There’s no such thing as a sure thing in feature animation, but the first new significant project in a decade from stop motion master Nick Park comes pretty close to it.

It’s been quiet on the Early Man front since Aardman Animations released a teaser last March, but that changed today with the release of the film’s full trailer:

Set at the dawn of time, Early Man tells the tale of “a courageous caveman hero Dug (Eddie Redmayne) and his best friend Hognob as they unite his tribe against a mighty enemy Lord Nooth (Tom Hiddleston) and his Bronze Age City to save their home.” The film’s soccer (football) theme is finally evident in this trailer; we had first reported on this plot point back in 2015 when the film was titled Early Man United.

Other voices in the film include Timothy Spall (Chief Bobnar), Goona (Maisie Williams), Richard Ayoade (Treebor), Selina Griffiths (Magma), Johnny Vegas (Asbo), Mark Williams (Barry), Gina Yashere (Gravelle), Simon Greenall (Eemak), and Richard Webber (Grubup).

Early Man is currently filming at Aardman’s studio in Bristol, England. It’s financed by Studiocanal, and supported by National Lottery funding from the BFI (British Film Institute). Studiocanal will release in the U.K., France, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand, and is selling the film worldwide.

Here in the United States, Lionsgate kicks Early Man into theaters on February 16, 2018.

"Early Man"

Amid Amidi

Amid Amidi is Cartoon Brew's Publisher and Editor-at-large.