Tom Holland is in Dolittle because of Robert Downey Jr.,” says director Stephen Gaghan

  News Desk : This year 2020 is bringing Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Holland back together. The famous mentor-mentee duo is set to return on the big screen together in Universal Pictures’ DOLITTLE starring Robert Downey Jr. as famed doctor and veterinarian, Dr. Dolittle. Set to release in India on January 17 in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, DOLITTLE is directed Stephen Gaghan who shares the reason the duo’s reunion.

“Tom Holland is in Dolittle because of Robert,” Gaghan says. “Tom did the movie because he loves Robert. They’re very close.”

In Dolittle, Robert Downey Jr. portrays the role of famed doctor and veterinarian of Queen Victoria’s England who hermits himself away behind the high walls of Dolittle Manor with only his menagerie of exotic animals for company. Tom Holland lent his voice to Jip, an intelligent and loyal long-haired lurcher dog who is sight-challenged. Having Holland as Jip in the adventure proved to be a professional coup for the director and canine lover.

Dolittle tell the tale of a veterinarian who could talk to animals and was forced to set on an adventure when the young queen (Jessie Buckley, Wild Rose) falls gravely ill. A reluctant Dolittle is forced to set sail on an epic adventure to a mythical island in search of a cure, regaining his wit and courage as he crosses old adversaries and discovers wondrous creatures.

The doctor is joined on his quest by a young, self-appointed apprentice (Dunkirk’s Harry Collett) and a raucous coterie of animal friends, including an anxious gorilla (Oscar^® winner Rami Malek), an enthusiastic but bird-brained duck (Oscar^® winner Octavia Spencer), a bickering duo of a cynical ostrich (The Big Sick’s Kumail Nanjiani) and an upbeat polar bear (John Cena, Bumblebee) and a headstrong parrot (Oscar^® winner Emma Thompson), who serves as Dolittle’s most trusted advisor and confidante.

The film also stars Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen (The Queen), Oscar^® winner Jim Broadbent and Carmen Laniado (FX’s A Christmas Carol) and features additional voice performances from Oscar^® winner Marion Cotillard, Frances de la Tour, Ralph Fiennes, Selena Gomez, Tom Holland, and Craig Robinson.

Directed by Academy Award^® winner Stephen Gaghan (Syriana, Traffic), Dolittle is produced by Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum under their Roth/Kirschenbaum Films (Alice in Wonderland, Maleficent) and Susan Downey (Sherlock Holmes franchise, The Judge) for Team Downey. The screen story is by Thomas Shepherd and the screenplay is by Stephen Gaghan and Dan Gregor (CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) & Doug Mand (CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend). The film is executive produced by Robert Downey Jr., Sarah Bradshaw (The Mummy, Maleficent) and Zachary Roth (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil).