'The One and Only Ivan' is based on Katherine Applegate's children book of the same name and follows the story of a caged gorilla in a shopping center.
- March 24, 2017
AceShowbiz -
Disney is eyeing "Me Before You" director Thea Sharrock to helm the movie adaptation of children's book "The One and Only Ivan", The Hollywood Reporter reports. The movie is set to be produced by Allison Shearmur, who produced Disney's "Cinderella" and "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story".
Should the deal be closed, Sharrock will be the latest female director tapped by Disney to direct its project. Previously, Disney had Ava DuVernay directing recently-wrapped "A Wrinkle in Time" and recently tapped Niki Caro to direct "Mulan" live-action movie.
"The One and Only Ivan" is based on Katherine Applegate's children's book of the same name. It follows an gorilla named Ivan, who is caged in a shopping center and doesn't remember his previous life. He regains his memory only when a baby elephant enters his life. Ivan later plans an escape to protect the new elephant from their abusive owner.
The novel won Newberry Medal in 2013. Illustrated by Patricia Castelao and published by HarperCollins in 2011, the book is based on a true story about a gorilla named Ivan, who spent 27 years in a Washington shopping center before being transferred to a zoo in Atlanta.
Sharrock is a veteran theater director who made her feature film debut with MGM and New Line's "Me Before You". The romance flick, starring Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin, is based on Jojo Moyes' novel of the same name. The movie was released in 2016 and grossed $207 million worldwide.
