Netflix revealed a first look at Oscar-nominated filmmaker Phil Johnston's (Zootopia, Wreck-It Ralph) adaptation of The Twits, Roald Dahl's 1980 children's novel. Deadline reported that the animated feature, which is set to hit Netflix in 2025, was co-written by Johnston and Meg Favreau. It is the first screen adaptation based on this particular Dahl title, which has been translated into 41 languages and sold 16 million copies worldwide. Animation is by Jellyfish Pictures (The Boss Baby, The Bad Guys).
"I've always been attracted to reprehensible characters. I don't know what this says about me and I don't want to look into it. The point is, The Twits was my favorite book when I was a kid. I love the Twits and their terrible tricks," Johnston said. "I love that they lack self-awareness, 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."
Co-directors on the project are Katie Shanahan and Todd Demong. Producers are Johnston and Maggie Malone, with Daisy West co-producing. Netflix said this will be the first animated release in an upcoming line-up of Dahl adaptations, including Wes Anderson's The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and an animated Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Netflix acquired the Roald Dahl Story Company in September 2021.