The Jungle Book (2016 film)

The Jungle Book is an upcoming American live-action/CGI film directed by Jon Favreau, written by Justin Marks, and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The film's executive producers are Molly Allen, Karen Gilchrist, Peter M. Tobyanse. Music will be written by John Debney.

The film will be released in 3D and open on April 15, 2016. Filming began on August 5, 2014.

Synopsis
Directed by Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”), based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories and inspired by Disney’s classic animated film, “The Jungle Book” is an all-new live-action epic adventure about Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi), a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves. But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan (voice of Idris Elba), who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. Urged to abandon the only home he’s ever known, Mowgli embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery, guided by panther-turned-stern mentor Bagheera (voice of Ben Kingsley), and the free-spirited bear Baloo (voice of Bill Murray). Along the way, Mowgli encounters jungle creatures who don’t exactly have his best interests at heart, including Kaa (voice of Scarlett Johansson), a python whose seductive voice and gaze hypnotizes the man-cub, and the smooth-talking King Louie (voice of Christopher Walken), who tries to coerce Mowgli into giving up the secret to the elusive and deadly red flower: fire.

Cast

 * Neel Sethi as Mowgli
 * Emjay Anthony as Grey Brother
 * Bill Murray as Baloo
 * Ben Kingsley as Bagheera
 * Idris Elba as Shere Khan
 * Scarlett Johansson as Kaa
 * Christopher Walken as King Louie
 * Lupita Nyong'o as Raksha
 * Giancarlo Esposito as Akela
 * Ralph Ineson as Rama

Production
On July 9, 2013, the film was announced, with Justin Marks set to write the film.

On November 5, 2013, it was announced Jon Favreau would direct the film.

On March 6, 2014, it was announced Idris Elba would voice Shere Khan. .

On April 23, 2014 it was announced Scarlett Johansson and Lupita Nyong'o would voice Kaa and Raksha, respectively.

On June 25, 2014, it was announced Ben Kingsley would voice Bagheera.

On July 15, 2014, it was announced Neel Sethi would play Mowgli.

On July 28, 2014, it was announced Christopher Walken and Giancarlo Esposito would voice King Louie and Akela, respectively.

On August 1, 2014, it was announced Bill Murray would voice Baloo.

Richard M. Sherman who, alongside his late brother Robert B. Sherman wrote songs for Disney's original animated Jungle Book is going to write new songs for this film, and "The Bare Necessities" is going to be recycled from the original and sung by Bill Murray.

On January 13, 2015, the film's release date was pushed back from October 15, 2015, to April 15, 2016.

Trivia

 * Because Orangutans are not native to India, this iteration of King Louie will be a Gigantopithecus instead (an extinct species of ape).
 * Kaa,unlike his original design,will be a female instead of male.