Wallace & Gromit star addresses taking over Wallace role from Peter Sallis

As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in the enchanting world of Wallace & Gromit, I must admit that the upcoming release of “Vengeance Most Fowl” this Christmas is nothing short of a dream come true! Having grown up with the charming duo and their adventures, it’s truly heartwarming to see them return after more than a decade.

This holiday season, the beloved duo Wallace & Gromit return to our TVs in the highly praised film titled “Vengeance Most Fowl“.

This will be their first full-length movie together since “The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” in 2005, and it’s also the debut of Ben Whitehead as the voice actor for Wallace.

Whitehead collaborated with the late Peter Sallis on “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” and has been providing the voice for Wallace ever since Sallis stepped down in 2010.

Before the airing of “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” on BBC One this Christmas Day, Whitehead has recently discussed his transition into playing the character of Wallace and his approach to the role.

Wallace & Gromit star addresses taking over Wallace role from Peter Sallis

As a devoted fan, I acknowledge that stepping into a role previously played by another actor, such as Peter, comes with its own set of hurdles, especially considering his iconic legacy. The key point to remember is that you can’t replicate their performance verbatim; instead, it’s about bringing your unique interpretation to the character.

Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham confirmed the same for me, as they clarified that an exact voice match wasn’t necessary for this project. Yet, I felt compelled to draw upon as many aspects as possible from Peter’s portrayal of the character, which had originally been designed with him in mind.

In creating the character, I drew heavily from Peter’s traits but also infused elements unique to myself.

In different appearances beyond their films, Whitehead understands well what’s required to come near to emulating the voice tone for the character Wallace.

And he has revealed a fitting word that helped him get into the Wallace mindset.

Wallace & Gromit star addresses taking over Wallace role from Peter Sallis

Regarding replicating Peter’s past voice, Whitehead shared that he often reviews old recordings and looks back at what had happened previously, a practice he started when he was just a kid while watching “A Grand Day Out.

Currently, my commute to work offers a beneficial experience since I can enjoy Wallace & Gromit movies on the train, which always makes me chuckle and helps me get into the right mindset. In other words, the mention of ‘cheese’ serves as a cue that assists me in adopting the appropriate character.

Apart from me, Andrea Hazel Lewis was another coach who dedicated her time to analyze both Peter’s voice and the character of Wallace. To illustrate, Wallace occasionally sticks out his tongue slightly, so when voicing him, you might want to incorporate a similar mannerism.

This Christmas, you’ll have a chance to tell if you can identify the differences when the latest “Wallace & Gromit” film is released.

Wallace & Gromit’s latest adventure, “Vengeance Most Fowl,” makes its debut on Christmas Day, streaming on BBC iPlayer and BBC One at 6:10 PM. For viewers outside the UK, this charming spectacle will be available globally on Netflix starting January 3, 2025.

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2024-12-23 03:49

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