Robert Downey Jr is set to star in The Voyage Of Doctor Dolittle for Universal Pictures. The new film will be based on the 1920s series of children’s books by Hugh Lofting, and will be adapted for the screen by Stephen Gaghan, who also directs.
The Hollywood Reporter reports the news of the plans for a new film, which was the subject of a huge bidding war in Hollywood over the past couple of weeks. This could be a new franchise for Downey, who will also produce the film through his Team Downey banner, along with Susan Downey, Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum.
Here’s a brief synopsis of the source material:
Together with Jip the Dog, Polynesia the Parrot, and 9-year-old Tommy Stubbins, the good doctor sets off in search of a missing colleague. This Newbery Medal–winning adventure recounts the hunt for Long Arrow, the world’s greatest naturalist, in treks that range from the Mediterranean and South America to the bottom of the sea. Thanks to the doctor’s gift for conversing with animals, the travelers find a solution to every challenge, including a curious encounter with a sea monster and a shipwreck on a mysterious island.
The Doctor Dolittle stories have come to the screen in the past; in the 1960s with Rex Harrison as the title character, and then decades later with Eddie Murphy in the role.
No news on timelines for the new film, but we’ll keep you posted.
