Six years after Universal Pictures’ 2020 box office disaster, the beloved Doctor Dolittle franchise is getting a second chance — this time as a brand-new animated film.
Sycamore Studios has officially kicked off production on Doctor Dolittle: King of the Wild, an animated reboot built from the ground up. The studio is co-producing the project with Reel FX Animation Studios, and the goal is clear: introduce the world’s most famous animal-talking doctor to an entirely new generation of families.
According to Variety, the story follows Doctor Dolittle as his reputation takes a major hit after a disastrous expedition leads a group of poachers straight to a legendary creature. Determined to make things right, Dolittle launches a daring rescue mission alongside three of his trusted zoo companions. Think high-stakes adventure, sharp humor, and genuine heart — all wrapped in animated form.
Timothy Reckart, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Sycamore Studios, is attached as director. He’s no stranger to the format — his credits include the Oscar-nominated stop-motion short Head Over Heels and the family animated feature The Star. The screenplay is being penned by Cal Brunker and Bob Barlen, the writing duo best known for their work on the massively popular PAW Patrol franchise. Producing duties are shared by Christian McGuigan, Cooper Washburn, and Saxton Washburn.
Reckart described the project as a chance to tap back into the timeless magic of the character. “Doctor Dolittle’s ability to speak to animals has made him every generation’s favorite ambassador between the human and animal worlds,” he said, noting the film will remind audiences that “the world is full of discoveries yet to be made.“
Producer Cooper Waterman added that the team’s ambition goes well beyond a simple retread. He called King of the Wild a “fresh, cinematic reintroduction” to Dolittle, one built on “imagination, humor and heart” — designed to honor the franchise’s legacy while connecting meaningfully with today’s global family audience. Waterman also confirmed that Reel FX was the ideal creative partner to bring that vision to life.
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A Franchise With Deep Roots — And a Rocky Recent Past
The Doctor Dolittle character dates back to 1920, when British author Hugh Lofting published The Story of Doctor Dolittle — the tale of a physician who can communicate with animals. The series grew to more than a dozen novels, with installments continuing even after Lofting’s death in 1947.
The first major Hollywood adaptation arrived in 1967, starring Rex Harrison in the lead role. That version earned nine Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and walked away with wins for Best Original Song and Best Special Visual Effects — a remarkable achievement for a family film at the time.
The franchise lay dormant for more than three decades before 20th Century Fox revived it in 1998 with Eddie Murphy stepping into the role. Despite a modest 44% Rotten Tomatoes score, the film was a commercial success, grossing $294 million worldwide and spawning multiple sequels — including Dr. Dolittle 2, Tail to the Chief, and Million Dollar Mutts, with actress Kyla Pratt eventually taking over as the franchise lead.
Then came the 2020 reboot — and things went sideways fast.
Universal’s Dolittle, starring Endgame star Robert Downey Jr. alongside a high-profile cast that included Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen, and Jessie Buckley, opened to brutal reviews. The film landed a 15% Rotten Tomatoes score — the lowest in the entire franchise’s history — and grossed just $251 million at the global box office, falling well short of expectations given its enormous production costs. To cap it all off, Dolittle earned a Razzie Award for Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel.
What Sycamore Is Building Beyond the Movie
With King of the Wild, Sycamore Studios isn’t just making a film — it’s laying the groundwork for a larger entertainment franchise. The studio has signaled plans to expand the Dolittle universe into graphic novels, interactive games, and partnerships with zoos and theme parks, positioning the animated reboot as the foundation of something much bigger.
No release date has been announced yet, but the franchise’s new chapter is clearly underway — and this time, the approach looks fundamentally different.
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