The Amazing Maurice

This article is about the film. For the novel the film was based on, see The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents.

The Amazing Maurice
Theatrical release poster
Directed byToby Genkel
Screenplay byTerry Rossio
Based onThe Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents
by Terry Pratchett
Produced by
  • Emely Christians
  • Andrew Baker
  • Robert Chandler
  • Rob Wilkins
Starring
Edited byFriedolin Dreesen
Music byTom Howe
Production
companies
  • Ulysses Filmproduktion
  • Studio Rakete
  • Cantilever Media
  • Narrativia
  • Sky
  • Moonshot Films
  • Red Star 3D
  • Squeeze Animation Studio
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 13 November 2022 (2022-11-13) (Manchester Animation Festival)
  • 16 December 2022 (2022-12-16) (United Kingdom)
  • 3 February 2023 (2023-02-03) (United States)
Running time
93 minutes[2]
Countries
  • Germany[3]
  • United Kingdom[3]
  • United States
  • Canada
LanguageEnglish
Box office$21.1 million[4]

The Amazing Maurice is a 2022 animated fantasy comedy film directed by Toby Genkel and co-directed by Florian Westermann, from a screenplay by Terry Rossio, based on the 2001 novel The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett.[5][6] The film stars Hugh Laurie, Emilia Clarke, David Thewlis, Himesh Patel, Gemma Arterton, Joe Sugg, Ariyon Bakare, Julie Atherton, Rob Brydon, Hugh Bonneville and David Tennant.[7] The story follows Maurice, a streetwise ginger cat who befriends the talking rats by coming up with a money-making scam.

An animated film adaptation of Pratchett's novel was announced in June 2019, with Rossio writing the screenplay. Most of the lead cast members were hired in November 2020, with additional cast being added in May 2021. Animation was provided by Studio Rakete and Red Star 3D.[citation needed]

The Amazing Maurice had its premiere at the Manchester Animation Festival on 13 November 2022, and was released in the United Kingdom on 16 December, by Sky Cinema. It was released on 3 February 2023 by Viva Pictures in the United States. The film received generally positive reviews from critics.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Rama was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "The Amazing Maurice". BBFC. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b Lodge, Guy (30 January 2023). "'The Amazing Maurice' Review: Spry British Animated Romp Shows a Cat (or Even a Rat) May Look at a King". Variety. Retrieved 9 February 2023. Production: (Animated — U.K.-Germany)
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference BOM was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Parfitt, Orlando (5 November 2020). "Sky sets animated feature 'The Amazing Maurice' with Hugh Laurie, Emilia Clarke (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on 5 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  6. ^ Wood, Heloise (13 June 2019). "Pratchett's The Amazing Maurice adapted for animation". The Bookseller. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  7. ^ Levine, Nick (5 November 2020). "Casting News: Hugh Laurie and Emilia Clarke to Voice Terry Pratchett Animated Movie 'The Amazing Maurice'". BBC America. Archived from the original on 5 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.