Aardman’s Shaun The Sheep Goes Full Creature Feature In ‘Beast Of Mossy Bottom’ Trailer

GKIDS and Studiocanal have unveiled the first trailer and poster for Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, the third feature from Aardman’s irrepressible flock, confirming a September 18 theatrical release in both the U.S. and U.K.

The new footage leans into a Halloween-inflected premise that finds Mossy Bottom Farm in chaos after the Farmer accidentally destroys the flock’s pumpkin patch. Shaun’s attempt to fix the situation by way of some ill-advised “mad scientist” experimentation, how very Aardman, spirals into a creature-feature parody, complete with a missing Farmer and a mysterious beast roaming nearby woods.

The film marks the feature directorial debut of longtime Aardman collaborators Steve Cox and Matthew Walker, working from a screenplay by franchise veteran Mark Burton (Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Shaun the Sheep Movie) and Giles Pilbrow. Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, and Kate Harbour reprise their voice roles.

Produced by Aardman and Studiocanal, the project continues the Bristol-based studio’s commitment to handcrafted stop-motion, a medium it has championed for five decades as it celebrates its half-century anniversary this year. Distribution will be handled by GKIDS in North America, with Studiocanal overseeing most international territories and Sky releasing in the U.K.