Talking Heads frontman David Byrne and Hayley Williams of rock band Paramore have contributed to the soundtrack of Netflix’s upcoming animated adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Twits, the streamer has announced.
Byrne has written and produced three original songs which are performed by the cast and include “We’re Not Like Ev’ryone Else,” “Lullaby,” and “The Problem Is You.”
He has also joined forces with singer-songwriter Williams on the end title song, “Open the Door,” as co-writers and performers.
The adaptation – directed and cowritten by Phil Johnston (Ralph Breaks the Internet, Zootopia and Wreck-It Ralph) – marks the first time Dahl’s bestseller and its iconic characters Mr. and Mrs. Twit, the meanest, smelliest, nastiest people in the world, have been brought to the big screen.
Johnston is joined in the endeavor by co-directors Katie Shanahan and Todd Demong as well as co-writer Meg Favreau.
In other updates, Netflix has revealed the movie will launch October 17 as well as fresh voice cast additions, topped by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, (Never Have I Ever) and Ryan Lopez as the two lead child characters of Beesha and Bubsy respectively.
Also joining the previously announced Johnny Vegas and Margo Martindale, who voice Mr. and Mrs. Twit, as well as Emilia Clarke (Pippa) and Natalie Portman (Mary Muggle Wump), are Timothy Simons (Marty Muggle-Wump), Nicole Byer (Beverly Onion), Jason Mantzoukas (Mayor Wayne John John-John), Alan Tudyk (Sweet Toed Toad), Mark Proksch (Horvis Dungle), Rebecca Wisocky (Dee Dumdie-Dungle), and Charlie Berens (Gorb Klurb).
Johnston has reimagined Dahl’s work and its protagonists as also owning and operating the most disgusting, dangerous, and idiotic amusement park in the world, Twitlandia.
When the Twits rise to power in their town, two brave children – Beesha and Bubsy – and a family of magical Muggle-Wumps, are forced to become as tricky as the Twits in order to save the city.
“This was a fun project. Like other Roald Dahl books, this one has its share of dreadful characters – this time two of them are front and center. Kids (and adults) love that they can vicariously imagine their own worst impulses played out, harmlessly, in a punky fun story,” said Byrne.
“So, when I was approached to write some songs for this movie I immediately said ‘let me give it a try and see if you like what I come up with’. Phil was wonderfully clear what each song needed to express and what the character was feeling at that moment,” he continued.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Beesha, in The Twits. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
Byrne revealed the end song written and performed with Williams had been inspired by the character of 12-year-old Beesha who is kind, empathetic, and strong, and the antithesis of the Twits.
“I reached out to Hayley Williams to collaborate on the end credits song and we both agreed that it should serve to remind us that there is heart and connection in the story after all the unpleasantness depicted by Mr. and Mrs. Twit. Hayley was inspired by Beesha story and came up with some lyric ideas, and I set them to tune and boom.”
Williams said being asked to be part of the movie was a “pinch-me” moment, not least because ‘The Twits’ was one of her favorite Dahl books as a child.
“I’m drawn to learning about twisted characters like Mr. and Mrs. Twit and The Wormwoods from Matilda. The way Phil and Daisy adapted the original story was really exciting to me, as was the animation style. It feels like a cautionary tale – and also a really lovely depiction of chosen family and community, which is one of my favorite topics. I owe David Byrne for pulling me into the music for this. It was so fun and so surreal starting a song from scratch with him,” she said.
Johnston revealed working with Byrne had also been a “pinch-me” moment on his side.
“I still can’t quite believe that I spent the last few years collaborating with David Byrne, a musical hero of mine since I was 13,” he said.
“From the first demo he sent me, on which the featured instrument was a 100-year-old banjolele, I knew I was going to love the songs he wrote. Throughout the process, my collaboration with David has been incredibly fun and surprisingly easy, probably because I’ve been stealing from him for so long.”
Animation on the film is by Jellyfish Pictures (The Boss Baby, The Bad Guys). Producers are Johnston, Maggie Malone, Daisy May West.
