‘Dolittle’ Trailer: Robert Downey Jr and His Talkative Animal Friends Are on a Mission to Save a Queen (Video)

Being an animal lover gets this doc in a perilous predicament

Robert Downey Jr. would rather talk to animals than people as the new Dr. Dolittle. But, as seen this official “Dolittle” trailer released Sunday, he is soon forced to leave his hideaway and set sail across the sea to a mythical island.

“We have no choice but to embark on this perilous journey,” Downey whispers to his feathered and furry friends.

And that involves getting into all sorts of dangerous situations, like being chained in a medieval dungeon with a tiger who greets him with, “hello, lunch” and then jumps him. But not to worry — a gorilla voiced by Rami Malek comes to his rescue.

“Dolittle” tells the story of famed doctor and veterinarian during the time of Queen Victoria’s England, Dr. John Dolittle, who returns to action after the loss of his wife seven years earlier caused him to become a hermit who only talks to animals. But when the young queen (Jessie Buckley, “Wild Rose”) falls ill, he goes on an adventure to find her a cure. He is joined on this quest by a young apprentice (Harry Collett, “Dunkirk”) and several animal friends, including an anxious gorilla (Malek), an enthusiastic duck (Octavia Spencer), an cynical ostrich (Kumail Nanjiani), an upbeat polar bear (John Cena), and a headstrong parrot (Emma Thompson).

Antonio Banderas also stars as Rassouli, along with Michael Sheen as Mudfly. Additional voice performers include Marion Cotillard, Frances de la Tour, Carmen Ejogo, Ralph Fiennes, Selena Gomez, Tom Holland, and Craig Robinson.

“Dolittle” is directed by Stephen Gaghan (“Syriana,” “Traffic”), and produced by Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum under their Roth/Kirschenbaum Films banner (“Alice in Wonderland,” “Maleficent”), as well as and Susan Downey (“Sherlock Holmes” franchise, “The Judge”) for Team Downey. Downey Jr. executive produces along iwth Sarah Bradshaw (“The Mummy,” “Maleficent”) and Zachary Roth (“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”).

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