Dive into the Heartwarming Journey of “My Penguin Friend” – In Theaters August 16th!
I recently had the wonderful pleasure of chatting with the legendary Jean Reno and the incredibly passionate director David Schurmann about their latest film, My Penguin Friend. Trust me, this is one of those movies that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
Jean Reno, a master at bringing complex characters to life, spoke with such warmth about this project. He didn’t just act in this film, he connected with it on a deeply personal level.
The story, which revolves around the extraordinary bond between a fisherman and a penguin, resonated with him in a way that few stories do. Watching him talk about the experience, it was clear that My Penguin Friend is more than just another role for him—it’s a story about the unexpected and life-changing friendships that come our way.
David Schurmann, whose love for the ocean runs deep (quite literally—he grew up sailing the seas), brought his entire world of experience to this film. His vision was to create something that felt not just real, but magical—a film that captures the beauty of the natural world and the powerful connections that can form between man and animal. He’s crafted a story that’s not only visually stunning but also emotionally profound.
The film follows the true story of João, a fisherman who rescues a penguin named DinDim from an oil spill. But the real magic happens when DinDim, against all odds, returns to visit João year after year, traveling thousands of miles just to be with his human friend. Set against the breathtaking backdrops of Brazil’s tropical coasts and Patagonia’s penguin colonies, this film is a visual feast that also tugs at the heartstrings.
I can’t wait for you to experience My Penguin Friend when it hits theaters on August 16th. It’s a film that’s perfect for the whole family—a celebration of love, friendship, and the mysterious bonds that connect us all. Whether you’re an animal lover, a nature enthusiast, or someone who just loves a good story, this movie is for you.
This movie hit some strings and my children and I truly enjoyed it.
Watch the official trailer here!
So, mark your calendars, gather your loved ones, and get ready to be moved by one of the most heartwarming stories of the year. And don’t forget to check out the trailer—this is one journey you won’t want to miss!
In the world of male dominating film making, it’s always refreshing to see a woman in charge. I headed to the lot of Universal Studios with Dolittle, the new movie on my mind. Producer Susan Downey sat down with Queenbeelatina.com at Universal Studios to give an insight on producing, “Team Downey,” her leading man, and all things Dolittle.
Thank you Universal Pictures for inviting me to interview Susan Downey and Robert Downey Jr. All opinions on my own.
Susan’s first question, addressed what everyone was wondering. How does she manage to keep her inspiration flowing, with men seemingly in charge of everything?
Susan explained how she grew up in front of the camera as a hobby, but her interest was actually with what the people around her were doing. She attended the prestigious University of Southern California for film.
When she attended, there were 50 students in her class, only 3 other of which were women. In her junior year, her school eventually opened up 50 more spots, totaling 100 students… but yet, only totaling 8 women. However, Susan continues to keep tabs. When recently speaking to the Dean of USC; Dean Daly (SP) she confirmed times are changing, and the students are now graduating with classes that have a 50-50 gender ratio. It was music to the ears of all the women who sat at the roundtable.
Susan Downey, “So part of my theory is you put your nose down and you do the work. That said, I also personally think women are very well-equipped to do this job. I think that taking on more things only makes us better and stronger and more efficient and I think that the multitasking that’s required to be a producer is certainly for me perfectly suited, but most women and working mothers I know would be very good at it. And then I think the key is ultimately your dealing with personalities and people. And I think you have to remember that.”
Dr. John Dolittle lives in solitude behind the high walls of his lush manor in 19th-century England. His only companionship comes from an array of exotic animals that he speaks to on a daily basis. But when young Queen Victoria becomes gravely ill, the eccentric doctor and his furry friends embark on an epic adventure to a mythical island to find the cure.
In regards to Dolittle, Susan Downey really created a world of her own with the film. She wanted to create striking visualizations, while still staying true to the Hugh Lofting books themselves.
This project really differs from her other work, as the visuals required in this film, took an extensive amount of work; it’s almost like shooting two films. The layers that went into the film, we’re imagined as time went, in Susans words, “It [was] not a paint by numbers.” All the animals in the film are CGI, with the exception of horses. In the middle of a conversation of how realistic the parrot was, in came Robert Downey Jr.
The relationship between the two became immediately electric, it is no wonder they worked so well together. Their work relationship was built on respect, but there are no definitive roles. We can only expect more spectacular work coming from what is now known as “Team Downey”, and trust, there will be no disappointments.
Susan Downey, “The biggest challenge on this film was probably from a technical aspect, to be honest. I think that it always had the heart and the emotion that you would want in the story and there was this desire to have this incredible spectacle, whether it was the worlds we were creating, you know, when they went on this adventure or the animals. And even though both Robert and I have dealt with visual effects heavy movies in the past whether it was Sherlock or the Marvel movies, this was a whole other level because you are essentially shooting a live action movie and then you’re in postproduction creating an animated movie.”
To my surprise, Robert Downey Jr. showed up to chime and sit to chat! (totally unexpected, because I was only scheduled to interview Susan.)
Question: I have to say the movie is hilarious. There’s a lot of comedy with the characters. Everybody has a really defined, clear character. Was any of the improvised? You know, did you guys go strictly by the script or did you actually–
Robert Downey Jr.: “Craig can do whatever he wants because he can do no wrong. The rest of us would have our moments, but–and we like working on things where we really are redrafting things. If you have a chance to take another shot at something or you what we need is this and will go back and grab it. It’s controlled chaos.“
(from left) Lord Thomas Badgley (Jim Broadbent), Dr. Blair Müdfly (Michael Sheen), Tommy Stubbins (Harry Collett), Dr. John Dolittle (Robert Downey Jr.), dog Jip (back to camera, Tom Holland) and Lady Rose (Carmel Laniado) in “Dolittle,” directed by Stephen Gaghan.
“Team Downey,” also talked about their upcoming projects.
About Team Downey
Team Downey is an entertainment company founded by Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey that produces film, television and digital properties.
Team Downey is currently in post-production on Universal’s “Dolittle,” which is set to release on January, 17, 2020. “Dolittle” features an all-star cast with Downey Jr. in the title role. Team Downey is in various stages of development on several other anticipated feature projects including “A Head Full of Ghosts” with Osgood Perkins attached to write and direct. Additionally, they have partnered with Annapurna Pictures on an untitled feature based on Gimlet Media’s “Reply All” podcast episode “Man of the People,” with Richard Linklater writing and directing. On the television side, Team Downey is producing HBO’s “Perry Mason” starring Matthew Rhys, with episodes directed by Tim Van Patten and Denize Gamze Ergüven, and written by Rolin Jones and Ron Fitzgerald. Team Downey is also in post-production on the pilot “Sweet Tooth” for Warner Bros TV, as well as an eight-episode docuseries entitled “Age of AI” for YouTube Originals.
Don’t miss #Dolittle in theaters Friday January 17th!
Last week, I got a behind a scenes glimpse of the the new upcoming film and I met with the voice actors America Ferrera and Jay Baruchel at DreamWorks in Glendale California.
I screened this adorable new film the night before, and then headed to DreamWorks the following day. There we celebrated the new film with themed activities, photo and video ops, and more. It was memorable and so much fun!
Farewell How to Train Your Dragon…. It hurts to see Toothless and Hiccup go! The original movie that debuted on March 26, 2010 taught me about honor, the importance of conservation, and to be fearless. And now nine years later, the new film continues to inspire, teach, and also has a great message. This movie touched my heart in many ways, and I can’t wait to see it again with my little brother!
There were many hilarious parts in the film. I found myself laughing uncontrollably out loud.
Yes… That’s me flying high and exploring “The Hidden World”
From DreamWorks Animation comes a surprising tale about growing up, finding the courage to face the unknown…and how nothing can ever train you to let go. What began as an unlikely friendship between an adolescent Viking and a fearsome Night Fury dragon has become an epic adventure spanning their lives. Welcome to the most astonishing chapter of one of the most beloved animated franchises in film history: How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.
Now chief and ruler of Berk alongside Astrid, Hiccup has created a gloriously chaotic dragon utopia. When the sudden appearance of female Light Fury coincides with the darkest threat their village has ever faced, Hiccup and Toothless must leave the only home they’ve known and journey to a hidden world thought only to exist in myth. As their true destines are revealed, dragon and rider will fight together—to the very ends of the Earth—to protect everything they’ve grown to treasure.
Clarissa: “Did you guys intentionally give your characters the attributes of feminist and environmental activist because there’s a lot of dialog that is just really empowering.”
Jay Baruchel: “It’s more Dean I would think. It stems from our writer, director, who is a very hopeful, forward-thinking man with a big, wide-open heart and believes in the best in people in the world. Any of those messages that you felt, we paid homage to, that’s all from him. That’s all his belief system, which is ours as well.”
America Ferrera: “Yeah. And I will say like over the years, Dean and I have had conversations about how to evolve Astrid and how to keep her active in her own journey and feeling empowered and she has a full character that isn’t just about sort of being the girl to the guy. So, we’ve had a lot of conversations about that, and he has done her more than justice in really allowing her to develop into a full character that really has a role to play in the larger journey and what ends up happening with the series.”
I felt the characters were developed with the intention to empower. I could see traditional values develop into a new wave of progression; thanks to our beloved actors and directors and producers.
How cute are these dragons?
This film is action packed with dragons, Vikings, strong female characters and teaches about environmental conservation. I love this!
