Netflix to produce stop-motion film by Henry Selick

CAIRO – 15 March 2018: Netflix has brought the rights to begin producing a new stop-motion film by director Henry Selick, with "Get Out" director Jordan Peele and comedic actor Keegan-Michael Key on-board.

Dubbed "Wendell and Wild", the film's exact plot details are currently under-wraps but will involve Peele and Key voicing a pair of 'scheming demon brothers' who (according to Screen Rant) are facing off against demon-dusting nun Sister Helly and her acolytes, Goth teens Kat and Raoul.

Peele is also serving as the film's screen-writer, alongside Clay McLeod Chapman, based on an original idea by Selick. The characters will be designed by Argentinian artist Pablo Lobato.

With Netflix serving as the film's financial backer and distributor, it's likely that Selick won't face the same misfortune he dealt with in trying to get his previous animated feature "The Shadow King" into production, which has unfortunately fizzled out for the time being.

Selick is best known as the director of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (Commonly misattributed to Tim Burton, who was the film's producer), "James and the Giant Peach" and more recently Laika's "Coraline". His unique stop-motion styles and dark storylines have ensured his place as one of the most distinctive animators from the USA.

"Wendell and Wild" marks Netflix's second stop-motion film in production, with their first being "Bubbles" by "Thor: Ragnarok" director Taika Waititi, following the life of Michael Jackson's pet chimpanzee.



Peele and Key had previously joined forces as a formidable comedic duo in Comedy Central's sketch show "Key & Peele", which run from 2012 until 2015 and also starred in 2016's comedy film "Keanu". The two parted ways to focus on their careers separately, with Peele going on to direct the critically-acclaimed horror film "Get Out".
Selick is also currently planning on a television adaptation of the horror video game "Little Nightmares" at AGBO.