Rat race

Kate Winslet, star of Titanic and Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, has been confirmed as the voice of the lead character in Aardman Animation's new feature film, Flushed Away.

The Oscar-nominated English actress will star opposite Aussie Hugh Jackman, famous for his steely appearance as Wolverine in Brian Singer's X-Men franchise, in the imaginative film that tells the tale of a family of sewer rats.

Due to the ambitious scale of the latest offering from the Bristol-based studio, production on the movie will take place in Los Angeles.

Aardman's previous outing include Chicken Run and the Wallace and Gromit series, with Oscar-winning director Nick Park understood to be currently working on a feature-length movie of the cheese-loving buffoon and his silent but trusty canine companion.

Due for release in 2006, Flushed Away will feature Rita the rat who joins forces with a posh rat in the city of Ratropolis when their apparently idyllic habitat is cast under threat.

Other voice talents scrambling like rats onto a sinking ship include Lord of the Rings faithfuls Andy Serkis and Sir Ian McKellen.

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