Robert Downey Jr has signed on to play the classic and beloved animal healing and communicating Doctor Dolittle in a new film from Universal Pictures titled The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle.

Robert Downey Jr will be the third actor to play the character based on British author Hugh Lofting’s series of children’s books, following up Rex Harrison in 1967’s Oscar-winning musical and Eddie Murphy, who played the role twice over the course of his career. Oscar-winning writer and director Stephen Gaghan (Traffic) will be performing both tasks for The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle.

Naturally, Robert Downey Jr is also set to star in Marvel’s blockbuster extravaganza Avengers: Infinity War, which is currently in production.

Source: Press Release