December 25th 2024.
Ben Whitehead has stepped into the iconic role of Wallace, as the beloved characters Wallace and Gromit make their long-awaited return to screens this Christmas. It's their first film in 10 years, and fans couldn't be more excited.
The duo's latest adventure, titled Vengeance Most Fowl, will air on the BBC and has a special significance as it marks the first full-length project without the late Peter Sallis. Sallis, who passed away at the age of 96 in 2017, had been the voice behind Wallace since the very beginning. He brought the character to life in A Grand Day Out in 1989, and continued to do so in The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave. He also lent his voice to Wallace and Gromit's feature length debut and A Matter of Loaf and Death, before stepping down due to failing eyesight in 2010.
In 2012, Sallis retired from acting and Ben Whitehead, a 47-year-old Aardman veteran, took over the role. Whitehead had also been part of the cast for the duo's previous film, Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. When asked about taking on the role of Wallace, Whitehead shared that it was a bit daunting at first, but he couldn't contain his excitement for every recording session.
Despite working closely with Sallis before his passing, Whitehead didn't seek any advice on playing Wallace. He felt it would have been disrespectful to ask Sallis how to fill his shoes. Instead, he respected Sallis' passion for the character and didn't want to overstep any boundaries. Whitehead also shared that Sallis had found it difficult to lend his voice to computer games due to his macular degeneration, which affected his ability to read scripts.
Taking over the role of Wallace was a big responsibility, but Whitehead had the freedom to bring his own unique spin to the character. While the script dictated his performance, he was able to make Wallace his own without being tied to previous portrayals. Whitehead also pointed out that Wallace's physical appearance has changed slightly with each film, and he was informed that there would be further development in this film.
Recording in a booth with creator Nick Park, co-director Merlin Crossingham, and a script supervisor, Whitehead was encouraged to bring as much of himself into the role as he wanted. He was advised not to focus on impersonating Sallis, but to make the character his own.
Whitehead recalled the first time he read the script and realized that this film had the potential to be the best Wallace and Gromit adventure yet. Working with a small team and seeing hand-drawn, animated storyboards only added to his excitement for the project.
One of the challenges for Whitehead was that both Feathers McGraw and Gromit are mute characters. This meant that Wallace didn't have much interaction with other speaking characters, which allowed Whitehead to really focus on his own performance.
Being a lifelong fan of Aardman, Whitehead cherished the opportunity to take on the role of Wallace. However, he also knows that one day in the future, another actor will step into the role. He believes it's important to be respectful and not try to imitate Sallis, but to bring something new to the character. He also expressed his happiness that Wallace and Gromit have such longevity and will continue to entertain audiences for years to come.
As fans eagerly await the return of their favorite claymation duo, Whitehead reminds us to be respectful of the character and the legacy of Peter Sallis. But for now, let's enjoy the new adventure of Wallace and Gromit in Vengeance Most Fowl. And who knows, maybe one day we'll see another actor take on the role of Wallace, bringing their own unique spin to this beloved character.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
