The Jungle Book Sequel Already in the Works at Disney

With Walt Disney Pictures‘ upcoming live-action take on Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book racking up an impressive 100% on Rotten Tomatoes so far, the studio is already clearing a path in their corporate jungle for a sequel. According to The Hollywood Reporter, director Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Chef) and screenwriter Justin Marks (Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, the forthcoming Top Gun 2) are in negotiations for a Jungle Book 2 after their first effort in Kipling’s universe raked in $31.7 million in Asian and Latin American markets this past weekend and is expected to take the top spot at the box office when it opens in North America this weekend. A straight-to-video animated Jungle Book sequel to the 1967 film was previously released in 2003, titled The Jungle Book 2.

The Jungle Book offers an all-new, live-action / CGI epic adventure about Mowgli (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 (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 (Ben Kingsley), and the free-spirited bear Baloo (Bill Murray) . Along the way, Mowgli encounters jungle creatures who don’t exactly have his best interests at heart, including Kaa (Scarlett Johansson), a python who’s seductive voice and gaze hypnotizes the man-cub, and the smooth-talking King Louie (Christopher Walken), who tries to coerce Mowgli into giving up the secret to the elusive and deadly red flower: fire.

Also starring Star Wars: The Force Awakens‘ Lupita Nyong’o, The Jungle Book will hit theaters on April 15. You can check out our D23 Expo interviews with Jon Favreau and his Jungle Book cast members by clicking here.

Warner Bros. has its own Jungle Book movie scheduled for release on October 19, 2018. Andy Serkis is slated to direct the film and star as Baloo. That movie’s voice cast also includes Benedict Cumberbatch as Shere Khan, Christian Bale as Bagheera, Cate Blanchett as Kaa, and Rohan Chand as Mowgli.

Movie News
Marvel and DC
X