Winter's "Dolphin Tale" movie likely will have serious star power

CLEARWATER - A movie based on true life events of Winter, Clearwater Marine Aquarium's famous dolphin, could have some serious star power.

Academy-Award Winner Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick Jr. and Ashley Judd are in negotiations to star in "Dolphin Tale," according to the movie's producers.

"Dolphin Tale" is a family film about Winter, a young dolphin who loses her tail in a crab trap. Winter plays herself in the movie.

The real Winter got entangled in a crab trap rope four years ago. The accident resulted in the loss of her tail and several vertebrae. Experts didn't think she'd survive. She's famous worldwide for the tale about her tail.

In the movie, an 11-year-old boy meets the rescued dolphin at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, a marine rehabilitation center where she lives. He rallies friends and family to save Winter by convincing a doctor to create a unique prosthetic attachment to restore the dolphin's ability to swim.

Angellotti Company, a California-based publicity agency, released the following information on the movie:

Morgan Freeman will play Dr. McCarthy, an eccentric doctor who specializes in creating prosthetics for war veterans at the local VA hospital. He is faced with the greatest challenge of his career when he volunteers to help save Winter by designing a prosthetic tale for her.

Connick Jr. will play the role of Clay Haskett, the dedicated marine biologist who rescues Winter and takes her to the rescue facility he runs, Clearwater Marine Hospital. A single father who works tirelessly at the understaffed aquarium, Haskett learns a lot about himself through the unlikely relationships that form around Winter.

Ashley Judd will play, Lorraine Nelson, a nurse and single mother whose son, Sawyer, befriends Winter. Initially skeptical of her son's relationship with the ailing dolphin, she eventually realizes Winter's importance in his life.

This will mark the third time Freeman and Judd are teamed, which includes "Kiss the Girls" for Paramount Pictures and then "High Crimes" for 20th Century Fox. It is the second time Connick Jr. and Judd will be paired after working together on the feature "Bug" for Lionsgate.

"Dolphin Tale" is a 3-D Alcon Entertainment production for release by Warner Bros.