This weekend, families are flocking to see the vibrant adaptation of Beatrix Potter’s beloved Peter Rabbit, a movie that boasts a stellar voice cast including James Corden, Margot Robbie, Daisy Ridley, and Sia. Among these famous voices, one performance is particularly grabbing attention and sparking the question: “Who voices the rooster in Peter Rabbit?” This quirky character has audiences in stitches, and for good reason.
Image: JW Rooster II from Peter Rabbit movie, known for his hilarious panic and comedic timing.
The Unsung Voice Behind JW Rooster II
Within the charming world of Peter Rabbit lives an incredibly anxious rooster, who is hilariously bewildered by the daily sunrise. His routine begins with a burst of excited screams each morning, as he dramatically declares his disbelief that the sun has returned AGAIN! Much like a real rooster’s crow, this initial scene is a comical wake-up call, delivered with such delightful silliness that it’s hard not to laugh out loud.
As Peter’s chaotic escapades with Mr. McGregor unfold, the rooster’s anxieties escalate in tandem. One morning, he awakens not just in shock, but also filled with remorse, lamenting that had he known another day would dawn, he wouldn’t have fertilized “ALL THOSE EGGS!” His parental panic ignites fresh waves of laughter, echoing into the subsequent scenes. Later, his chicks arrive, joyously squawking at the sunrise as their father slumbers, completely exhausted. There’s more comedic gold to this character’s arc, but to reveal it all would spoil the fun. Suffice it to say, it’s a genuinely funny and endearing storyline that peaks with a joke that is simultaneously dark, self-aware, and surprisingly relatable.
The sheer panic in the rooster’s voice is so authentic that it consistently triggers bursts of laughter with each sunrise scene. During the end credits, many viewers find themselves scanning for the performer’s name, assuming such a memorable character in a star-studded film must be voiced by a well-known celebrity. However, figuring out which name correlates to the rooster proves tricky. Even after checking IMDB and the Peter Rabbit press materials, the answer remains elusive, leading many to wonder, “Who is the voice behind this rooster?”
Meet Will Reichelt: The VFX Supervisor Who Became a Voice Star
The mystery is solved by none other than the film’s director, Will Gluck. The voice behind JW Rooster II belongs to Will Reichelt, the film’s Visual Effects Supervisor. Yes, you read that right. The incredibly funny and scene-stealing rooster is voiced by a VFX expert, not a seasoned voice actor. This unexpected casting choice adds another layer of intrigue to the already delightful character.
Image: Film director Will Gluck at a movie premiere, who revealed the surprising voice actor for JW Rooster II in Peter Rabbit.
From Scratch Track to Stealing the Show: The Story of Reichelt’s Casting
Gluck explained the surprising story of how Reichelt ended up voicing the rooster. In animated or hybrid films like Peter Rabbit, temporary voices are always needed during production to ensure the dialogue works with the animation. This preliminary recording, known as a scratch track, is a placeholder meant to be replaced by the official cast later in the animation process. Reichelt, described by Gluck as “one of the best VFX supervisors in the world, and a great guy,” was asked to record scratch tracks. While it’s common for crew members to lend their voices for scratch tracks, it’s exceptionally rare for those scratch tracks to become the final performance!
“We would bring (Reichelt) in to do various characters,” Gluck recounted, “He would even do Peter or Benjamin…And he impressed us all with his talent! Then he recorded the scratch track for the rooster. It was one of those defining moments: as soon as I heard his rooster voice, I knew we wouldn’t cast anyone else.”
Once Gluck made the decision to keep Reichelt as the rooster, he enlisted the dialect coach who had been working with the main cast to refine the rooster’s panicked outbursts with a proper English accent. “I had so much fun writing and rewriting those lines, imagining Will putting his all into the performance,” Gluck recalled. “When he performs, he completely commits, becoming red-faced and flustered – he truly becomes the rooster. He gives it everything, and it’s incredibly funny.”
More Than Just a Voice: Reichelt’s Hidden Role On-Screen
Adding another layer to Reichelt’s involvement, Gluck revealed a fun fact: Reichelt also appears in the live-action segments of the movie. Several crew members were used as extras in the scenes set in Harrods department store. “Will is actually one of the people in Harrods,” Gluck noted, “He’s visible in both the bathroom scene with Domhnall Gleeson and also in the toy department scene when Domhnall wreaks havoc.”
“I’m thrilled that people are loving the rooster,” Gluck said regarding the positive audience response to JW Rooster II. “People are singling him out! Reichelt is as gifted a voice actor as he is in VFX. He’s fantastic…I love that he’s stealing the spotlight from Margot Robbie, you know? I wish he would pursue voice acting, although he probably never will. He’s far too talented in VFX to give it up.”
Regardless of whether Reichelt pursues voice acting further, audiences will always have the hilarious sunrises of Peter Rabbit, thanks to his unforgettable and unexpected performance as JW Rooster II. His portrayal is a testament to the idea that sometimes, the greatest discoveries are found in the most unexpected places.
