George Clooney and Wes Anderson will open The Times BFI London Film Festival with a bang today as they walk the red carpet for the world premiere of Fantastic Mr Fox, based on Roald Dahl's classic children's book.

The voice cast also includes Bill Murray, Sir Michael Gambon, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman and singer Jarvis Cocker among others.

It was co-written by Anderson, the director behind The Royal Tenenbaums and is his first animated film.

Anderson, who was also a producer on the movie, said previously: "Fantastic Mr Fox is a British film - based on a Roald Dahl book, set in the UK, produced in the UK.

"I am eagerly looking forward to introducing Fantastic Mr Fox to the world in this wonderful venue."

The story sees Mr and Mrs Fox (Clooney and Streep) living an idyllic home life with their son Ash (Schwartzman) and visiting young nephew Kristopherson (Eric Anderson).

But after 12 years, Mr Fox's wild animal instincts re-surface and he slips back into his old ways as a chicken thief, endangering his beloved family and the whole animal community.

Trapped underground and with not enough food, the animals band together to fight against the evil farmers Boggis, Bunce and Bean, who are determined to capture the fantastic Mr Fox.

Shot at London's Three Mills Studios, Twentieth Century Fox will release the film in the UK on October 23.

Boasting 15 world premieres and 146 UK premieres, The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival is one of the biggest dates in the UK movie calendar.

Clooney will also be at the UK's first screening of The Men Who Stare At Goats, a big screen version of journalist Jon Ronson's book about a US special forces' squad whose members use paranormal techniques. The movie also stars Ewan McGregor.

Closing the festival will be the world premiere of artist Sam Taylor-Wood's directorial debut Nowhere Boy about John Lennon's early years, growing up in Liverpool.

Other stars due to attend the fortnight-long fest of glitz and glamour include Julianne Moore, Clive Owen, Ray Winstone, Emma Thompson and Alfred Molina.

Among the other films to be screened will be new movies from directors Stephen Poliakoff with Glorious 39, Jane Campion - whose Bright Star will be given its premiere - and Julien Temple with Oil City Confidential.

Design guru Tom Ford will also unveil his first production A Single Man, as will actor David Morrissey with his debut Don't Worry About Me.

The festival will host a free outdoor screening in Trafalgar Square for the sixth year running. London Moves Me is an evening of more than 20 archive short films with live piano accompaniment on October 22.

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