Watch: ‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’ Introduces the World’s First “Smart Gnome”

In a new teaser trailer for Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, audiences get their first look at Wallace’s latest invention towing the line between cracking and crackpot: a pre-programmed “smart gnome” called Norbot, designed to do any kind of gardening task or “gnome improvement.” (Watch the clip below.)

A quick learner, efficient, incredibly polite and cheerful, it quickly becomes popular with the locals to help with their gardening needs … until it seems to develop a mind of its own. When it emerges that a vengeful figure from the past might be masterminding things, it falls to Gromit to battle sinister forces and save his master … or Wallace may never be able to invent again!

Aardman’s latest stop-motion feature, directed by four-time Academy Award winner Nick Park and Emmy-nominated Merlin Crossingham, will premiere worldwide on Netflix this winter (exc. the U.K., where it will premiere on the BBC).

“We are delighted to introduce Norbot, a ‘Nifty Odd-jobbing Robot’ gnome, designed to help Gromit with his gardening chores,” Park and Crossingham commented. “Norbot is Wallace’s most proud achievement to date and, according to Wallace, his ‘best invention ever!’ Garden gnomes have long been a part of Wallace and Gromit’s world, but this is no cute patio ornament. Norbot is the ultimate gnome — a ‘smart-gnome’. We’re so excited to see Wallace unleashing his latest invention Norbot into the world. However, his long-suffering pooch Gromit, may be a little less sure…”

Reece Shearsmith (League of Gentleman, Inside No.9) lends his voice to Norbot. In the new teaser can also be heard Ben Whitehead as Wallace, the eccentric, cheese-loving inventor from the North of England who lives with his best friend and loyal pooch, Gromit. Whitehead previously worked alongside Peter Sallis (the original voice of Wallace) on several Wallace & Gromit brand projects.

“As a huge fan of Wallace & Gromit, it’s been such a joy to work alongside Nick and Merlin and the team at Aardman to bring Norbot to life in such an exciting story,” said Shearsmith. “I think fans of all ages are in for a treat, and I can’t wait for everyone to see it!”

The voice cast for Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl also features Peter Kay (Roary the Racing Car, Car Share), Lauren Patel (Lloyd of the Flies, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), Diane Morgan (“Philomena Cunk”; Mandy), Adjoa Andoh (Bridgerton, Mog’s Christmas), Muzz Khan (Galavant, Brassic) and Lenny Henry (The Witcher: Blood Origin, The Sandman).

Nick Park, creator of Wallace & Gromit, directs with Merlin Crossingham from a screenplay by Mark Burton; story by Park and Burton. Richard Beek is producer. The film also features a score by John Powell.

Netflix’s upcoming animated feature slate also includes Spellbound, That Christmas, In Your Dreams, The Twits and Pookoo.