If all goes well for Disney in current talks, the studio will be taking on best-selling kids’ book The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.
The story follows Ivan, a silverback gorilla living in captivity in an American mall and his attempts to help baby elephant Ruby escape her abusive owner.
Author Katherine Applegate was inspired by real-life gorilla Ivan, who lived in similar circumstances until animal rights groups successfully campaigned for his transfer to a more suitable facility. The book is illustrated by Patricia Castelao and comes with a ready-made fan base – it went on to win the prestigious Newbery Medal in 2013. Applegate is a prolific writer, and has already brought us many books series including Animorphs, Remnants and Everworld .
If the project goes ahead Allison Shearmur is attached to produce. Her latest work is on Disney’s live-action CINDERELLA, which will be hitting our big screens in 2015.
With a motley collection of animals, some teary moments and an uplifting journey, we bet Disney hopes this deal goes through. The One and Only Ivan looks like it has all the ingredients of a big hit, once it’s adapted for cinema.
Source: THR
