In 2009, it was adapted into a stop-motion animated film by Wes Anderson and included the voice of George Clooney as Mr Fox.

To feed his family, he makes nightly visits to local farms owned by three cruel, rude, wicked and dim-witted farmers named Boggis, Bunce, and Bean, stealing poultry from each.

Tired of being outsmarted by Mr Fox, the triumvirate devise a plan to ambush him as he leaves his burrow, but they succeed only in shooting off his tail.

The farmers are ridiculed for their persistence, but they refuse to give up and vow not to return to their farms until they have caught Mr Fox.

Aided by Badger, the animals tunnel to Bunce's storehouse for additional food, and then to Bean's secret cider cellar.

They carry their loot back home, where Mrs Fox has prepared a great celebratory banquet for the starving underground animals and their families.

At the table, Mr Fox invites everyone to live in a secret underground neighbourhood with him and his family, where he will hunt on their behalf daily and where none of them will need to worry about the farmers anymore.

Everyone joyfully cheers for this idea, while Boggis, Bunce, and Bean are left waiting in vain for Mr Fox to emerge from his hole.

[3] The decision was met with sharp criticism from groups and public figures including authors Salman Rushdie[4][5] and Christopher Paolini,[5] former British prime minister Rishi Sunak,[4][6] Queen Camilla,[4][7] Kemi Badenoch,[8] PEN America,[4] and Brian Cox.