The Penguin Lessons: Everything we know about the upcoming comedy drama film starring Steve Coogan

Academy Award-nominated actor Steven Coogan will be back on the big screens this March with his much-anticipated comedy-drama film The Penguin Lessons. The movie has been adapted from one of the best-selling memoirs of Tom Michell, with Peter Cattaneo at the helm of the project.

The story revolves around a disillusioned British teacher (played by Coogan) whose life is turned upside down when he comes across a deserted penguin during his workdays in Argentina and ends up adopting the helpless, innocent creature. The movie was initially screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, 2024, and is now set for a limited theatrical run in the United States from March 28, 2025.

The official synopsis of The Penguin Lessons, per IMDb, reads:

"Starring Oscar nominee Steve Coogan, this poignant dramedy from director Peter Cattaneo follows an Englishman's personal and political awakening after he adopts a penguin during a cataclysmic period in Argentine history."

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from The Penguin Lessons. Reader's discretion is advised.

When will The Penguin Lessons be released?

The Penguin Lessons will have its theatrical premiere across the United States on March 28, 2025. Peter Cattaneo's comedy-drama piece will also be screened as the opening movie at the Manchester Film Festival scheduled to be held from March 14 to March 23.

Sony Pictures Classics, as confirmed in a press release, has acquired distribution rights for The Penguin Lessons in the US, while in the United Kingdom Lionsgate is taking care of the screenings.

What do we know about the plot of The Penguin Lessons?

The Penguin Lessons centers on a British teacher who takes up a school job in Argentina. Set in the mid-70s, the movie explores the tumultuous condition of a divided nation at that time. Standing amidst the political unrest and facing a class of unruly children, the Englishman finds himself in an almost irreversible situation.

However, his life takes a 180-degree turn when he stumbles upon an orphaned penguin on a beach. Very soon, the two bond, and the man adopts the poor creature.

He not only gets a good friend through the penguin but also learns some valuable lessons that life has to provide. The portrayal of this duo's beautiful journey is central to the movie's theme, and how the plot further unravels is still being kept under wraps.

Who is in the cast and crew of The Penguin Lessons?

Oscar nominee Steve Coogan will lead the cast of The Penguin Lessons, playing the role of an Englishman named Mitchell from the 70s who goes to South America for a school job. Before the debut of The Penguin Lessons at the Toronto International Film Festival, the 59-year-old star described his work in a statement to Variety, saying:

"Fortunately I’ve done a lot of improvisation in my career, so I know not to freeze when animals aren’t behaving as planned. You lean into it instead of pushing back against it."

Peter Cattaneo, known for his work in Military Wives, has directed the piece alongside screenwriter Jeff Pope, who has worked to recreate Tom Michell's masterpiece. Among others in the cast, we have: