Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem may not seem like the likeliest person to star in a children's movie, but Deadline has reported that he's set to do just that. The outlet announced that Bardem will star in Will Speck and Josh Gordon's adaptation of Bernard Waber's Lyle, Lyle Crocodile.
The best-selling children's book revolves around a city-dwelling crocodile named Lyle who lives in a Victorian brownstone in New York City with a family named the Primms. "Lyle enjoys helping the Primm family with everyday chores, and playing with the neighborhood kids," reads Deadline's description. "He’s the happiest crocodile any home ever had…until one neighbor insists that Lyle belongs in a zoo. Mr. Grumps and his cat, Loretta, don’t like crocodiles, and everything Lyle does to win them over seems to go wrong. It will take all of Lyle’s charm—and courage—to reveal the hero, and friend, behind the big crocodile smile." Deadline's report doesn't mention who Javier Bardem will play in the film, but I could certainly imagine the actor voicing a CG crocodile. Will Speck and Josh Gordon will be directing the film based on a script by Will Davies, and Deadline has heard that Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, (La La Land) will be writing original songs for the movie. Lyle, Lyle Crocodile is already slated for a July 22, 2022 release.
Javier Bardem will next be seen in Denis Villeneuve's Dune, which will debut at the Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2021, before hitting theaters and HBO Max on October 22, 2021. Lyle, Lyle Crocodile isn't the only family-friendly film that Bardem has on his slate, as he's also playing King Triton in Disney's live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid.