Sycamore Studios is positioning this as a passion project honoring Hugh Lofting's legacy, with director Timothy Reckart promising to introduce Dolittle to "a new generation of families" through an adventure that reminds audiences the world is full of discoveries yet to be made.
Insiders note Sycamore was founded just two years ago in 2024 and has zero theatrical releases under its belt. Landing a major IP like Doctor Dolittle for their debut film suggests serious backing—or some very convincing pitch meetings. The poaching plot also feels conveniently timed to current conservation headlines.
Production officially began May 12, 2026 per Variety's exclusive report. Sycamore Studios was founded in 2024 and lists Timothy Reckart as co-founder and chief creative officer—he previously directed Sony's "The Star" in 2017. The studio has a first-look deal with graphic novelist John Patrick Green.
Sycamore Studios is betting everything on a property that hasn't had a successful theatrical run since Eddie Murphy's 1998 live-action misfire—and they're doing it with a poaching plot that's either brilliantly timely or suspiciously calculated. Either way, this is a high-stakes gamble for a studio with exactly one feature film to its name.
Sycamore Studios has officially announced that production is underway on "Doctor Dolittle: King of the Wild," and here's where things get interesting: the studio founded in 2024 is staking its entire debut feature release on Hugh Lofting's century-old literary property. The animated film, being produced in partnership with Reel FX Animation Studios, will bring back the world-famous zoologist who can talk to animals—but this time around, Dolittle isn't just befriending creatures.
He's fighting for his reputation after a live-streamed expedition accidentally hands a legendary creature over to poachers. The plot synopsis alone reads like it was engineered for maximum relevance: with the world turning against him, Dolittle must reunite with three estranged zoo friends for a rescue mission that could save the entire animal kingdom. Sound familiar?
Wildlife trafficking documentaries have dominated streaming charts for years, and conservation narratives are having a cultural moment. Whether this timing is coincidence or calculated positioning remains to be seen—but you don't accidentally write a poaching storyline in 2026. Behind the camera, Sycamore Studios has put its faith in Timothy Reckart, the company's co-founder and chief creative officer who previously directed Sony's "The Star" back in 2017.
That animated Christmas feature received modest reviews and decent but not spectacular box office returns. Now Reckart is being asked to launch an entire franchise for a studio that's never released a single theatrical film. The screenplay comes from Cal Brunker and Bob Barlen, the team behind the "PAW Patrol" movies—a proven family entertainment track record that Sycamore clearly hopes will translate.
But let's talk about ambition. In addition to "Doctor Dolittle: King of the Wild," Sycamore Studios is planning a full franchise expansion including graphic novels, gaming initiatives, and location-based entertainment partnerships spanning zoos, theme parks, and family attractions worldwide. This isn't just one movie—they're building an empire around this IP.
Cooper Waterman, Sycamore's Head of Production, called Dolittle "one of the great family characters of all time" in a statement, adding that their goal was to create something "visually compelling and emotionally resonant for today's global audience." Reel FX CEO Steve O'Brien expressed enthusiasm about collaborating on what he called "this exciting new chapter for Doctor Dolittle," while Chief Creative Officer Augusto Schillaci noted that "Sycamore has assembled an ambitious creative vision for the property." The real question is whether this ambitious vision can survive contact with reality.
Reel FX brings solid credits to the table—"The Book of Life" was a critical darling, and they've handled major properties like "SCOOB!" and last year's "The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants." But Sycamore itself is essentially a startup in the animation space, founded just two years ago with no theatrical track record. They've also locked in adaptations of "Zita the Spacegirl" and Ludwig Bemelmans's "Madeline," plus a first-look deal with graphic novelist John Patrick Green.
That's a lot of plates spinning for a studio that hasn't proven it can execute on any of them yet. We'll find out if Doctor Dolittle can deliver Sycamore from startup status to franchise powerhouse—or if this ambitious debut becomes a cautionary tale about betting big before you've built a foundation.
