LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILE Directors Discuss Musical’s Message of ‘Unconditional’ Love
By Cooper Dowd, Staff Writer
As theater chains await the next box office hit, directing duo Josh Gordon and Will Peck are excited to announce their newest venture, LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILE, a musical adaptation of Bernard Waber’s classic children’s book from 1965.
The movie follows a boy named Josh who moves to New York City and meets a crocodile named Lyle. However, the only way that Lyle can communicate to Josh, and the rest of Josh’s family, is through song.
The upcoming musical stars Academy Award-winning actor Javier Bardem, Constance Wu, Brett Gelman, Winslow Fegley, and Grammy Award-winning singer Shawn Mendes as Lyle.
The movie features the music of composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, known for THE GREATEST SHOWMAN, and an original song from Mendes.
Produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment, the directors discussed their inspiration for the live-action/CGI adaptation of the iconic book.
“It’s funny because the book was written in the 60s and there was sort of like a period of children’s literature that was in a kind of rejiggering of what children’s literature was at the time: ‘Corduroy’ and ‘Charlotte’s Web’… Even like ‘Where the Wild Things Are,’ there’s sort of this kind of undercurrent of something other than just what appears on the surface,” Speck told Movieguide® during a recent visit to the Sony Studio lot in Culver City, CA.
Speck recalled that family inspired Waber’s original character, Lyle the Crocodile, in the ’60s, and that he and Gordon tried to honor those roots nearly 60 years later.
“What we loved about the book was the original author worked in advertising and he really missed his family every day, and he would sit at his desk and doodle,” Speck explained. “He would imagine that he was a surrogate in the form of this crocodile spending time with his family because he couldn’t.
“There’s something kind of that we picked up on about the longing and the loneliness but also, like the idea that in your absence, something could come in and bring your family unexpected joy,” he said. ‘It’s always stuck with us because of that undercurrent of sort of melancholy, but also the idea that you can infer change onto an inanimate object or a character that doesn’t speak, or an unlikely delivery system for bringing change.”
“I think also for us the story, whether it meant to or not, it’s really about acceptance,” Gordon added. “It’s about fear of the other and it’s about finding your voice, both themes that felt important to put out into the world. We have kids now and we wanted to kind of reintroduce a new generation to those themes.”
Much like the children’s books of the 60s, Speck and Gordon revealed that while LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILE is a movie about a singing crocodile, it also contains a heartfelt message about how unconditional love helps overcome fear and loss.
“We didn’t want to shy away from real issues, because I think everybody faces them, especially kids today,” Speck said. “I think we also didn’t want to be too heavy handed about it.”
“These children’s books in the 60s didn’t shy away from adult themes, but presented the world as it is so that a child can understand, that’s important to us,” Gordon added.
“I think Josh as a kid is kind of anxious and has a hard time finding his way in this new city, environment, and Lyle helps him do that,” Speck continued. “We tried to have deeper roots to these issues, but not be heavy handed about it. So that the delivery system for kids and families was just light on its feet. Because I think that’s sort of the best kind of story, where you sense that there’s something greater at play, but that you’re not leaning into it so that you’re dragging the audience sideways.
“If you can surround people with a generosity of spirit that doesn’t need something, but that is just given as a one way, pure gesture of love, you can bring your best self forward, so that’s what we tried to get across,” Speck continued. “Lyle the character is a great conduit for understanding that your best version of yourself is when you’re supported unconditionally.”
LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILE, premieres only in theaters on Oct. 7. Movieguide® has yet to review the movie and cannot advise on its content. Check back soon for a full review!
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
