Ep 33 - The One and Only Ivan (2020)

Chapter One: Take Two

The One and Only Ivan is a children's novel written by K. A. Applegate and illustrated by Patricia Castelao. The book is about a silverback gorilla named Ivan who lived in a cage at a mall. The novel is written in first person from the point of view of Ivan, a gorilla. In 2013, it was named the winner of the Newbery Medal. It has won several other awards and is currently nominated to several reading lists. The title was followed in 2020 by The One and Only Bob, which is presented from the point of view of Ivan's best friend, the dog Bob.
The One and Only Ivan is a 2020 American fantasy drama film directed by Thea Sharrock from a screenplay written by Mike White based on the children's novel of the same name by K. A. Applegate. Inspired by the true story of Ivan the gorilla, the film stars the voices of Sam Rockwell as Ivan alongside Angelina Jolie, Danny DeVito, Helen Mirren, Brooklynn Prince, Chaka Khan, Ron Funches, Phillipa Soo, and Mike White with human characters portrayed by Ramón Rodríguez, Ariana Greenblatt, and Bryan Cranston.

The project was first announced in 2014, and went into production two years later. The cast was assembled between October 2017 and May 2018, with filming taking place in Florida in summer 2018. Originally intended to have a theatrical release, The One and Only Ivan was digitally released on Disney+ on August 21, 2020, and received lukewarm reviews from critics.