'Doctor Dolittle: King of the Wild' begins production with reel FX and Sycamore Studios

The film will follow Doctor Dolittle on a globe-spanning journey to restore balance between humans and animals

A new animated take on the classic Doctor Dolittle story is officially in the works. Doctor Dolittle: King of the Wild has begun production under Sycamore Studios in partnership with Reel FX Animation Studios, the companies announced on Tuesday.

The family adventure marks the latest adaptation of the beloved character created by Hugh Lofting.

The film will follow Doctor Dolittle as he embarks on a globe-spanning journey to restore balance between humans and animals, continuing the story of the physician who can communicate with creatures of all kinds. The project is being developed as a large-scale animated feature aimed at family audiences.

Aaron Warner, co-founder of Sycamore Studios and former president of DreamWorks Animation, is producing the film. Warner is known for his work on blockbuster franchises including Shrek and The Croods.

Reel FX, the studio behind The Book of Life and Rumble, will handle animation production. The studio has built a reputation for visually distinctive family entertainment and recently expanded its feature slate.

The Doctor Dolittle character has appeared in numerous film adaptations over the decades, including the 1967 musical starring Rex Harrison, the popular Dr. Dolittle franchise led by Eddie Murphy, and 2020’s Dolittle starring Robert Downey Jr..

No release date or voice cast has been announced yet, but the start of production signals that the iconic animal-talking doctor is set to return to the big screen in a fresh animated adventure.