Henry Faherty
As the April release date closes in, the anticipation for Disney‘s live-action remake of the beloved classic “The Jungle Book” continues to grow. From the thrilling trailers and TV spots to the colorful posters, we have been given a steady dose of beautifully-rendered CG animals and Mowgli, the one human character, integrated against a mesmerizing jungle landscape. And with these new images released, it’s clear that this film seems as though it could be a major win for the studio.
Starring the voices of Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong’o, Scarlett Johansson, Christopher Walken, Giancarlo Esposito, Sir Ben Kingsley, and Bill Murray, the adventure film tells the story of a 10 year-old boy who gets lost in a dangerous jungle. He meets a wide variety of exotic animals, some of whom have more righteous intentions than others. It was originally made into an animated film back in 1967, but with the ever-growing brilliance of CGI technology, director Jon Favreau has recreated the story in a live-action setting. And to showcase the talent involved, Disney has released stunning new images that feature the actors with the animals they play. Each one also gave a brief statement about the motivations and psychology of their characters. See them below:
Idris Elba is Shere Khan: “Shere Khan reigns with fear,” says Elba. “He terrorizes everyone he encounters because he comes from a place of fear.”
Lupita Nyong’o is Raksha: “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.”
Scarlett Johansson is Kaa: “Kaa seduces and entraps Mowgli with her storytelling,” says Johansson. “She’s the mirror into Mowgli’s past. The way she moves is very alluring, almost coquettish.”
Christopher Walken is King Louie: “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.”
Giancarlo Esposito is Akela: “Akela is a fierce patriarch of the wolf pack,” says Giancarlo Esposito. “He believes the strength of the pack lies in what each and every wolf offers. He’s a great leader, a wise teacher.”
Sir Ben Kingsley is Bagheera: “Bagheera is Mowgli’s adoptive parent,” says 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.”
So the film has a lot backing it, but all we can do now is hope that the massive amounts of work gone into it pays off once it hits theaters. But by what we have seen so far, it’s definitely going to be a wild ride nevertheless.
“The Jungle Book” hits theaters on April 15.
