Here’s our first look at the live action ‘Jungle Book’ movie
In case you didn’t already know, The Jungle Book is one of the slew of Disney animated classics getting the live action treatment. After the epic success of Cinderella and the so-thick-you-could-cut-it-with-a-knife anticipation for Emma Watson’s Beauty and the Beast, we’re very excited to see what kind of magic Disney pulls in bringing Mowgli’s tale to life.
And, to fuel that excitement and give us a much-needed taste of what’s coming, Disney has given us an extra special treat in the form of teaser trailer. The full trailer will debut Monday on Access Hollywood, but in the meantime, these six glorious seconds will have to hold you over:
Rudyard Kipling’s classic has been adapted many times and in many ways, but Disney’s 1967 animated musical is the one most of us remember and love the most. It’s too soon to say if the live-action version will dethrone the animated classic in our collective conscious, but these six seconds definitely give me high hopes for the new movie.
The Jungle Book will be directed by Jon Favreau, best known for Iron Man, and young Mowgli will be played by a new actor on the scene named Neel Sethi, who apparently does his own tree-climbing (very cool). But here’s what I’m really excited about: Sweet Baloo, Mowgli’s bear BFF, will be played by Hollywood legend Bill Murray.
Right?! Give that a moment to sink in.
Other highlights include Christopher Walken as King Louie, Ben Kingsley as Bagheera, Idris Elba as the tiger villain Shere Kahn, and Lupita N’yongo as Rakcha, the mother wolf. It goes without saying this is going to be totally awesome. And while it’s not a musical like our original favorite, don’t worry about your favorite number being totally cut. Favreau says, “we wanted to work in the more memorable moments from the ‘67 film,” which will include Murray singing “The Bare Necessities.” Amazing, right? I can barely contain my excitement, so thank goodness we have this awesome teaser to hold us over.
(Image via Disney.)
