Side-stepping (or at least appearing to, the image is adorned with the film's logo) the usual promotional channels of handing the story to one of the trade magazines or putting out a dry press release, Robert Downey Jr. has dropped word about the extensive voice cast for The Voyage Of Dr. Dolittle via twitter. And what a line-up it is, with Selena Gomez, Emma Thompson, John Cena, Tom Holland and more all lending their vocal chords.
What promises to be a new take on Hugh Lofting's eccentric character is still somewhat under wraps, but the title suggests a trip for the animal-chatting doctor. And now, thanks to Downey Jr., we know who will be voicing the creatures. Ready for the list? Here we go... Gomez is Betsy, a giraffe, Holland has snagged the role of Jip, a dog and Thompson will play Polynesia the parrot. Cena's on as polar bear Yoshi, with Kumail Nanjiani as an ostrich named Plimpton, Octavia Spencer voicing Dab-Dab the duck, Rami Malek as gorilla Chee-Chee, Craig Robinson providing the tones for a mouse called Fleming and Ralph Fiennes as Barry the tiger.
Wait! We're not done. There's also Carmen Ejogo as lioness Regine, Marion Cotillard playing fox Tutu and Frances De La Tour voicing something called Ginko-Who-Soars. Phew...
Stephen Gaghan is directing the film, having re-written a script that began life with Tom Shepherd. Dunkirk's Harry Collett is part of the human cast, alongside Jim Broadbent, Michael Sheen and Antonio Banderas.
The Voyage Of Doctor Dolittle has set a 12 April, 2019 release in the US, with the UK date still to be announced.
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