Disney’s THE JUNGLE BOOK – April 15, 2016

In 2015, Walt Disney Studios not only brings a live-action CINDERELLA to the big screen, but also their 1960’s classic THE JUNGLE BOOK.  Directed by Jon Favreau and featuring the voices of Ben Kingsley, Scarlett Johannsson, and Christopher Walken, the cast and crew reads more like a Marvel production rather than the newest adaptation of the Sherman Brothers’ swinging, jazzy, musical.  THE JUNGLE BOOK is an all-new live-action epic adventure about Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi), a man-cub raised in the jungle by a family of wolves, who embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery when he’s forced to abandon the only home he’s ever known.  Continue reading for more details about Disney’s THE JUNGLE BOOK. Update: release date has shifted from October 2015 to April 15, 2016.

Update April 15, 2016

Click here for our spoiler-free movie review for Disney’s THE JUNGLE BOOK - pays homage to and tops the original!

THE JUNGLE BOOK

(L-R) BAGHEERA, BALOO, MOWGLI and RAKSHA. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

Update April 13, 2016

Recap of Disney’s THE JUNGLE BOOK press conference with Jon Favreau, Neel Sethi, Sir Ben Kingsley, Lupita Nyong’o, Giancarlo Esposito, and Brigham Taylor.  The “Bare Necessities” of music…

(L-R) Actors Sir Ben Kingsley, Neel Sethi, Lupita Nyong'o and director Jon Favreau onstage at Disney's "THE JUNGLE BOOK" Press Conference at The Beverly Hilton on April 4, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.  (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

(L-R) Actors Sir Ben Kingsley, Neel Sethi, Lupita Nyong’o and director Jon Favreau onstage at Disney’s “THE JUNGLE BOOK” Press Conference at The Beverly Hilton on April 4, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

 

Update March 24, 2016

In this first clip released from Disney’s THE JUNGLE BOOK, Shere Khan makes it clear that “man is forbidden!”

Meet the cast of Disney’s THE JUNGLE BOOK in these stunning portraits featuring Idris Elba, Scarlett Johansson, Lupita Nyong’o, Sir Ben Kingsley, Christopher Walken and Giancarlo Esposito with their onscreen character.

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.”

Idris Elba/Shere Khan, photo by Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

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.”

Scarlett Johansson / Kaa, photo by Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

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.”

Lupita Nyong’o / Raksha, photo by Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

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.”

Sir Ben Kingsley / Bagheera, photo by Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

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.”

Christopher Walken / King Louie, photo by Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

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.”

Giancarlo Esposito / Akela, photo by Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

For more information on Disney’s THE JUNGLE BOOK, check out the brand new Tumblr site. Created exclusively by Disney on Tumblr, you can explore chapters like “Words to Live By: The bare necessities for a man cub to survive” and “In the Face of Danger: Learn about the Red Flower and Shere Khan.” New chapters will be revealed over the next two weeks featuring exclusive content from the film.

SHERE KHAN ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

Update February 27, 2016

Click on the links below for printable activity sheets from Disney’s THE JUNGLE BOOK including spot the difference, maze, and hexaflexagon. Be patient, the files are large and may take a second to open in a new tab.

Disney's THE JUNGLE BOOK

Disney’s THE JUNGLE BOOK Spot the Difference

Disney’s THE JUNGLE BOOK Jungle Maze

Disney’s THE JUNGLE BOOK Hexaflexagon

Update February 8, 2016

Second trailer released for Disney’s THE JUNGLE BOOK on Super Bowl Sunday.

Update January 9, 2016

New image and three-panel triptych poster released for THE JUNGLE BOOK, click on the poster for the larger full-size image.

THE JUNGLE BOOK

(L-R) MOWGLI and BAGHEERA. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

THE JUNGLE BOOK

Update September 15, 2015

First trailer released for Disney’s THE JUNGLE BOOK - strikes a much different tone than the animated version.

the jungle book

Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi) and Baloo (voice of Bill Murray) float down a river in “The Jungle Book,” ©2015 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

the jungle book

Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi) and Bagheera (voice of Ben Kingsley) embark on a captivating journey in “The Jungle Book,” ©2015 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

the jungle book

Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi) meets Kaa (voice of Scarlett Johansson) in “The Jungle Book,” ©2015 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

Update August 18, 2015

At Disney’s D23 Expo, after an introduction by Sean Bailey (President of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production), Jon Favreau, director of Disney’s upcoming THE JUNGLE BOOK, welcomed to the stage newcomer Neel Sethi, who was selected from thousands of candidates to play man-cub Mowgli; plus Oscar winners Ben Kingsley, who helps bring panther-turned-mentor Bagheera to life, and Lupita Nyong’o, who lends her voice to the protective mother wolf Raksha.

the jungle book

(L-R) Actors Ben Kingsley, Lupita Nyong’o, Neel Sethi and director Jon Favreau of THE JUNGLE BOOK and President of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production Sean Bailey at the D23 Expo (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

the jungle book

(L-R) Actors Ben Kingsley, Lupita Nyong’o, Neel Sethi and director Jon Favreau of THE JUNGLE BOOK at the D23 Expo (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

 

Favreau treated fans to a sneak peek of footage from the film, and each guest received a copy of the dramatic teaser poster following the presentation. The all-new, live-action epic adventure showcases Mowgli’s journey of self-discovery when he’s forced to abandon the only home he’s ever known.

the jungle book

Based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories and inspired by Disney’s 1967 animated classic, the film features state-of the-art technology that immerses audiences in the lush world like never before. THE JUNGLE BOOK also features the voices of Bill Murray, Idris Elba, Scarlett Johansson, Giancarlo Esposito and Christopher Walken. Jon Favreau and Brigham Taylor produce and the screenplay is by Justin Marks. THE JUNGLE BOOK hits theaters in stunning 3D and IMAX 3D on April 15, 2016.

Original post follows below

THE JUNGLE BOOK

From Walt Disney Studios Press Release

Directed by Jon Favreau (“Chef,” “Iron Man,” “Elf”), 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 Johannsson), 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.

THE JUNGLE BOOK

THE JUNGLE BOOK © Disney. All rights reserved.

 

The all-star cast also includes Lupita Nyong’o as the voice of the fiercely protective mother wolf Raksha, and Giancarlo Esposito as the voice of wolf pack’s alpha male Akela. THE JUNGLE BOOK seamlessly blends live-action with photorealistic CGI animals and environments, using up-to-the-minute technology and storytelling techniques to immerse audiences in an enchanting and lush world. The wild adventure swings into theaters in 3D on October 9, 2015 April 15, 2016.

We’ll continue to update this post as more information becomes available.  For more family movie news, be sure to follow Adventures by Daddy on twitter and “like” our facebook page too.

About Dave Parfitt

Married, father of two girls, and living in the heart of the Finger Lakes. I'm a runner with a PhD in neuroscience and a passion for travel.