ICYMI: Robert Downey Jr's 'Dolittle' Looks To Be The Most Whimsical & Action-Packed Version Yet!

Robert Downey Jr. is taking on the iconic role of Dr. Dolittle in potentially the most Disney-esque non-Disney movie ever made. In the upcoming movie, Dolittle, Downey Jr. portrays the unconventional doctor-turned-veterinarian who has become a recluse after the death of his wife.

The last time this infamous doctor was brought to life on screen was in Eddie Murphy’s 2001 romantic-comedy Dr. Dolittle 2, with Murphy starring in the first movie back in 1998 as well. The original movie about the eccentric doctor, however, was released back in 1967. The only thing these movies share is the name of the character, with each of them taking a different direction with the plot. Here are some things to look forward to in this adaptation of Dr. Dolittle!

A Shift in the Setting

Whereas Eddie Murphy’s version of the movie took place in what at the time was modern day, this new incarnation of the movie takes place in Victorian England. The trailer is void of all the modern day technologies like cars, airplanes, and cell phones. We see RDJ on horse-drawn carriages in order to get around, a boat to go cross country, and rather than call a doctor on the phone, the little girl in the trailer had to actually walk to his house. The shift in the time period allows for more liberties and opportunities to separate this movie from all the others.   

More Fantastical

When Queen Victoria (Jessie Buckley) contracts a mysterious fatal illness, Dr. Dolittle is tasked with traversing the planet in search of a cure. He must leave his house for the first time in seven years for this journey, which leads him to mysterious lands, altercations with old enemies, and the discovery of fantastic creatures no man has seen before. The trailer features many exciting moments, such as clashes with pirates and a full-on battle with a tiger. This version of the movie seems to be filled with big adventures and more fantastical and whimsical plotlines than ever before.

A Ton of A-List Actors as Animals

Following Dolittle on his journey for a cure are his most trustworthy friends and confidants -- his animals. While the animals are CGI, the voices binging them to life are very real and are provided by some very talented and celebrated actors. Oscar winners Rami Malek, Octavia Spencer, and Emma Thompson bring to life an apprehensive gorilla, a silly duck, and last but not least Dolittle’s most trusted advisor, a strong-willed parrot. John Cena also takes on the role of a cheerful polar bear, and Kumail Nanjiani takes on double duty as a pair of quarreling, distrustful ostriches.

Dolittle is expected to hit theaters on January 17, 2020.