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, 2015.

Update September 15, 2015

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

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.

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.

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.

(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)

(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.

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

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 © 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.

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