After the avalanche of comedy CGI animal films, it’s almost a relief to report that the live-action, inspirational, heart-tugging creature feature is looking to regain a paw (or in this case, flipper)-hold on Hollywood. Almost. But clearly Warner Bros. thinks that what the world needs now is the story of a dolphin who inspires a community through her courage, with Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd and Harry Connick Jr all negotiating to star.
Dolphin Tale will follow what happens when a dastardly criminal is causing havoc in a small seaside town in Florida, and only a hard-bitten detective and his dolphin-riding partner can…. What? I’m sorry, we’re being told that just because Judd and Freeman are looking to star together again, it doesn’t mean this’ll be another crime film.
No, the plot is adapted from the true adventures of a dolphin named Winter, who was rescued off the Florida coast and housed in a local aquarium to until she recovered. The story will focus on a lad who befriends an inured mammal and sparks a campaign to replace the tail she lost in a crab trap. He’ll get help from his mother (Judd), a local vet (Connick Jr) and a doctor (Freeman) who creates a prosthetic limb to help her get back into the swim of things (sorry).
The Snow Walker’s Charles Martin Smith is already on board to direct, with a script he polished alongside Jordan Roberts.
We still think there’s time for them to re-write the basics to add in a crime-fighting element, but we’ll understand if that’s not what they’re after.