Sony Pictures has landed an interesting and unorthodox lead for their latest kids’ movie that will take place in New York City and will have musical numbers. Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem (“Skyfall,” “No Country For Old Men“) is reportedly sticking to family-friendly material and will join Sony’s feature film adaptation of the beloved Bernard Waber children’s novel “Lyle, Lyle Crocodile.”
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Deadline says the project it’ll be heading to theaters on July 22, 2022. Will Speck and Josh Gordon are directing “Crocodile” from a script adapted by new screenwriter Will Davies along with original songs/musical numbers coming from the Oscar-winning songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul that previously worked on “La La Land” The directing duo previously helmed “The Switch,” “Blade of Glory,” and “Office Christmas Party.”
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Here is the synopsis of the children’s novel that was first published in 1965:
“Lyle is the story of a friendly crocodile who turns up in a bathtub in an apartment in New York City’s Upper East Side. Lyle becomes good friends with the folks in the building, except for Mr. Grumps, who hates Lyle, parades, people, and pretty much everything.”
The outlet stops short of revealing if he’ll play Mr. Grumps or Lyle. Javier Bardem is best known for his mature outings, so joining a project like this is sort of out of character for the actor but likely suggests that the film is strong enough to convince him to do it. Coming off a supporting role in Disney‘s live-action “The Little Mermaid,” his other recent work includes Denis Villeneuve‘s “Dune” remake due this fall and Aaron Sorkin‘s “Being The Ricardos” opposite Nicole Kidman.
