Tom Holland, Emma Thompson and Ralph Fiennes are climbing aboard The Voyage Of Doctor Dolittle.

The actors will be voice-starring in the Universal feature that will be led by Robert Downey Jr. as the physician with the uncanny ability to speak with animals.

Also joining the cast in a live-action role is Antonio Banderas, with Michael Sheen in talks to join the production. They will play Rassouli and Mudfly, respectively.

Stephen Gaghan (Traffic, Syriana) will direct from a script that he wrote (an earlier draft was penned by Tom Shepherd). The story is based on the 1920s children’s books by Hugh Lofting.

Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum (Alice In Wonderland, Snow White and the Huntsman) will produce via their Roth/Kirschenbaum Films, alongside Susan Downey for Team Downey.

Voyage of Doctor Dolittle is set to begin production later this month in London. The pic is dated for a April 12, 2019, release.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter