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.

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THE JUNGLE BOOK - King Louie is a formidable ape who desperately wants the secret of Man's deadly "red flower"--fire. He's convinced Mowgli has the information he seeks. "King Louie is huge--12 feet tall," says Christopher Walken, who voices the character. "But he's as charming as he is intimidating when he wants to be."

Photo by: Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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THE JUNGLE BOOK - Bagheera is a sleek panther who feels it's his duty to help the man-cub depart with dignity when it's time for him to leave his jungle home. "Bagheera is Mowgli’s adoptive parent," says Ben Kingsley, who lends his voice to Bagheera. "His role in Mowgli’s life is to educate, to protect and to guide. My Bagheera was military—he’s probably a colonel. He is instantly recognizable by the way he talks, how he acts and what his ethical code is."

Photo by: Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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THE JUNGLE BOOK - Voiced by Idris Elba, Shere Khan bears the scars of man, which fuel his hatred of humans. Convinced that Mowgli poses a threat, the bengal tiger is determined to rid the jungle of the man-cub. "Shere Khan reigns with fear," says Elba. "He terrorizes everyone he encounters because he comes from a place of fear."

Photo by: Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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THE JUNGLE BOOK - Kaa is a massive python who uses her voice and hypnotic gaze to entrance Mowgli. The man-cub can't resist her captivating embrace. "Kaa seduces and entraps Mowgli with her storytelling," says Scarlett Johansson. "She's the mirror into Mowgli's past. The way she moves is very alluring, almost coquettish."

Photo by: Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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THE JUNGLE BOOK - Lupita Nyong'o voices Raksha, a mother wolf who cares deeply for all of her pups—including man-cub Mowgli, whom she adopts as one of her own when he's abandoned in the jungle as an infant. "She is the protector, the eternal mother," says Nyong'o. "The word Raksha actually means protection in Hindi. I felt really connected to that, wanting to protect a son that isn’t originally hers but one she’s taken for her own."

Photo by: Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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THE JUNGLE BOOK - Akela is the strong and hardened alpha-male wolf who shoulders the responsibility of his pack. He welcomes Mowgli to the family, but worries he may one day compromise their safety. "Akela is a fierce patriarch of the wolf pack," says Giancarlo Esposito, who voices the character. "He believes the strength of the pack lies in what each and every wolf offers. He's a great leader, a wise teacher."

Photo by: Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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