Though she was already attached as a producer, Angelina Jolie has decided to take a more active role in book adaptation The One And Only Ivan. She's now aboard to tackle one of the main voices in the film, intended as a blend of live action and digitally created animals.
Adapted from Katherine Applegate and illustrator Patricia Castelao's 2011 tome by Mike White, the story follows a silverback gorilla (the titular Ivan), who lives in a cage at the Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. He has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain, and rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all. Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he's seen and about his friends Stella (Jolie), an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line. Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home – and his own art – through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it's up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.
Me Before You's Thea Sharrock is directing the movie, and the hunt is on to find a youngster to play a janitor's daughter, the character who helps Ivan and Stella on their mission. There's no release date for the movie yet, but Disney will no doubt find a slot for it now the creative team and cast is taking shape.