Disney reveals ‘The Jungle Book’ footage, poster, Neel Sethi
Director Jon Favreau appeared at Disney’s D23 to promote his new live-action Jungle Book, opening with the question: “How do you use today’s technology to take it to a different place from the film that already exists?”
Joining Favreau on stage were stars Ben Kingsley, Lupita Nyong’o, and the young star who plays Mowgli, Neel Sethi. Kingsley plays the panther named Bagheera, and praised his young star and animal stars.
“I worked with a child, I played an animal, and I would say, ‘Anytime. You have my number,’ ” said Kingsley. “Neel has an astonishing purity, an amazing connection with his character Mowgli. To be with him for those days Jon brought us together was very inspiring.”
“We strive to both honor what’s come before while saying something new,” said Disney president of production Sean Bailey. “And with this title, the bar is very, very high.”
Favreau showed the first footage with Scarlett Johansson as Kaa narrating “Far from the dark of the jungle, men stay in their village. But sometimes they travel, and their caves breathe in the dark. It brings warmth and light and protection.”
The biggest response from the crowd was forBill Murray’s Baloo – of course, talking Bear Necessities. Sethi’s character is the only human in the film, coming face-to-face with the tiger Shere Khan, voiced by Idris Elba: “The jungle is no longer safe, I’ll return you to where you belong.”
The tiger chases the boy, who eventually jumps off of a small cliff. Another bright spot was when Christopher Walken’s orangutan comes on-screen, “I’m the king. Call me Louie.”
Jungle Book also stars Giancarlo Esposito and Emjay Anthony.
The Jungle Book hits theaters April 15, 2016.
