Writer/director Yaniv Raz adapts Evan Roskos's novel Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets for the screen. Lucas Jade Zumann stars as 16-year-old James, who escapes into a fantasy world where he undergoes therapy from Dr. Bird, an imaginary pigeon voiced by Tom Wilkinson. Along with his schoolmate Sophie (Taylor Russell), whom he has a crush on, James heads to New York City in search of his missing sister, where he uncovers a cult led by David Arquette. Phew.
Jason Isaacs, Lisa Edelstein and Chase Stokes also star.
Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets is on US VOD from January 12th, 2021. A UK/ROI release has yet to be announced.
Check out the trailer and poster below.
The official synopsis reads:
Sixteen-year-old James Whitman played by Lucas Jade Zumann (20th Century Women, Anne With An ‘E’), struggles to overcome anxiety and depression by seeking advice from Dr. Bird voiced by Tom Wilkinson (The Grand Budapest Hotel). In his magical realism inspired world, James goes on a whimsical, but emotionally charged search to solve the mystery of the disappearance of his sister, after an altercation with their parents depicted by Lisa Edelstein (Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, The Kominsky Method), and Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter, Star Trek: Discovery). While James (Zumann) struggles to connect with his parents, he deals with the intense social anxiety of high school life while navigating first love with Sophie, portrayed by Taylor Russell (Lost in Space, Waves) - a precocious girl from school who has her own agenda and a boyfriend Martin that hasn’t quite learned to let go of her, brought to life by Chase Stokes (Outer Banks). Our two lovestruck teens set out on a quest to find Jorie, finding themselves in what appears to be a cult of sorts, led by David Arquette (Scream series) as Xavier, and into the under belly of NYC nightlife that makes James question every relationship in his life.