Universal Pictures” big-screen take on the much-loved tales of Doctor Dolittle is now in early pre-production in the UK with Robert Downey Jr set to play the man who can talk to the animals.

Downey is also involved behind the camera on the as-yet-untitled project, with his shingle Team Downey producing alongside Roth/Kirschenberg films.

Syriana writer/director Stephen Gaghan is at the helm to direct from his own screenplay; the feature will be a mixture of live-action and CGI.

The production team is currently bedding in at a UK studio: Production Intelligence subscribers can log in for details on this along with key UK hires already confirmed to us, including the UPM and executive/line producer.

The last big-screen adaptation of Hugh Lofting”s children”s books was in 1998 with Eddie Murphy in the title role, following on from the classic original musical version of 1967 with Rex Harrison.

Universal also has Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! in pre-production in the UK, with filming due to get underway later this summer.

Production Intelligence currently has listings for several big-budget US projects which are currently in pre-production in the UK, including Star Wars: Episode IX, Christopher Robin, Aladdin, Dumbo, Bohemian Rhapsody and The Kid Who Would Be King.

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Robert Downey Jr photo via Getty Images/WireImage/Gary Gershoff.