The classic adventure tale of a man and his trusty dog facing the unknown is making its way to theatres this Friday in a new retelling starring Harrison Ford, a very good dog named Buckley, and a whole lot of CGI.
While initial reports coming in about the new production claim the amount of CGI makes it hard to focus on the plot, many animal advocates have applauded the film for keeping the dog actors firmly out of harm’s way.
‘Call of the Wild’ director Chris Sanders and his CGI team had real-life dog actors for all the roles in the movie except for the star Buck when his wife Jessica Steele Sanders happened to spot the perfect candidate while browsing adoptable dogs on Petfinder. Jessica and her 14-year-old dog Brody hopped in an SUV and drove all the way to the Emporia Animal Shelter in Emporia Kansas for a meet and greet.
From the mean streets to the red carpet
And as fate would have it, Buckley, who just happens to be the same breed mix as Buck in the story (farm collie St Bernard cross), was a great fit for Jessica’s family, and the perfect star for the movie too.
Call of the Wild 2020
Set to release in theatres on February 21, 2020, the new production of Call of the Wild has met with mixed reviews due to the juxtaposition of a very clearly CGI version of Buck, the St Bernard mix leading dog, against the gorgeous natural backdrop of the frozen north.
Rocking the red carpet
The story centers on Buck, the spoiled pet dog who is stolen from his California home and sold north as a sled dog. As Buck journeys ever farther into the wilderness of Canada and Alaska, he finds himself caught both physically and emotionally between civilization and wildness.
Movie poster first look
Harrison Ford plays the role of John Thornton, an experienced outdoorsman and Klondike Gold Rush prospector seeking his fortune. Thornton rescues Buck from a bad situation, and the two form a strong bond.
International poster
The fictional story of Buck and John Thornton is inspired by author Jack London’s own life-changing experience in the Yukon, and Buck, the St. Bernard-Scotch Collie mix, is based on a real dog the author befriended in his time there.
Saturday Evening Post cover story
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By Charles Livingston Bull – IOBA, Public Domain, Link
The story was first released in 4 parts in the Saturday Evening Post, then published as a novel. Call of the Wild has never been out of print since its debut in 1903. Now that’s a compelling story!
The classic version of a classic
Can’t wait for the movie to come out? Read the Jack London classic now or check out one of the previous movie adaptations already out there. Looking for a classic take on the classic novel? Try Clarke Gable in the starring role from 1935.
Follow Buck’s adventure’s on his Instagram page