Introduction to High in the Clouds
Paul McCartney has become a walrus in the upcoming animated film High in the Clouds, a Gaumont animation production set to be released in 2027. McCartney has been trying to adapt his book into a film for 15 years, and it’s finally happening with Gaumont. The company recently presented stills and artwork from the feature at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
The Storyline
High in the Clouds follows the story of Wirral, a young squirrel who lives with his mother in a city where music has been banned by the evil dictator Gretch. Wirral’s mother lost her voice due to Gretch’s cruelty, and Wirral must join a rebellion and a band called The Sweets to overthrow Gretch and restore music to the city. McCartney plays the role of Paul McKenzie, a walrus who is the left-handed bass player in The Sweets.
Inspiration Behind the Characters
The character of Paul McKenzie is an allusion to the Beatles song "I Am the Walrus" from 1967. McCartney also revealed that the main character Wirral is based on his late friend and bandmate John Lennon. Another character, Sugartail, is inspired by McCartney’s late wife Linda McCartney. McCartney said that Sugartail is strong and imaginative, just like Linda.
Music and Production
McCartney composed 13 original songs for the film, six of which are used in the final feature. The film is not a musical, but it showcases the power of music. The title of two tracks, "Happy Morning" and "I Will Always Be There," were revealed by Gaumont. The presentation was moderated by Terry Kalagian, the president of global animation at Gaumont, along with the film’s director Toby Genkel and project supervisor Christian de Vita.
Cast and Crew
The film features a star-studded cast, including Himesh Patel, Hannah Waddingham, Celine Dion, Idris Elba, and Ringo Starr. Lionel Richie, Jimmy Fallon, Clemence Poesy, Pom Klementieff, and Alain Chabat are also part of the cast. Fallon plays the role of Froggo, a character who is very active despite having a missing lower limb. The film’s score was written by Oscar winner Michael Giacchino, and the script was written by Jon Crocker, who also wrote Paddington 2.
Production and Release
Gaumont has already made extensive pre-sales for key territories, including Sky in the UK. The film is being produced by Paul McCartney, Robert Shaye, and Michael Lynne, along with Gaumont and other production companies. High in the Clouds is based on the adventure book of the same name by McCartney and Philip Ardagh, illustrated by Geoff Dunbar, and first published in 2005. The film is set to be released in 2027.
