Redwall (Netflix)

Redwall was an anticipated Netflix feature film adaptation of the novel Redwall by Brian Jacques. It was first announced on February 10, 2021. The project was reported canceled on April 9, 2026.

Patrick McHale was initially announced as the writer, with Emma Topping as an executive producer.

Production and History

After the 2021 announcement, Netflix Animation saw numerous business changes and executive reshuffles over the next few years, which may have impacted the Redwall project. In February 2022, Karen Toliver was appointed as the vice president of animated film.

In April 2022, Netflix Animation executives and employees were laid off. In May 2022, many Netflix animated film productions were canceled.

In July 2022, Netflix acquired Australian animation studio Animal Logic, Toliver was named VP of Animation Film Content, and Traci Balthazor was named VP of Animation Film Production. In September 2022, 30 Netflix Film Animation employees were laid off. In November 2023, one-third of the feature animation division was laid off.

In April 2024, Dan Lin was hired as the chairman of Netflix's film division "to ratchet down the quantity of features and at a lower cost", according to Deadline. In June 2024, Toliver and Balthazor both departed Netflix and Hannah Minghella was hired as the Head of Feature Animation and Live-Action Family Film.

Minghella was promoted to Head of Netflix Animation Studios in June 2026.

In October 2026, approximately 1,000 Netflix employees were laid off. Lin was dismissed that month.

Development and Writing

McHale told the Redwall Wiki about his progress on the screenplay in April 2021. In November 2022, McHale exclusively revealed that the script was completed. He departed the Redwall project earlier that year.

In November 2024, McHale observed that when he was involved, he was inspired by the book covers.

Art and Storyboards

Pierre Breton worked on conceptual artwork. He talked to the Redwall Wiki about his illustration in February 2021.

In June 2025, concept artwork from McHale's time on the project by Bert Youn was revealed. After news broke of the the project's cancellation in 2026, artist Toniko Pantoja revealed his involvement with the McHale version around the end of 2021, stating that he "briefly storyboarded on a version of the Redwall animated feature. I do remember the boards I did were pretty violent and dealt with dark topics such as insanity. I think after my time, they tried other directions for Redwall."

Trivia

• The Netflix Redwall film project is the only adaptation effort to have a screenwriter attached to it at any point in time.