Shaun the Sheep Movie 2: Sequel officially in the works

Shaun the Sheep is coming back to the big screen.

Aardman and Studiocanal announced Tuesday that they’re teaming up again for a sequel to the Oscar-nominated 2015 animated Shaun the Sheep Movie.

Richard Starzak, who directed the original film, will return for the follow-up, as will producer Paul Kewley. Production on Shaun the Sheep Movie 2 is set to begin in January 2017.

“Shaun’s move to the big screen proved such a success with audiences around the world that he and the flock are very excited to be embarking on another big screen adventure,” David Sproxton, co-founder and executive chairman at Aardman said in the announcement. “Aardman is partnering with StudioCanal once again to produce another rip-roaring comedy, featuring Shaun and the rest of the gang in a story that takes them to even greater heights of lunacy.“

Shaun the Sheep Movie arrived in theaters in August 2015 and went on to gross $108 million worldwide. It earned an nomination for Best Animated Feature at this year’s Academy Awards.

Aardman, the studio behind Wallace & Gromit, is also currently in production with Studiocanal on the animated prehistoric comedy Early Man, which features the voices of Eddie Redmayne and Tom Hiddleston. 

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  By Jessica Derschowitz