As Disney prepares a live-action remake of its classic animated film The Jungle Book for the big screen, another studio’s take on the timeless story is also prepped up as it adds another cast member.
Deadline recently reported that Matthew Rhys (of The Americans fame) is in talks to join the cast of Warner Bros.’ Jungle Book: Origins. Should these talks follow through, he will join a cast that now includes (as previously reported) Benedict Cumberbatch (Shere Khan), Andy Serkis (Baloo), Christian Bale (Bagheera), Cate Blanchett (Kaa), Peter Mullan (Akela), Naomie Harris (Nisha), Tom Hollander (Tabaqui), with Eddie Marsan (Vihaan), Jack Reynor (Brother Wolf), and 12-year-old Rohan Chand as Mowgli.
Rhys will reportedly play a human character by the name of John Lockwood. Fun fact: John Lockwood was the name of original Jungle Book author Rudyard Kipling’s father.
Andy Serkis will make his directorial debut with this film. In addition, he will produce the film with Harry Potter writer Steve Kloves and Jonathan Cavendish through his Imaginaruim production banner. The screenplay is by Callie Kloves.
As noted previously, this film will be quite different from Disney’s adaptation/remake of the story. Whereas Disney’s film (directed by Jon Favreau) will hue much closer to the tone and style of the animated film, the Warner Bros. film will have a much darker, grittier tone and will be more faithful to Rudyard Kipling’s original novel.
Jungle Book: Origins hits theaters on October 7, 2017. Disney’s The Jungle Book will land in theaters on April 15, 2016.
What do you think? Which Jungle Book film are you interested in (The Jungle Book or Jungle Book: Origins)?
Edited by: Hannah Wilkes
