Hot on the heels of her work in two of the year’s most acclaimed films,Sorry to Bother YouandAnnihilation,Tessa Thompsonis in negotiations to voice the lead role in Disney’s live-action/CG hybrid remake ofLady and the Tramp, Collider has exclusively learned. Additionally,Doctor StrangestarBenedict Wonghas been set to voice Bull, an English bulldog.
The original 1955 animated classic tells the story of a female American cocker spaniel named Lady who lives with a refined, upper-middle-class family, and a male stray mongrel known as the Tramp. When the two dogs meet, they embark on a romantic adventure (think iconic spaghetti kiss) and eventually fall in love. As we previously reported,Justin Therouxwill voice the Tramp, and now it’ll be Thompson chowing down on the other end of that iconic piece of spaghetti.
Kiersey Clemons(Dope) will play the character of Darling, while Emmy-nominated actressAshley Jensen(Extras) will voice a Scottish Terrier named Jackie, who’s one of Lady’s closest friends. In the original movie, the character was named Jock.
Charlie Bean(The LEGO Ninjago Movie) is directing from a script byAndrew Bujalski, andBrigham Tayloris producing the film, which isn’t expected to receive a theatrical release, as it will be exclusive to Disney’s streaming service once it launches in late 2019.
Thompson has been in high demand ever since she starred oppositeMichael B. JordaninCreed. She was quickly cast as Valkyrie inThor: Ragnarok, which made Thompson a fan favorite within the MCU, and also landed a key role on HBO’sWestworld, which bolstered her popularity among fans of elevated sci-fi – something that only increased with her turn inAnnihilation. Sony clearly liked Thompson’s chemistry withChris HemsworthinRagnarok, as the studio cast them as the leads in itsMen in Blackspinoff. The actress will soon reprise her role inCreed II, so she should end her year with a bang if all goes as planned at the box office. Look for Thompson to garner Independent Spirit Awards buzz for her turn inSorry to Bother You, which currently boasts a 94% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. She’s represented by Greene & Associates Talent Agency, Mosaic and attorney Jeff Bernstein.
Like Thompson, Wong also co-starred inAnnihilationand plays a role in the MCU, having recently appeared inAvengers: Infinity War. He recently wrappedAng Lee’sGemini ManwithWill Smith, as well asArmando Iannucci’sThe Personal History of David Copperfield, which starsDev Patelas the title character. He also has the Syfy pilotDeadly Classin the can. Wong is represented by Anonymous Content and attorney Robert S. Wallerstein.
Disney had no comment on either casting.
