Few people in Hollywood are having a better moment right now than Tessa Thompson. Westworld, Thor: Ragnarok, Creed, Sorry To Bother You—odds are decent that, if something’s popular or getting serious critical buzz right now, Thompson’s in there somewhere, elevating the material. And now, we’re happy to report that she’ll soon be applying that same level of professionalism, care, and empathy to the role of a CGI dog.
That’s right: THR reports that Disney has just cast Thompson in one of the title roles in its upcoming Lady & The Tramp remake, opposite Justin Theroux as the equally titular Tramp. The film is technically live-action, but that specific kind of modern Disney “live-action” where 90 percent of the characters are computer-animated version of the company’s classic animated characters.
Meanwhile, we can only assume this casting news means the film’s Lady will be a far tougher breed of canine heroine than what we might be used to, because god knows you don’t cast Tessa Thompson to play a woman who’ll hand out her heart over a single romantically serenaded plate of pasta, no matter how good the post-slurp kiss might be.