Sundance 2023: Director Toby Genkel Talks The Amazing Maurice, Working with Emilia Clarke and Hugh Laurie, and More

Toby Genkel is one of the world’s most renowned animation directors who has worked on award-winning films including Richard, the Stork and Ooops! Noah is Gone… This week, his latest project, The Amazing Maurice, makes its North American premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

A love letter to fables and the art of storytelling, The Amazing Maurice features the voices of Hugh Laurie, Emilia Clarke, Himesh Patel, Gemma Arterton, David Thewlis, Hugh Bonneville, and David Tennant. The film is based on the popular novel The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Sir Terry Pratchett.

Directed by Toby Genkel from a script written by Academy Award nominee Terry Rossio, The Amazing Maurice> is pure fun for audiences of all ages.

Maurice is a sassy, street-smart cat with a sneaky disposition. Together with his band of rats and pied-piper friend, he travels across the countryside, swindling villagers with a staged rat plague. All seems well when the gang sets its sights on a scenic market town, though they quickly realize that something more nefarious is afoot. The town is already plagued by food-snatching rats, a pair of criminals, and a mysterious boss at the heart of the trouble. Joining forces with the resident narrator and the mayor’s daughter Malicia, Maurice and his friends investigate trouble, fight daring battles, and discover the truth of the town’s unfortunate events.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Toby about The Amazing Maurice, working with the cast, and more!

PC: You’ve said in previous interviews how difficult it is to get an animation into Sundance. How did you learn that this film was heading to Park City and having its North American premiere at the festival? What has that meant to you?
Toby: It’s a great honor and pleasure to be at Sundance. When we first heard about it, we couldn’t believe it, as you can imagine! But now I’m here, so I know it’s reality. It’s been awesome. We’re honored and thrilled.

PC: This is the first animated film ever made from one of Sir Terry Pratchett’s books. Did you feel that pressure heading into this project, bringing this beloved story to life?
Toby: When we first heard that we were allowed to turn a Terry Pratchett book into a film, we were so excited, but then you realize the scale of the project. There’s this weight on your shoulders. There was a bit of intimidation. He’s a big name. He has a huge fan base. We were big fans of his, so we wanted to do it right. So yes, there was a lot of pressure, but we said to ourselves, “Let the pressure be the pressure. We just need to be bold and do our best.”

PC: You’re also working with this star-studded cast. What was it like getting to collaborate with Emilia [Clarke] and Hugh [Laurie]?
Toby: It was nothing short of amazing. They are so talented and great artists. They were also all Pratchett fans too. You could feel that. I think what you can hear when you see the film is how much fun they all had when they were in front of the microphone. We kept pushing it further and further. It got better and better.

PC: You also co-directed this film. What is that process like when there are two directors at the helm?
Toby: I actually asked for a co-director because I’m totally a team guy. I need somebody to spar with. I need somebody to talk with. It’s simply how I prefer to work. I need somebody to bounce the ball and brainstorm with. That’s how I like to work. I can only say that Florian Westermann was the perfect partner to have by my side.

PC: One of the big themes within the film is what it means to be a hero. What does it mean to you?
Toby: I think the film radiates this, but there is more than one kind of hero. There’s more than one way to be heroic. What I love about this film is all the characters experience that and have that development. They’re all heroic in their own ways. For example, Keith is a guy who rises to the occasion. He’s someone who audiences can relate to. But what I like about Keith is that he’s afraid and he’s not afraid to show it, but he’s doing it anyway. He’s doing it without expecting an award or a pat on the shoulder or anything. He’s doing it because somehow deep within he knows he has to and it’s right. This is something that’s resonated with me. Himesh Patel brought so much flavor to Keith. He made him so special. I think people will root for him.

PC: You’ve made quite a name for yourself in the world of animation. What is it about this format and medium that excites you as a storyteller?
Toby: Where do I start? What I love about it is also the problem about it, which is that you can do more or less anything. It’s light and shadow. I think that’s why animation fits me. I have the tendency to push things very far. Animation is more forgiving with respect to that. I like those extremes. But at the end of the day, I have to say a film is a film. Animation is a technique for telling a story. A story has to be well told no matter how you do it, and that’s how we always approach our projects.

PC: What’s left on your bucket list?
Toby: I would be happy if I could continue to do what I’m doing. When we talk about animations and no limits, I want to see what’s next. I just hope to continue to do this great job.

The Amazing Maurice is now screening at the Sundance Film Festival and available online. The Amazing Maurice will be in theaters on February 3rd.