It looks like the long-gestating The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle is finally staring to pick up some steam, with Deadline reporting that director Stephen Gaghan has started assembling his supporting cast to join Robert Downey Jr. in the title role.
Deadline is reporting that Antonio Banderas will play the main antagonist, a pirate called Rassouli, with Michael Sheen as Mudfly. Furthermore, Emma Thompson, Ralph Fiennes and Downey’s Spider-Man: Homecoming and Avengers: Infinity War co-star Tom Holland are set to voice three of the animals that Dolittle will find himself talking to.
An adaptation of the Hugh Lofting children’s books, The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle is being eyed as a new franchise for Downey as he transitions from his Marvel Cinematic Universe role. Universal Pictures is producing and directing the film, which is set to begin shooting later this month in London ahead of an April 12th 2019 release.