Netflix’s animated film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s book The Twits is scheduled to come to the streaming service in 2025.
Phil Johnston, the Oscar-nominated helmer of Ralph Breaks the Internet, is directing the project, with Katie Shanahan and Todd Demong as co-directors. Johnston, whose writing credits include Academy Award winner Zootopia, is also penning the script with Meg Favreau and producing alongside Maggie Malone. The animation will be produced at Jellyfish Pictures.
This is among several planned adaptations of Dahl’s stories for Netflix. Others include Wes Anderson’s live-action short The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and an animated retelling of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Netflix acquired the Roald Dahl Story Company in September 2021.
The Twits follows the nasty Mr. and Mrs. Twit, who also own and operate a disgusting and dangerous amusement park, Twitlandia. According to the announcement, when the Twits rise to power in their town, two brave orphans and a family of magical animals will be forced to become as tricky as the Twits in order to save the city.
“The Twits was my favorite book when I was a kid,” said Johnson in a released statement. “I love the Twits and their terrible tricks. I love that they lack self-awareness and personal hygiene and any inkling of human decency. And I love this movie because it reminds us that twits like the Twits, whose default emotions are anger and vengeance, can’t be allowed to win in our world.”
It is understood that these deals were made prior to the ongoing strikes and this film is covered under the Animation Guild contract.
