This October Netflix is delving deep in to the world of Roald Dahl with brand new animated feature The Twits. The film, from Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Phil Johnston, is set to premiere globally on October 17, 2025. Now the streamer has revealed the film will feature new music from two legendary musicians.
The Twits marks the first screen adaptation inspired by the characters from the Roald Dahl book of the same name, which has been translated into 41 languages and sold 16 million copies worldwide. It tells the story of Mr. and Mrs. Twit, the meanest, smelliest, nastiest people in the world who also happen to own and operate the most disgusting, most dangerous, most idiotic amusement park in the world, Twitlandia. But when the Twits rise to power in their town, two brave children and a family of magical Muggle-Wumps, are forced to become as tricky as the Twits in order to save the city. A hysterically funny, wild ride of a film (chock-full of the Twits’ beloved tricks – from the Wormy Spaghetti to the Dreaded Shrinks), The Twits is also a story for our times, about the never-ending battle between cruelty and empathy.
Musician, writer and founding member of new wave band Talking Heads, David Byrne has written and produced three original songs for animated film, The Twits. The songs are performed by the cast and include “We’re Not Like Ev’ryone Else,” “Lullaby,” and “The Problem Is You.” Byrne is also joined by singer/ songwriter Hayley Williams, of rock band Paramore, on the end title song, “Open the Door,” as co-writers and performers.
“This was a fun project” says Byrne. “Like other Roald Dahl books, this one has its share of dreadful characters – this time two of them are front and center. Kids (and adults) love that they can vicariously imagine their own worst impulses played out, harmlessly, in a punky fun story. So when I was approached to write some songs for this movie I immediately said ‘let me give it a try and see if you like what I come up with’. Phil was wonderfully clear what each song needed to express and what the character was feeling at that moment. I reached out to Hayley Williams to collaborate on the end credits song and we both agreed that it should serve to remind us that there is heart and connection in the story after all the unpleasantness depicted by Mr. and Mrs. Twit. Hayley was inspired by Beesha’s story and came up with some lyric ideas, and I set them to tune and boom.”
“Being a part of this movie is like one pinch-me moment after another” adds Williams. “My favourite Roald Dahl book growing up was The Twits. I’m drawn to learning about twisted characters like Mr. and Mrs. Twit and The Wormwoods from Matilda. The way Phil and Daisy adapted the original story was really exciting to me, as was the animation style. It feels like a cautionary tale – and also a really lovely depiction of chosen family and community, which is one of my favorite topics. I owe David Byrne for pulling me into the music for this. It was so fun and so surreal starting a song from scratch with him.”
The film, written and directed by Academy Award® nominee Phil Johnston (co-writer and co-director on Ralph Breaks the Internet, co-writer on Zootopia and Wreck-It Ralph) will star Johnny Vegas and Margo Martindale as the voices of the eponymous Mr. & Mrs. Twits. Joining them will be Emilia Clarke as Pippa and Natalie Portman as Mary Muggle Wump. Also starring are Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Beesha), Ryan Lopez (Bubsy), Timothy Simons (Marty Muggle-Wump), Nicole Byer (Beverly Onion), Jason Mantzoukas (Mayor Wayne John John-John), Alan Tudyk (Sweet Toed Toad), Mark Proksch (Horvis Dungle), Rebecca Wisocky (Dee Dumdie-Dungle), and Charlie Berens (Gorb Klurb).
