“This was a fun project."
Netflix has announced the voice cast and soundtrack for its animated adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Twits, with Never Have I Ever star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan leading the film.
Maitreyi voices Beesha, one of two brave children tasked with taking on Mr and Mrs Twit, the “meanest, smelliest, nastiest people in the world”.
Her character, described as kind, empathetic, and strong, is the emotional heart of the film. Ryan Lopez voices Busby, her partner in the adventure.
The film follows the infamous Twits operating a dangerous and disgusting amusement park called Twitlandia.
But when they rise to power in their town, two brave orphans and a family of magical animals are forced to become as tricky as the Twits in order to save the city.
Phil Johnston directs and co-writes the project alongside Katie Shanahan, Todd Demong, and Meg Favreau.
The film’s music features three original songs by Talking Heads frontman David Byrne, including ‘We’re Not Like Ev’ryone Else’, ‘Lullaby’ and ‘The Problem Is You’.
David also co-wrote and performed the end credits track, ‘Open the Door’, with Paramore’s Hayley Williams.
He said: “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 centre.
“Kids (and adults) love that they can vicariously imagine their own worst impulses played out, harmlessly, in a punky fun story.
“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.”
David explained that his collaboration with Hayley was inspired by Maitreyi’s character:
“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’s story and came up with some lyric ideas, and I set them to tune and boom.”
Hayley added: “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 favourite 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.”
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan joins a stacked cast including Johnny Vegas and Margo Martindale as Mr and Mrs Twit, Emilia Clarke as Pippa, and Natalie Portman as Mary Muggle-Wump.
Other cast members include Timothy Simons, Nicole Byer, Jason Mantzoukas, Alan Tudyk, Mark Proksch, Rebecca Wisocky, and Charlie Berens.
The Twits is out on Netflix on October 17, 2025.
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