The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle (starring RDJ)

[doctorD]

Universal has landed the rights to the project that Stephen Gaghan wrote and will direct.

Robert Downey Jr. to Star in 'The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle'



he doctor is in.

Robert Downey Jr. will star in The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle, based on the character from the 1920s series of children’s books by Hugh Lofting. Stephen Gaghan (Syriana, Gold) will direct the film based on a script he wrote, with an earlier draft by Tom Shepherd.

In a competitive situation, Universal won the rights to the hot package after it hit the town and garnered multiple bids from studios last week.

Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum will produce for their Roth/Kirschenbaum Films alongside Susan Downey for Team Downey.

Doctor Dolittle first hit the bit screen in the 1967 musical Doctor Dolittle, directed by Richard Fleischer. It was written by Leslie Bricusse based on Hugh Lofting's novels: The Story of Doctor Dolittle, The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle and Doctor Dolittle's Circus. The story follows the eccentric Doctor John Dolittle, a former physician who lives with and treats animals, claiming that he can communicate with them.

The 1967 film, which was a musical, was not well received at the time, but was nominated for an Oscar for best picture and won for best original song and visual effects. Another Dr. Dolittle film was released in 1998 and starred Eddie Murphy in the titular role. The Fox film was a success and resulted in four sequels, although several went direct-to-video.

Downey was most recently seen as Tony Stark in Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Age of Ultron. He will reprise the role in the upcoming Spider-Man: Homecoming and Avengers: Infinity War. He’s repped by CAA.

Gaghan won an Oscar for writing Steven Soderbergh’s Traffic. He also wrote and directed Syriana, and most recently wrote and director Gold, starring Matthew McConaughey. He repped by CAA and Hansen, Jacobson.

[cinemaphile]

Hmmm.... Downey's non-Iron Man roles are very sparse (in the last 5 years he has only done 1 non-Marvel movie - The Judge - plus a cameo in Chef, and his next few are all Marvel except for the undated Sherlock Holmes 3), so I am a bit disappointed that this is taking up a spot on his schedule. Would rather see him do another flick with Shane Black or something.

[imsounoriginal]

Stephen Gaghan and Doctor Dolittle is not a combination I'd ever have guessed would happen...

[Veronica Mars]

Sad that such a brilliant actor seems to only take "paycheck" movies now.

[dgoswald]

RDJ + an English accent = great value.

Edit: Not sure why I presumed he'd have an English accent for this, lol. He might do.

[imsounoriginal]

Since when is RDJ a brilliant actor? Minus Tropic Thunder he's spent the better part of a decade playing himself in just about every role he's taken, even ones like The Judge (which I actually liked).

[cinemaphile]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Since when is RDJ a brilliant actor? Minus Tropic Thunder he's spent the better part of a decade playing himself in just about every role he's taken, even ones like The Judge (which I actually liked).

But he's chosen roles where his "Self" fits the character perfectly.

Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, and Jack Nicholson pretty much play themselves in every role they have ever done. Do you not consider them good actors?

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

But he's chosen roles where his "Self" fits the character perfectly.

Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, and Jack Nicholson pretty much play themselves in every role they have ever done. Do you not consider them good actors?

At a certain time, yeah. Now not so much, although De Niro shows some effort now and then. I'm fine with calling RDJ a movie star, which he is, and he finds roles that fit his persona. But brilliant actor? No chance.

[cinemaphile]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

I'm fine with calling RDJ a movie star, which he is, and he finds roles that fit his persona. But brilliant actor? No chance.

I actually can't fault that statement at all, even though I love RDJ and greatly enjoyed (almost) all the roles he has played.

...but I would get flamed for saying the same about the actors I listed above, even though it is equally true of them.

[Coenskubrick]

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

I actually can't fault that statement at all, even though I love RDJ and greatly enjoyed (almost) all the roles he has played.

...but I would get flamed for saying the same about the actors I listed above, even though it is equally true of them.

That's why Dustin Hoffman is the true GOAT.

[aiman04]

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

Hmmm.... Downey's non-Iron Man roles are very sparse (in the last 5 years he has only done 1 non-Marvel movie - The Judge - plus a cameo in Chef, and his next few are all Marvel except for the undated Sherlock Holmes 3), so I am a bit disappointed that this is taking up a spot on his schedule. Would rather see him do another flick with Shane Black or something.

Because no studio can afford him.

[MTS]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Since when is RDJ a brilliant actor? Minus Tropic Thunder he's spent the better part of a decade playing himself in just about every role he's taken, even ones like The Judge (which I actually liked).

Exactly how was he not playing himself in Tropic Thunder?

He has done some brilliant work. Chaplin and Less than Zero may not have been within the last ten years, but i don't forget them because of that. Also I've seen Anthony Hopkins "play himself" more than a couple times, I've seen Robert Duvall "play himself" more than a couple times. All these actors are very good at what they do. RDJ has been swept up in the mega-budget style of performance, and that's what he's getting paid the big bucks to do these days.

Am I excited about Dolittle? Eh...I might watch it if he does a different British dialect than I have heard him do before. Either way, I still know what he is capable of.

[grape_jelly]

Meh.

I'd rather see another Eddie Murphy version.

[cinemaphile]

Originally Posted by grape_jelly

Meh.

I'd rather see another Eddie Murphy version.

said no one ever.

[aiman04]

Eddie Murphy's version is the GOAT.

[Himmel]

Full Cast Officially Revealed



Collider

[kylor]

Decent logo.

[Hoke Moseley]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Stephen Gaghan and Doctor Dolittle is not a combination I'd ever have guessed would happen...

Yeah....... totally bizarre.

Still wish Candy Store had gotten made.

[Kazutaka]

Hollywood whitewashing classic black movies, i can't wait for them to remake Guess Who with a white family.

[Cremildo]

Originally Posted by Kazutaka

Hollywood whitewashing classic black movies, i can't wait for them to remake Guess Who with a white family.

What are you referring to?