Wallace and Gromit share major casting news ahead of 2024 comeback

Virgin Radio

3 May 2022, 14:59

The beloved claymation characters Wallace and Gromit will return to our screens soon. 

It’s been 12 years since the affable Aardman animation duo were last seen on the big or small screen. Wallace voice actor Peter Sallis left the franchise after 2010’s series, Wallace and Gromit’s World of Invention, and passed away in 2017.

Now, a planned revival of the iconic comedy is heading to the BBC and Netflix in 2024, and the new voice of Wallace has finally been announced. 

The official Wallace and Gromit Instagram confirmed the exciting update. They wrote: “We’re delighted to announce that Ben Whitehead will play Wallace in the upcoming VR adventure 'The Grand Getaway' as well as the new Wallace & Gromit film, coming to screens in 2024. 

“We were touched to see from the many comments shared about the film that Peter Sallis, the original voice of Wallace, holds a very special place in your hearts; we’re happy that Ben will uphold Peter’s wonderful legacy by bringing Wallace’s unique charm to an exciting new chapter for the duo.

“For those of you that may not know, Ben has had lots of preparation and experience for this film role; in fact, he has voiced Wallace in a number of projects since 2005, inhabiting the part of Wallace just as Peter would have wanted, and honouring the memory of a special person who will always remain at the heart of the Wallace & Gromit story.”

Not much is known about the upcoming W&G project. Obviously it will star one man and his dog, the titular Wallace and Gromit, and it won’t come as a surprise to learn that Wallace has been busy inventing something new. This time it’s a “smart gnome”. 

Equally unsurprising is that, while Wallace is chuffed with his new invention, Gromit is more suspicious.

The last time Wallace and Gromit shared the big screen was in 2008’s A Matter of Loaf and Death, which was nominated for Best Animated Short at the Oscars.

Claymation fans are in for a real treat in the next couple of years too. The BBC and Netflix also confirmed the long-awaited sequel to Chicken Run is expected to land in 2023.