Source: http://variety.com/2015/film/news/disne ... 201629052/Disney is developing a live-action movie about two of the key figures in the 1925 Nome Serum Run — sled dog Togo and sled driver Leonhard Seppala. The studio has hired Tom Flynn to write the script. Nome became famous in 1925 as the destination of the serum run, also known as the Great Race of Mercy, in which dog sleds played a major role in transporting diphtheria serum through harsh conditions over nearly 700 miles to save the city from an epidemic.
Gunnar Kaasen and his lead sled dog Balto became known for running the final leg of the serum run while Seppala and his 12-year-old lead dog Togo ran the penultimate and longest leg in temperatures that were 30 degrees below zero in gale force winds. The story will focus on the unlikely friendship between man and dog. Togo was an unruly and undersized puppy but showed great leadership qualities and became the lead dog at age 5. He passed away in 1929.
The project has not been set up with a producer. Jessica Virtue and Louie Provost are overseeing the project for the studio.
Source: https://dsnynewscast.com/2018/07/produc ... film-togo/Just a little over two years ago it was reported that Disney was in development on a live-action movie about two of the key figures in the 1925 Nome Serum Run — sled dog Togo and sled driver Leonhard Seppala, titled Togo. Since then news on the project has been quiet, until now.
We have learned that the film will begin production on September 24th. Filming will take place in place in Alberta, Canada and is expected to wrap sometime in early March.
In the 1925 Nome Serum Run, dog sleds transported diphtheria serum over nearly 700 miles to save the city from an epidemic, and this film focuses on two key figures, sled dog Togo and driver Leonhard Seppala. Togo was born sickly and small, and required special care from Seppala’s wife. He only grew to around 48 lbs. as an adult, which is considered too small to make a lead dog. But Togo proved himself with his spirit and tenacity by jumping through a kennel window and running miles back to Seppala after he tried to give him away. During Seppala’s runs, Togo would follow the teams and lead them off the trail in charges against reindeer; Seppala had no choice but to put him in a harness to keep the other dog’s on task, and to his surprise, Togo calmed down immediately and shared the lead position by the end of his first run. Most people close to the story consider Balto the backup dog, as Togo led Seppala’s sled through the most dangerous territory of the run. In fact, Seppala was angry that Hollywood wanted to do a film that about Balto and the run without any mention of Togo. Now, there’s an opportunity to set the story straight, and give Togo the scratch-behind-the-ear he deserves.
Togo will be directed by Ericson Core, who directed Disney’s Invincible in 2006, from a script by Tom Flynn (Gifted). Doug Jones is on board as a producer. The film is expected to be ready to debut for Disney’s streaming service in Fall 2019.