Disney+ Streams Beloved Children's Tale 'The One and Only Ivan'

BURBANK, CA — A hybrid live-action and CGI adaptation of the award- winning children's book "The One and Only Ivan" starring Bryan Cranston begins streaming on Disney+ Friday.

The film is about a 400-pound silverback gorilla who lives with several other animals in a circus attraction at the suburban Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. The arrival of a baby elephant named Ruby prompts Ivan to begin to question his life, where he comes from and where he ultimately wants to be.

Cranston portrays the circus attraction's owner. The voice cast includes Sam Rockwell as Ivan, Angelina Jolie as an African elephant, Danny DeVito as the stray dog Bob, Helen Mirren as Snickers the poodle and Chaka Khan as Henrietta the chicken.

"The One and Only Ivan" is directed by the British theater director Thea Sharrock who also directed the 2016 romantic drama, "Me Before You." The screenplay was written by Mike White, whose best-known screenplays were for "School of Rock" and "Nacho Libre." White also supplies the voice of Frankie the seal.

Jolie is also among the film's executive producers.

"The One and Only Ivan" was scheduled to be released to theaters last Friday but was shifted to Disney+ because of the theater closures prompted by coronavirus pandemic.

City News Service