The Times BFI London Film Festival will open October 14 with the world premiere of Fantastic Mr Fox from director Wes Anderson.

Fantastic Mr Fox is Anderson’s first animated film and uses classic handmade stop-motion techniques to tell the story based on the bestselling children’s book by British author Roald Dahl.

Anderson co-wrote the screenplay with Noah Baumbach.

“Wes Anderson’s boundless invention and meticulous film making craft find perfect expression in this imaginative and hugely enjoyable version of a much-loved story” said Sandra Hebron, the festival’s artistic director.

The voice cast includes George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Wally Wolodarsky, Eric Anderson, Michael Gambon, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson, Jarvis Cocker and Helen McCrory.

Anderson, Scott Rudin and Allison Abbate produce.

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

The story follows Mr. and Mrs. Fox (Clooney and Streep) who have an idyllic home life until their bucolic existence proves too much for Mr. Fox, whose wild animal instincts return and put his family’s life in danger.

Wes Anderson said: “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 (The Darjeeling Limited), and I am eagerly looking forward to introducing Fantastic Mr. Fox to the world in this wonderful venue.”

The film was shot at London’s Three Mills Studios and Twentieth Century Fox will release the film in the UK on October 23, followed by the US release on November 13.

Anderson’s past films also include Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou.

The 53rd LFF runs October 14-29. The full line-up will be announced September 9.

  
 

 

 

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