According to Variety, Jim Broadbent has signed on to star alongside Robert Downey Jr, and Dunkirk’s Harry Collett in Universal’s The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle.
The film, based upon Hugh Lofting’s classic character, is being directed by Stephen Gaghan (Gold), who has penned the script from an earlier draft by Tom Shepherd.
Downey is set to take on the title role of the physician who opts to treat animals as he is able to communicate with them. As yet, there’s no word as to Broadbent’s role.
The character of Doctor Dolittle was previously portrayed by Rex Harrison in the 1967 musical Doctor Dolittle, while Eddie Murphy took on the role for the 1998 film and its 2001 sequel.
The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle is set for release on April 12th 2019.