The live-action Dora The Explorer film has now found its Dora. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Isabela Moner (Transformers: The Last Knight) has been cast to play a teenage version of the little explorer.
The film will follow Dora in her teenage years accompanied by her best friend Boots the monkey and cousin Diego on an adventure. James Bobin will direct the film, re-teaming with his Muppets writer Nicholas Stoller who co-wrote with Danielle Sanchez-Witzel. The film comes from the Paramount division Paramount Players and Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes.
“We are thrilled to have found our Dora in Isabela,” said Brian Robbins, president of Paramount Players. “Dora has long been a celebrated, strong heroine in animated television, and like Dora, Isabela has an incredible spirit and is an advocate for positive values. With our partners at Nickelodeon, we look forward to continuing Dora’s story for generations to come.”
“I’m honored and excited to bring Dora to life,” said Moner on her casting. “I grew up watching the show, and for me, especially as a Latina, Dora was an amazing role model — she is a strong, adventurous and fun-loving girl. I can’t wait to put on the backpack and begin her next adventure!”
The Dora The Explorer show ran for eight seasons, totalling up to 172 episodes over 14 years which spawned a spin-off, Go, Diego, Go!. The live-action film will shoot in Queensland, Australia sometime this year.
Dora The Explorer will be released on August 2nd, 2019.