They’ve wetted our appetites for the last two years, and it's now been announced it will broadcast on the BBC and dropped on Netflix this Christmas. Winter isn’t coming – the bunnies are.
What’s the story of Watership Down?
Based on the 1972 novel, the story follows a trip of rabbits as they flee from their homeland of Sandleford Warren.
They’ve had to leave because of those evil humans, and so must cross over planes of land to reach a better home and a better society. But there are many obstacles along the way – humans, animal predators, and rabbit adversaries all threaten their desired way of life.
Gemma Arterton is voicing Clover
Who’s in the cast of Watership Down?
The cast list for this series is stupidly good. X-Men actors James McAvoy and Nicholas Hoult are reuniting to play the main brother rabbits Hazel and Fiver. Olivia Coleman is Strawberry, John Boyega is Bigwig, and Gemma Arterton is Clover.
Also lending their voices are Sir Ben Kingsley, Daniel Kaluuya, Rosamund Pike, Taron Edgerton, MacKenzie Crook, Peter Capaldi, and Miles Jupp.
Musician Sam Smith has written a theme song for the series called ‘Fire On Fire’, inspired by the original book. He recently tweeted about his involvement, saying: ‘This story is so powerful and timeless, and it’s been thrilling to work on a song for it. I hope everyone loves it as much as I do’.
What’s the Watership Down release date?
The series will be broadcast as two feature-length episodes on the BBC over Christmas. It’s not certain which specific day, but it’s dropping on Netflix on 25th December.
In the meantime, here’s a trailer for the original 1978 Watership Down that scarred and terrified plenty of children at the time…
| What | Watership Down, BBC: everything we know so far |
| Price | £n/a |
| Website |
