Hugh Laurie (House, Tomorrowland) and Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) are set to star in an upcoming animated film adaptation of The Amazing Maurice.
The film is based on the late Terry Pratchett’s 2001 book The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, which is part of his iconic Discworld series. The story is a take on the popular folk tale about the Pied Piper of Hamelin.
The story follows “a streetwise ginger cat who has the perfect money-making scam. He finds a kid who plays a pipe, and also befriends his very own horde of talking rats. When they reach the stricken town of Bad Blintz, their con game goes awry.”
The rest of the voice cast includes David Thewlis (Wonder Woman), Himesh Patel (Yesterday), Gemma Arterton (Hansel & Gretal: Witch Hunters) and Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey). Toby Genkel (Two by Two: Overboard!) and Florian Westermann (Little Dodo) are set to co-direct.
Sarah Wright, director of Sky cinema and acquisitions at Sky U.K. and Ireland, said in a statement, “The Amazing Maurice is a fantastic story from a legendary author, and I couldn’t think of a better tale to bring to life as an animated film for all the family. I’m excited to work with Ulysses Filmproduktion and Cantilever Media to bring this exclusive new movie to Sky Cinema audiences in 2022.”
The film will be released by Sky Cinema in the U.K. in 2022.