After 37 years on screen without ever uttering a word, the famous claymation canine Gromit is finally set to speak with the voice of actor Martin Freeman in an upcoming audiobook edition of his memoirs. The beloved character, who has famously partnered with his eccentric inventor companion Wallace across multiple Oscar-winning films including The Wrong Trousers, A Close Shave, and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, is releasing an autobiography this month.
Animator and filmmaker Nick Park, the creator of the celebrated franchise, noted the unique challenge of adapting a universally recognized character who has traditionally relied solely on facial expressions and body language for an audio format. Park admitted that once he considered who could properly represent a figure that audiences feel they know so well despite never having heard, Freeman emerged as the clear choice, expressing genuine excitement when the actor agreed to the role.
Freeman is no stranger to playing long-suffering companions, having previously earned BAFTA and Emmy recognition for his portrayal of Dr. John Watson opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in the television series Sherlock. That background should serve him well when voicing Gromit, who has historically endured Wallace bringing home a serial killer love interest, hosting a criminal penguin as a houseguest, and creating a flawed robot gnome that resulted in a horde of hostile garden ornaments.
Rather than inventing an exaggerated cartoon persona, Freeman will take a grounded approach to the material. Park explained that the actor is not creating a distinct vocal gimmick for the character, but is instead reading Gromit's narrative as the dog would express it, capturing his internal reflections, candid observations, and dry wit with his characteristic thoughtfulness and humor.
The audiobook release coincides with broader franchise developments, including an immersive behind-the-scenes exhibition titled Larger Than Life, which opens on October 14 at the Lightroom located in King's Cross, London. The autobiography, titled Grand: The Autobiography of Gromit, as told to Nick Park, is scheduled for publication on October 22.