Robert Downey Jr. Announces Stellar Cast of The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle
The doctor is in and what a patient roster. Robert Downey Jr. has been hanging out alone as the sole cast member of The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle, but that has all changed. Downey Jr., who is active on Twitter, announced his new fellow cast members himself.
I am most pleased to announce the stellar voice cast joining me on #TheVoyageofDoctorDolittle. #EmmaThompson @ItsRamiMalek @octaviaspencer #RalphFiennes @kumailn @selenagomez @MrCraigRobinson @carmenejogo @TomHolland1996 #MarionCotillard @RealFDLT @JohnCena pic.twitter.com/GmfjOCqv7w
— Robert Downey Jr (@RobertDowneyJr) March 27, 2018
Dolittle will be treating a menagerie of high profile patients. There are four Oscar winners – Emma Thompson, Octavia Spencer, Jim Broadbent, and Marion Cotillard – and two Oscar nominees – Ralph Fiennes and Kumail Nanjiani – among them. Thompson, who will play Polynesia the parrot, is celebrated for her broad range including several family films. Thompson scripted and starred in Nanny McPhee and is, of course, the beloved Sybill Trelawny of the Harry Potter films.
Wrestler turned actor John Cena will be tackling the role of Yoshi the polar bear. Cena is a voice acting veteran now after playing the gentle giant Ferdinand the bull last year.
The bond between Tony Stark and Peter Parker seems to also extend beyond the MCU. Downey Jr. must have put in a good word for Spider-Man star Tom Holland. The young actor will be playing JP the dog.
You can see the full list in the graphic, but here are all the new cast members and their characters: Emma Thompson, Polynesia the parrot; Rami Malek, Chee Chee the gorilla; Octavia Spencer, Dab-Dab the duck; Ralph Fiennes, Barry the tiger; Kumail Nanjiani, Plimpton the ostrich; Selena Gomez, Betsy the Giraffe; Craig Robinson, Fleming the mouse; Carmen Ejogo, Regine the lioness; Tom Holland, JP the dog; Marion Cotillard, Tutu the fox; Frances de la Tour, Ginko-Who-Soars; and John Cena, Yoshi the polar bear.
Eddie Murphy originated the role for film in 1998 with a wild cast of animal costars. Downey Jr. was tapped by Oscar winning director Stephen Gaghan to play the specially gifted doc. Based on the stories by Hugh Lofting, John Dolittle is a surgeon who gains the ability to speak to animals.
The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle sets sail April of 2019.
Featured Image: Actress Emma Thompson attends Entertainment Weekly’s Must List Party during the Toronto International Film Festival 2017 at the Thompson Hotel on September 9, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Entertainment Weekly)Robert Downey Jr. attends the premiere of Columbia Pictures’ ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ at TCL Chinese Theatre on June 28, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Octavia Spencer attends the EE British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) held at Royal Albert Hall on February 18, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
