A new ‘Watership Down’ series is coming to Netflix in December

The BBC and Netflix are teaming up to re-create a classic. Based on Richard Adams’ novel, “Watership Down,” a new TV series will tell the tale of displaced bunnies searching for a new home.

According to The Guardian, “Watership Down” wasn’t necessarily intended to be a political commentary when Adams wrote it, though the story is filled with takeaways about morality, a sense of belonging and more that could be applicable to the current political landscape.

The show will be an animated miniseries and will feature a stellar voice cast, including James McAvoy, John Boyega, Rosamund Pike, Gemma Arterton and others. It’s been adapted for the screen by Tom Bidwell in a way that the BBC describes as “innovative.”

The BBC explained the show in a statement, writing:

“Set in the idyllic rural landscape of southern England, this tale of adventure, courage and survival follows a band of rabbits on their flight from the intrusion of man and the certain destruction of their home. Led by a stout-hearted pair of brothers, they journey forth from their native Sandleford Warren through the harrowing trials posed by predators and adversaries, towards a promised land and a more perfect society.”

Sounds pleasant enough, but the novel has been adapted to film previously — and if this new animated series is anything like the 1978 movie, it will certainly be a far cry from an adorable tale about bunnies.

You can get a sense of the frightening nature of the story from the trailer for the 1978 adaptation:

On a more upbeat note, Sam Smith has been tapped to record the theme song for the BBC and Netflix version, so if the idea of watching bunnies didn’t have you on board to binge this series, the chance to hear a new song by Smith just might.

Smith wrote on Twitter that he was thrilled to join something so “powerful and timeless.”

“So excited and honoured to be a part of the new adaptation of ‘Watership Down,'” he tweeted. “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.”

The show will be available to watch on Netflix around Christmastime this year.

Will you be giving this version of “Watership Down” a watch?