Disney has released the first trailer for The One and Only Ivan. Based on the award-winning book by Katherine Applegate, “The One and Only Ivan” tells the story of Ivan, a silverback gorilla who learns that life isn’t defined by place and circumstance but by the power of friendship and the courage to make change happen. Sam Rockwell voices of Ivan, the giant gorilla with a gentle heart, and Angelina Jolie as Stella, Ivan’s pachyderm friend, and Brooklynn Prince, a baby elephant.
The film will utilize the same technology that created photorealistic animals, seen in 2019’s Dumbo, to interact with live humans. In fact, some aspects of the story do feel similar. However, this will be more from the animals’ perspective.
Here’s the official plot synopsis for Ivan: The One and Only
An adaptation of the award-winning book about one very special gorilla, Disney’s “The One and Only Ivan,” is an unforgettable tale about the beauty of friendship, the power of visualization, and the significance of the place one calls home. Ivan is a 400-pound silverback gorilla who shares a communal habitat in a suburban shopping mall with Stella, the elephant, Bob the dog, and various other animals. He has few memories of the jungle where he was captured, but when a baby elephant named Ruby arrives, it touches something deep within him. Ruby is recently separated from her family in the wild, which causes him to question his life, where he comes from, and where he ultimately wants to be. The heartwarming adventure, which comes to the screen in an impressive hybrid of live-action and CGI, is based on Katherine Applegate’s bestselling book, which won numerous awards upon its publication in 2013, including the Newbery Medal.
The One and Only Ivan was initially set for a theatrical release on August 14, 2020. But with the current pandemic forcing movie theaters to close its doors, Disney shifted its release to Disney+. This is similar to what happened with Artemis Fowl earlier this year.
Other voice talents include Danny DeVito as the voice of Bob, the dog; Helen Mirren as the voice of Snickers the poodle; Ramon Rodriquez as the mall employee George; Ariana Greenblatt as George’s daughter Julia; Chaka Khan as the voice of Henrietta the chicken; Mike White as the voice of Frankie, the seal; Ron Funches as the voice of Murphy, the rabbit; Phillipa Soo as the voice of Thelma, the parrot; and Bryan Cranston as Mack, the mall’s owner.
The One And Only Ivan will debut exclusively on Disney+ on August 21, 2020.
