Damon Albarn Reveals Why Gorillaz's Netflix Film Was Axed, Inspiring 'Cracker Island'
Damon Albarn explains the cancellation of the animated Gorillaz movie by Netflix, revealing how it fueled the creation of their album 'Cracker Island'.
Damon Albarn has opened up about why plans for a Gorillaz film with Netflix were scrapped, and how the experience ultimately influenced the creation of ‘Cracker Island’.
The artist, also known for his work with Blur and The Good, The Bad & The Queen, had initially revealed discussions for a Gorillaz film with Netflix back in 2020, with work commencing the following year alongside illustrator Jamie Hewlett.
Described as a “full-length movie” about the animated band, the project faced delays, ultimately leading to its abandonment. Albarn informed fans that “it will never happen”.
Now, Albarn and Hewlett have shared insights into the film's cancellation and its unexpected role in inspiring their eighth album, ‘Cracker Island’.
In a conversation with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, Hewlett expressed his reluctance to revisit the film, citing the lengthy process as a deterrent.
"If we’d done a movie 25 years ago, fine… but the idea of doing a movie now? I have no interest in it whatsoever. No interest. It’s not an interesting idea, it’s not an original idea,” he said.
He elaborated on initial enthusiasm fueled by Netflix's offer of creative freedom and ample funding. However, the project's slow pace led to waning interest.
“[Then] the guy we were working with just left, and [Netflix] said ‘Don’t worry, we’ll find someone else’. It was like ‘OK there’s going to be another year of conversations before this starts again’. So we pulled out.”
Albarn added that the process felt like an “eternity”, before Hewlett shared that they then began working on new music, which would become ‘Cracker Island’.
“We made an album while we were waiting, basically,” he said.
In 2023, Albarn attributed the film's cancellation to cutbacks within the streaming platform's animation division.
“The streaming platform for which we were making the film has withdrawn,” he told Belgian publication HUMO at the time. “They started to panic because they were making too much content and decided to cut back on their movie offerings.”
‘Cracker Island’, released in February 2023, featured collaborations with Thundercat, Tame Impala, Stevie Nicks, and Bad Bunny, among others. NME gave it a four-star review, praising its consistent enjoyment and relevance.
Since then, the band have shared another record – the star-studded, experimental record ‘The Mountain’.
Much of that album was recorded in India during a time when both Albarn and Hewlett were looking for peace after the passing of their fathers, and the tracklist explores themes of grief, hope and spirituality.
To mark the release, Gorillaz released The Mountain, The Moon Cave & The Sad God – an eight-minute short film directed by Hewlett, alongside Max Taylor and Tim McCourt of the BAFTA-nominated animation studio THE LINE.
With nods to Disney’s The Jungle Book, the film depicts the animated band members, Murdoc, Russel, 2D and Noodle, in India having turned their backs on international pop stardom.
Like ‘Cracker Island’, ‘The Mountain’ is rich in collaborations, and featured guest appearances from Tony Allen, D12 rapper Proof, Bobby Womack, IDLES, Sparks, Yasiin Bey (FKA Mos Def), Gruff Rhys, The Clash’s Paul Simonon, Johnny Marr and more.
It was given a four-star review from NME, which described it as “an album that celebrates the love you leave behind, the people you touch, the spirit of giving more than you take, how we’re all the same when it’s done.”
Last month, Gorillaz played the first show on ‘The Mountain’ tour in Los Angeles, and earlier this month kicked off the UK and Ireland leg. Shows continue tonight (Tuesday March 31) in Belfast, followed by a stop in Dublin tomorrow (April 1), and a one-off headline show at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20 – something that Albarn recently made a recent quip at.
They will also make appearances at numerous festivals over the summer, including Electric Picnic, Primavera Sound Barcelona and Porto, and Rock Werchter. Visit here for tickets.
Related Articles
Listen to Damon Albarn on Foxsoundi. Click here to listen!
Comments (0)
Login to comment