| Director: | Phil Johnston |
| Distributor: | Netflix |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
The Twits is an upcoming American animated comedy film co-produced and directed by Phil Johnston, who co-wrote the screenplay with Meg Favreau from a screen story by Kirk DeMicco and John Cleese, based on the 1980 novel of the same name by Roald Dahl. It stars Natalie Portman, Emilia Clarke, Margo Martindale and Johnny Vegas.
The Twits will be released in 2025 by Netflix.
In February 2003, a feature film adaptation of the book entered development at Vanguard Animation with its founder John H. Williams set to produce. As part of a multi-picture deal with Walt Disney Pictures, Vanguard was set to produce a CG animated/live-action film, with John Cleese and Kirk DeMicco writing the screenplay.[1]
In November 2004, it was reported that Mark Mylod signed up to direct the feature, and that Cleese may star in the film.[2] In October 2006, after the executive/regime changes at Disney, the project moved to Working Title and Universal.[3] [4] By January 2012, the official site of Vanguard Animation stated that Conrad Vernon, the director of Shrek 2 (2004) and Monsters vs. Aliens (2009), would direct the film.[5]
In April 2022, following Netflix's acquisition of the Roald Dahl company,[6] [7] it was reported that a feature film will be distributed by Netflix, after having previously announced an animated series based on the book.[8] In September 2023, alongside the release of a first-look image of the film, it was announced that Phil Johnston was directing the feature and co-writing the screenplay with Meg Favreau.
In June 2024, it was revealed that Natalie Portman, Emilia Clarke, Margo Martindale and Johnny Vegas had joined the cast.[9]
Animation had begun by September 2023, the same month it was reported that Jellyfish Pictures was doing animation on the film.
The film is set to release in 2025 on Netflix, with a first-look image which got released in September 2023.
