A 3D animated adventure movie will bring famed giant tortoise Lonesome George and his remarkable true story to life. Miami-based production company 8th Gear Entertainment is producing Lonesome George alongside Radar Pictures’ Ted Field (Jumanji), Anthony Tringali, Maria Frisk and Michael Napoliello, with James Byrkit (writer of Rango) serving both as producer and screenwriter.
“The legend of Lonesome George is a cherished part of Ecuadorian history and beloved by people around the world,” said 8th Gear Entertainment CEO James Leon. “This is the first time Lonesome George and his story will be brought to the big screen.”
The tortoise was known as the rarest creature on Earth. His life and story continue to inspire and serve as an international symbol for conservation efforts in the Galápagos Islands and around the world. From a story by Leon in collaboration with Byrkit, the movie will follow the giant tortoise, who is the last of his kind, as he sets out on an epic adventure to find others like him and discovers the true meaning of family.
“This will be a brilliant, animated feature that is hugely enjoyable for kids, grownups, and everyone in between. There is something for everyone here and we’re proud that it also delivers an environmental message,” said Field.
George is preserved at the Charles Darwin Research Station in Ecuador, where he is visited by over a hundred thousand fans every year. As a tribute to George and his legacy, his image is enshrined as the logo of the Galápagos Conservancy and The Charles Darwin Foundation.
“We have taken careful consideration in supporting a project like this, which expresses the importance of maintaining the ecological homeostasis of this beautiful region and conservation of its endemic species. That is why I, as the president of Ecuador, and the Ministry of the Environment, fully endorse this magnificent project, because we believe in its educational value, in the impact it will have on scientific research, and in the help it will provide in raising awareness of the significance of its existence. Being considered a Natural Heritage of Humanity is a source of pride not only for Ecuadorians but for all those wanting to make an impact on environmental awareness. This movie will ultimately bring the attention it deserves,” said Ecuador president Guillermo Lasso Mendoza.
The movie aims to bring to light issues that affect our planet, conservation and the ongoing evolution of ecosystems and its impact on the future of the environment and the world.
A percentage of the revenue generated by the film will be donated to the Leaders for Change Foundation, which brings awareness to the necessary protection of the world’s greatest ecological wonder, the Galápagos Islands.
