Joining it’s peers ‘Artemis Fowl’ and ‘Hamilton’, ‘The One And Only Ivan’ is set to become the third movie debuted on Disney+ in lieu of a theatrical release in August. The film features Bryan Cranston, Sam Rockwell, Angelina Jolie and Danny DaVito and is based on the 2012 novel of the same name by K.A. Applegate. Although the story is completely fictional, it is inspired by the true story of Ivan, a western lowland gorilla who lived in a similar situation for 27 years.
‘The One And Only Ivan’ was set to release theatrical on the same date, August 14th, and is another test for Disney+ and their straight to platform strategy during the Covid-19 pandemic. Although it will certainly have nowhere near the impact of ‘Hamilton’, ‘The One And Only Ivan’ is yet another valuable piece of content that Disney+ can provide as additional fodder for potential subscribers to the service.
“An adaptation of the award-winning book about one very special gorilla, Disney’s “The One and Only Ivan” is an unforgettable tale about the beauty of friendship, the power of visualization and the significance of the place one calls home. Ivan is a 400-pound silver-back gorilla who shares a communal habitat in a suburban shopping mall with Stella the elephant, Bob the dog, and various other animals. He has few memories of the jungle where he was captured, but when a baby elephant named Ruby arrives, it touches something deep within him. Ruby is recently separated from her family in the wild, which causes him to question his life, where he comes from and where he ultimately wants to be.” (Walt Disney Studios)