It’s a good thing veteran Canuck thesp Donald Sutherland liked The Last Continent when a copy of the French-language documentary was sent to him, since Quebec filmmaker Jean Lemire didn’t have anyone else in mind to voice the English version, opening in Toronto and Vancouver Friday.

‘He was our first [and only] choice,’ says the biologist-turned-director. ‘I wanted a cinematic voice.’

Sutherland agreed and flew to Montreal three weeks ago to narrate the film, about Lemire’s expedition to Antarctica to explore climate change. The French version, Le dernier continent, was a hit in Quebec when it opened around Christmas last year, and grossed more than $1 million for distributor Seville Pictures.

Lemire, who voiced the French version, says Sutherland came prepared with notes and research.

‘It was amazing…you’d think he would just arrive and do it, but he put a lot of work into it. Every word was discussed before we started the recording,’ he recalls.

Lemire believes his film will touch audiences of all ages, as it did in Quebec, and feels confident about the August release date despite being up against summer Hollywood blockbusters, noting that the French release held its ground against Disney’s National Treasure: Book of Secrets. Continent was also well-received at this year’s Hot Docs.

Seville is set to work on international sales for Continent. ‘We wanted to wait for this version to market it with Donald’s voice,’ explains Lemire. The distributor also plans a DVD release in English Canada following its theatrical run. The French DVD has sold 40,000 copies since its April release in Quebec.

Continent expands to Montreal next week.

Meanwhile, Mongrel Media is releasing the doc The World According to Monsanto, at Toronto’s Royal and Vancouver’s Vancity theaters. Directed by French journalist Marie-Monique Robin, the film delves into controversial industrial corporation Monsanto — the world leader in genetically modified seeds.

Theaters will also see the return of Brendan Fraser in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor — the third film in the franchise from Universal Pictures — while the week’s other notable U.S. release is Touchstone’s comedy Swing Vote, starring Kevin Costner.