Summary
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowlhas the chance to clear up the canon relating to an iconic franchise antagonist after more than three decades of speculation. With the teasertrailer forVengeance Most Foulconfirming the return of Feathers McGraw,the claymation project is set to be a rare sequel not just forWallace & Gromit, but for Aardman generally. So, the studio is in a rare position to elaborate on a specific character who is neither of the series' main heroes.
Despite his lone starring role coming 31 years ago, Feathers McGraw is still regarded as one of thebest Aardman villains of all time. He remains a standout character among those introduced inevery Aardman Animations projectbefore and since his debut, so it’s unsurprising he’s making a comeback, even if it’s taken over three decades to happen. However,Feathers' second proper appearance will be importantfor reasons beyond nostalgia.
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Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Foul Can Finally Establish An Official Timeline For Feathers McGraw’s Franchise Role
Feathers' cameos go beyond other Wallace & Gromit projects
The villainous penguin first appeared in 1993’sWallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers, making him the first proper antagonist in the film series. Since his debut, Feather McGraw has had brief cameos in otherWallace & Gromitmovies, but they’ve been so fleeting that they’re easy to miss. He even had a very small role in Aardman’s 2023ChickenRunsequel,Dawn of the Nugget. What’s missing from this string of cameos is any real explanation as to what Feathers has been up to all this time, andVengeance Most Fowlcan finally provide him with a canonical timeline.
TheWallace & Gromituniverse is somewhat nebulous in its timeline, although the bulk of events seem to be unfolding in what appears to be roughly pre-1980s England.
TheWallace & Gromituniverse is somewhat nebulous in its timeline, although the bulk of events seem to be unfolding in what appears to be roughly pre-1980s England. Every installment is largely self-contained, although certain nods to past films do connect them all together. So, ifVengeanceMost Foulis set at the latest point yet in theWallace & Gromittimeline, thenit could include some form of montage that shows Feathers during all of his previous cameos, and how and why he came to be there. After so long without answers, it would be a welcome addition.
Vengeance Most Fowlis rumored to be around 70 minutes long, making it the second-longestWallace & Gromitfilm after 2005’sThe Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
Vengeance Most Foul Might Be Set Immediately After 1993’s Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers
Netflix’s new movie might take place between The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave
Vengeance Most Fowlwon’t hit Netflix until 2025, despite a December 2024 release in the UK. However, when it’s released, it will become clear whether the sequel toThe Wrong Trouserswill take place immediately after the 1993 movie or whether it will be the most recent installment, chronologically speaking. That is, if it isn’t confirmed in additional promotional material before then. Interestingly, one shot from 1995’sWallace & Gromit: A Close Shave, when paired with the new trailer, suggeststhe upcoming film could be an immediate follow-on fromThe Wrong Trousers.
Wallace & Gromit’s Feathers McGraw Comeback Makes Me So Happy (But Something’s Still Missing)
While Feathers McGraw coming back to Wallace & Gromit is more than enough to get me excited for the upcoming movie, there’s still a big missing piece.
During Gromit’s unjust incarceration inThe Wrong Trousers, the words “Feathers was [here]” can be seen etched into the wall of the mute dog’s cell. So, the implication here is that Feathers McGraw has since been released, which could be what’s being shown in the recent teaser forVengeance Most Foul. If so, then the new installment could be a perfect jumping-on point for new fans, with just a half-hour short to catch up on ahead ofWallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’s release date.
