Though he used to do dramas quite often, it’s almost difficult to imagine that Harrison Ford would play anything other than an action role these days (though there are lots of little exceptions along the way, yes), whether it be blasting at stormtroopers and chucking out one-liners as Han Solo in “Star Wars” or discovering precious artifacts as “Indiana Jones.” But here we will see Ford’s softer side in “The Call Of The Wild.” Sort of.
READ MORE: Harrison Ford Says ‘Indiana Jones 5’ Script Coming Together, Scoffs At Chris Pratt Talk
Based on the 1903 novel by Jack London, the story of a dog named Buck who travels from California to Alaska will show the change of a dog who has grown so used to its pampered lifestyle, to fighting the cold and receiving harsh treatment as a sled dog. But it’s also an action-adventure of course, perhaps heavier on that adventure aspect though.
This will be the third big-screen outing for the novel, having adaptations in 1935 and 1972 with Clarke Gable (“Gone With The Wind”) and Charlton Heston (“Ben Hur”) starring as John Thornton respectively. Ford will be the third man to step into the shoes of the prospector on the hunt for gold.
The film is being produced by Twentieth Century Fox, and they enlisted Chris Sanders to direct, who in the past has directed “The Croods” and “How To Train Your Dragon.” This is a man who knows how to write a family adventure, having also worked with Disney on “Lilo & Stitch.” The script also comes from Michael Green, who has previously worked on “Logan” as well as working with Ford on “Blade Runner 2049,” so expect a good mix between what is a family adventure and an action-adventure.
The project will also feature a mix of live-action and CGI, with Terry Notary mo-capping the dog, Buck. This won’t be the first time Notary has been an animal in a film, having portrayed Kong in the 2017 movie “Kong: Skull Island” and appearing in the recent “Planet Of The Apes” movies. He also has vast experience with animal choreography, so expect Buck to look fantastic, with the help of special effects studio Technoprops.
Along with Ford and Notary, Karen Gillan (“Guardians Of The Galaxy”), Bradley Whitford (“Get Out”) and Dan Stevens (“Beauty And The Beast”) will all-star in the film adaptation.
Here is the synopsis:
Adapted from the beloved literary classic, 20th Century Fox’s THE CALL OF THE WILD vividly brings to the screen the story of Buck, a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life is turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the exotic wilds of the Alaskan Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. As the newest rookie on a mail delivery dog sled team–and later its leader–Buck experiences the adventure of a lifetime, ultimately finding his true place in the world and becoming his own master.
“The Call Of The Wild” will be released on February 21, 2020, a perfect weekend trip to the cinema for the family. Watch the new trailer below.