“Togo,” a new original film coming to Disney+, travels back to one of America’s unheralded true heroic adventures through the Alaska wilderness. It tells the story of a 1925 race for mercy when one man, Leonhard Seppala, and his lead sled dog, Togo, braved the treacherous terrain and life-threatening elements to save the town of Nome, Alaska from an epidemic.
Starring Willem Dafoe and Julianne Nicholson, “Togo” has been keeping a low profile, until now. You can now watch the first trailer for this Disney+ original film.
I’m hearing a lot of positive buzz for “Togo” and it’s expected to pick up some nominations as award season for Hollywood picks up. It’s already on the Writers Guild list.
About the film:
When a deadly epidemic strikes the town of Nome, Alaska, and the only cure is more than 600 miles away, the town looks to champion dogsled trainer Leonhard Seppala (Willem Dafoe) to help transport an antitoxin serum. Seppala turns to Togo, an unassuming, undersized and aging Siberian husky, to be his lead. His wife (Julianne Nicholson) has championed Togo since his days as a mischievous puppy who could dig himself out of any situation—literally and figuratively—and Seppala, having observed Togo’s loyalty and tenacious spirit, knows Togo offers his only chance of surviving this mission.
Undaunted by the massive storm heading their way or his wife’s urging him not to go, Seppala and Togo set out on the deadliest leg of what becomes a larger relay involving multiple mushers and gale-force winds and a wind chill factor dipping to 70 degrees below zero with little to no visibility. It is a harrowing journey on which Togo saves Seppala from certain death, causing the veteran musher to grasp the depth and intensity of his feelings for his lead dog, even as he risks running him to his death. They complete the task in time with Togo going down in history as one of the greatest sled dogs ever, but it is this unbreakable bond between man and dog which is the ultimate prize—and which truly saves Seppala.
An untold true story starring four-time Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe as Leonhard Seppala, “Togo” is directed by Ericson Core and written by Tom Flynn and produced by Kim Zubick, with Douglas S. Jones serving as executive producer. The film also stars Christopher Heyerdahl, Richard Dormer, Michael Greyeyes, Michael McElhatton and Michael Gaston
The poignant and emotional adventure debuts on Disney+ on Dec. 20, 2019.