THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN Moves from Theatrical Release to Disney+ This August

Disney is adapting the bestselling book The One and Only Ivan by K. A. Applegate about “one very special gorilla.” The film adaptation is directed by Thea Sharrock, and while it was originally slated for a theatrical release this year will now be released via Disney+ later this summer. The voice cast of the film includes Sam Rockwell as Ivan the gorilla, Angelina Jolie as Stella the elephant, Danny DeVito as Bob the dog, Helen Mirren as Snickers the poodle, Chaka Khan as Henrietta the chicken, Mike White as Frankie the seal, Brooklynn Prince as Ruby the baby elephant, Ron Funches as Murphy the rabbit, and Phillipa Soo as Thelma the parrot. Meanwhile, Ramon Rodriguez, Ariana Greenblatt, and Bryan Cranston will also be starring.

Ivan is a 400-pound silverback gorilla who shares a communal habitat in a suburban shopping mall with Stella the elephant and Bob the dog. 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.

Sharrock released this statement about the film and the change to the streaming service:

The world has changed in a heartbeat. People all over the globe have shared important, life changing experiences in ways we have not seen for a century. In response to this, I am so happy that we can share Katherine Applegate’s delightful and original story, ‘The One and Only Ivan’ with the world this August on Disney+, bringing some joy through this unique movie of true friendship, inspired by a true story.

Fans can watch The One and Only Ivan on Disney+ starting on August 21.