Dominic Cooke to Direct John Daniel: True Story of a Woman and a Baby Gorilla in Post-WWI England, Cornerstone Boards Sales

Dominic Cooke is set to direct John Daniel, a feature film based on the true story of an unlikely friendship between a fiercely independent Englishwoman and a baby gorilla in the years after World War I. The project, which marks Cooke’s first film since the 2020 spy thriller The Courier, has been acquired for worldwide sales by Cornerstone ahead of the American Film Market. The film is currently in pre-production, with principal photography scheduled to begin in the U.K. in mid-2027.

The Director Behind the Camera

Dominic Cooke is a highly respected British theater director who has also built a notable career in film. He served as the artistic director of the Royal Court Theatre and has directed several high-profile stage productions, including a recent Game of Thrones stage spin-off titled The Mad King. His film work includes the 2017 adaptation of Ian McEwan’s On Chesil Beach, starring Saoirse Ronan and Billy Howle, and the 2020 Cold War drama The Courier, which featured Benedict Cumberbatch. Cooke is represented by UTA and Casarotto Ramsay & Associates.

The True Story That Inspired the Film

John Daniel is based on the real-life story of Alyce Cunningham, a woman from the village of Uley in Gloucestershire, England. In 1918, Cunningham’s brother, Major Rupert Penny, purchased a baby gorilla for £300 from a London department store. The gorilla had been captured as a baby in Gabon after its parents were shot. Penny passed the animal to his sister, who named him John Daniel and raised him in her home.

The film’s synopsis describes Cunningham as a woman who has built a solitary life behind a wall of wit and stoicism. Her world changes when her reckless nephew rescues a baby gorilla from a London department store window and leaves her no choice but to take him in. The mischievous and curious gorilla slowly wins her over, becoming part of village life—from the school classroom to the village pub—and bringing joy back to a community still grieving the losses of the war.

Historical accounts paint a vivid picture of John Daniel’s life in Uley. The gorilla had his own bedroom, could use the light switch and toilet, and was known to make his own bed. He played with the village children, ate roses from gardens, and drank cups of tea and cider. Villagers would push him around in a wheelbarrow, and he was a familiar sight on walks with the local schoolchildren. Cunningham would also take him to her London home on Sloane Street, where he attended her dinner parties.

The story took a tragic turn as John Daniel grew. By 1921, he had reached about 95 kilograms (210 pounds) and was too large for Cunningham to care for. She sold him for 1,000 guineas to an American buyer, believing he would be sent to a retirement home in Florida. Instead, the gorilla ended up with the Barnum and Bailey Circus and was displayed at the zoo at Madison Square Garden in New York. His health deteriorated, and reports reached Cunningham that he was pining for her. She set sail for New York, but John Daniel died of pneumonia before she arrived. He was four-and-a-half years old. His body was given to the American Museum of Natural History, where he was displayed in 1922.

In 2018, a stone sculpture of John Daniel was installed on the village green in Uley to mark the centenary of his arrival. Dr Rod White of the Uley Society said at the time that the gorilla had a “rather tragic start in life” and a “no less tragic” ending, but that for three years in Uley, “it probably was the best time of its life.”

Bringing the Gorilla to Life

The filmmakers are using motion capture and visual effects to create a photoreal performance of the gorilla. The VFX work is being handled by Axio World, led by Loris Mantello and Maoris Creantor. Mantello’s credits include Avengers: Infinity War, Prehistoric Planet, and The Lion King. Creantor has worked on The Lion King, Fast & Furious 9, and The Matrix Resurrections. This approach aims to deliver a convincing and emotionally resonant portrayal of the animal at the heart of the story.

The Creative Team Behind the Film

The screenplay for John Daniel was written by Alexi Kaye Campbell, a Greek-British playwright and screenwriter whose previous film work includes Woman in Gold, starring Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds. The film is inspired by original home movie footage and photographs recorded by locals in Uley between 1918 and 1922.

John Daniel is a Genesius Pictures production, in association with the Edward Film Company. The film is produced by Debbie Gray, a BAFTA nominee whose credits include Good Luck to You, Leo Grande and Mrs Lowry & Son. Genesius Pictures was co-founded by Gray and executive producer Julian Gleek.

What the Filmmakers Are Saying

Producer Debbie Gray spoke about her connection to the script and the story’s deeper meaning.

“The moment I read this beautiful script by Alexi, I knew I wanted to be part of it. It’s an extraordinary true story about a gorilla, but at its heart it’s a story of love, hope and human connection in the aftermath of war. At a time when the world can feel increasingly divided, this film reminds us of our capacity to heal, unite and find compassion again.”

Director Dominic Cooke shared his reasons for joining the project.

“I am delighted to be attached to direct John Daniel – a beautiful, funny and profound story. Alexi’s script gets to the heart of the strange, necessary bonds between humans and animals. It shows how we sometimes need to surrender control in order to feel fully alive. I couldn’t be happier to be working with such committed and driven producers as Debbie Gray and the team at Cornerstone to bring this moving and hopeful true story to life.”

Cornerstone Takes on Worldwide Sales

Cornerstone has acquired worldwide sales rights to John Daniel ahead of the American Film Market. The company is a regular exhibitor at the AFM, where it represents a slate of international film and television projects. The deal was first reported by Variety on October 30, 2026. The film is Cooke’s third feature, following On Chesil Beach and The Courier.

Also Read: Iron Man Cinematographer Matthew Libatique Says AI Could Replace Marvel VFX but Never Its Actors

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