'The One and Only Ivan' News: Angelina Jolie Confirmed to Lend Voice
After starring in Disney's blockbuster hit "Maleficent," Angelina Jolie is set to work with the studio again in the upcoming film "The One and Only Ivan," this time as a voice artist. Based on a 2011 novel, the film by Walt Disney Pictures is going to feature Jolie as a baby elephant named Stella.
"The One and Only Ivan" is based on a 2011 Newbery Medal-winning book of the same title written by Katherine Applegate and illustrated by Patricia Castelao. The original book revolves around the story of Ivan, a silverback gorilla, who has long been residing in a cage in a shopping mall with Stella the elephant and Bob the stray dog. Through the help of Stella, Ivan begins to piece together the memories of his life before being incarcerated in the mall's cage, and he decides to escape.
The synopsis for the upcoming film reveals that it will be told from the point of view of Ivan himself. Reports also reveal that Applegate's novel was inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla named Ivan, who was taken from the wild to live in a highly urbanized home.
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"The One and Only Ivan" will serve as Jolie's first big-screen role since she voiced Tigress in the 2016 film "Kung Fu Panda 3." Her most recent work was behind the camera when she directed the Netflix historical drama "First They Killed My Father."
So far, Jolie is the only one confirmed to lend her voice to the film. According to reports, the production is currently looking to cast someone to voice a janitor's daughter, who is speculated to help Ivan and save him and his friends from captivity.
Directed by "Me Before You" director Thea Sharrock, the film will be produced by Allison Shearmur and Jolie and penned by "School of Rock's" Mike White.
