In making the announcement, Tharp said, ``Early reaction to the film has been extremely positive. We believe having the film out there early in these two major markets will jump start what we anticipate will be strong word-of-mouth.''

Presented by DreamWorks Pictures in association with Pathe, ``Chicken Run'' marks the first full-length feature from Aardman, the Academy Award-winning team behind the popular Wallace & Gromit shorts.

``Chicken Run'' follows a group of chickens imprisoned at Tweedy's Egg Farm, where any chicken who doesn't put breakfast on the table can wind up as dinner. But Ginger (Julia Sawalha) and her fellow flock are determined to break out before they meet a ``fowl'' fate. Time is running out as the greedy owner of the farm, Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson), finds a new way to feather her nest -- turning chickens into chicken pies. Now, with the help of Rocky (Mel Gibson), ``the lone free ranger,'' the chickens hatch their most spectacular plan to fly in the coop.

Mel Gibson, Julia Sawalha and Miranda Richardson head the voice cast, which also includes (in alphabetical order) Phil Daniels, Lynn Ferguson, Tony Haygarth, Jane Horrocks, Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton and Benjamin Whitrow.

Peter Lord and Nick Park directed ``Chicken Run'' from a screenplay by Karey Kirkpatrick, based on a story by Lord and Park. The film is produced by Peter Lord, David Sproxton and Nick Park, with Jake Eberts, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Michael Rose serving as executive producers, and Carla Shelley as the line producer.

DreamWorks SKG was formed in October, 1994, by its three principal partners -- Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen -- to produce live-action motion pictures; animated feature films; network, syndicated and cable television programming; home video entertainment; records; books; toys; and consumer products.

A full range of Chicken Run action figures, vehicles and plush toys has been released by licensee Playmates Toys Inc., and are in stores now.

[Posted 5/26/2000]