Mills Studios and will go on release in the UK on October 23 - concerns Mr and Mrs Fox (Clooney and Streep), who live an idyllic home life with their son Ash (Schwartzman) and visiting young nephew Kristopherson (Eric Anderson). But when Mr Fox slips back into his old ways as a sneaky chicken thief he endangers not only his beloved family, but the whole animal community. Trapped underground and with not enough food to go around, the animals band together to fight against the evil farmers Boggis, Bunce and Bean, who are determined to capture the audacious, fantastic Mr Fox at any cost.

Wes Anderson, George Clooney, Meryl Streep and Jason Schwartzman are expected to attend the opening night screening along with other members of the voice cast.

Festival Artistic Director Sandra Hebron, said: "Wes Anderson's boundless invention and meticulous filmmaking craft find perfect expression in this imaginative and hugely enjoyable version of a much loved story. We are delighted to open our festival with Fantastic Mr Fox, and thrilled to host its world premiere."

Wes Anderson added: "Fantastic Mr Fox is a British film - based on a Roald Dahl book, set in the UK, produced in the UK - and so I am especially pleased to have been invited to be the opening night movie of this year's London Film Festival. We had a wonderful experience at the LFF with my previous film, and I am eagerly looking forward to introducing Fantastic Mr Fox to the world in this wonderful venue."

The full programme for The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival - which runs from October 14 to 29 - will be announced on Wednesday 9 September. Read our coverage of previous festivals here

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