Andy Serkis’ ‘Animal Farm’ Sparks Fury on Social Media with Radical Anti-Capitalist and Woke Changes, Completely Inverting the Original Message of the Book

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The first trailer for a new animated movie based on George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” has caused a lot of discussion and disagreement online.

Andy Serkis, known for his role in The Lord of the Rings, directed the new film, but it’s received criticism for significantly changing the core message of Orwell’s book about dangerous power and rebellion.

It took 14 years to create the animated film, and getting it released proved difficult. The movie also shifted its focus from the book’s criticism of Stalinist Russia to a critique of capitalism and the excesses of big corporations, even introducing a new billionaire villain not found in the original story.

Some critics believe a recent adaptation significantly changes the original meaning of Orwell’s Animal Farm. Historian and media commentator Rafe Heydel-Mankoo shared his strong disagreement online, stating the adaptation, which he describes as overly influenced by American culture and generally embarrassing, seems to have completely missed the point of the book. He argues that the story’s critique of Stalinist Russia and the dangers of totalitarianism has been twisted into a predictable criticism of capitalism.

He felt the timing of the adaptation was ideal given the themes of Orwell’s work, but strongly criticized the new version, calling it a silly and disrespectful comedy.

The new adaptation of Animal Farm, as seen in the trailer, is deeply disappointing. Beyond the unnecessary Americanization, it appears to fundamentally misunderstand and distort the original story. The book was a sharp critique of Stalinist Russia and the corruption of revolutionary principles, and this version seems to miss the point entirely.

— Rafe Heydel-Mankoo (@RafHM) December 13, 2025

Many other social media users agreed, claiming the film flips the original meaning of Orwell’s warning against communism. One person wrote that it transforms Orwell’s story – a socialist’s caution about authoritarianism – into a criticism of capitalism, effectively destroying the book’s core message.

One commenter pointed out that the film’s casting and plot alterations—specifically, Seth Rogen playing Napoleon as a funny supporting character and the introduction of a new villainous billionaire—completely flips the original meaning of George Orwell’s work.

Mario Nawfal, after reviewing the trailer, believes the movie departs significantly from the original story.

Okay, so I just saw this new take on Animal Farm, and it’s… different. They really shook things up from the book! They added this whole new villain – a billionaire, no less – who’s basically the big bad guy now. Poor Napoleon, who was supposed to be the Stalin figure, is pretty much a side character, and Seth Rogen voices him, which is… a choice. And get this, the villain drives a vehicle that looks exactly like Elon Musk’s Cybertruck, but the producers swear it’s just a coincidence. It’s a wild ride, let me tell you.

The story now concludes with the animals successfully rebelling against the pigs and looking forward to a more hopeful future. This is a change from the original ending, where the pigs essentially become human-like and oppressive rule ultimately triumphs.

This adaptation of the story moves away from Orwell’s original criticism of communism and instead focuses on criticizing capitalism. The internal struggles of the characters are less emphasized, and some, like Snowball, have had their genders changed. The film also adopts a more comedic tone, resembling a lighthearted buddy comedy. Ultimately, it flips the original message, swapping a cautionary tale about socialism and totalitarianism for a storyline critical of capitalism and concluding with a positive outcome.

A new adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm significantly alters the story’s original message. Director Andy Serkis spent 14 years working on the project, but instead of remaining an anti-communist tale as Orwell intended, it’s been reimagined with an anti-capitalist and politically progressive slant. A new villain, a billionaire character not present in the book, has been introduced as the central antagonist. Furthermore, Napoleon, the character widely seen as representing Joseph Stalin, has been given a less prominent role.

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 15, 2025

The upcoming 2026 animated fantasy comedy-adventure boasts a star-studded voice cast, including Seth Rogen, Gaten Matarazzo, Woody Harrelson, and many others like Glenn Close and Laverne Cox. It first premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 9th and will be released in U.S. theaters by Angel Studios on May 1, 2026.

The filmmakers tried to update the story, but many viewers feel the new version loses the original warning about the risks of unchecked power and failed revolutions. Specifically, the change in focus – from criticizing oppressive socialist governments to criticizing capitalism – has upset many fans of the original book.

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2025-12-15 20:15