Bill Murray Joins ‘Jungle Book’ Live Action Cast As Baloo

If you were still looking for a reason to be excited for Disney’s upcoming live-action/animated hybrid The Jungle Book, here’s news that might get you pumped: veteran actor Bill Murray is joining the cast as none other than Papa Bear himself, Baloo!

Murray will be providing the voice of Baloo, the carefree bear who becomes a friend and mentor to Mowgli and teaches him about the “Bare Necessities” of life.

The rest of the impressive cast includes Christopher Walken as King Louie, Giancarlo Esposito as Akela, Academy Award winners Ben Kingsley and Lupita Nyong’o as Bagheera and Raksha, respectively; Golden Globe winner Idris Elba as Shere Khan; Scarlett Johansson as Kaa; and newcomer Neel Sethi as Mowgli.

Directed by John Favreau and written by Justin Marks, The Jungle Book is a brand new version of the classic story by Rudyard Kipling. Blending live action and animation, it will be released in 3D on October 9, 2015.

Like the classic animation fans we are, it will be interesting to see if this movie matches up to the lofty standards set by Walt Disney’s 1967 animated classic, which is still known and loved today for its charm and music.