“I can’t help but notice there is a strange odor today…Man is forbidden!” growls Idris Elba’s formidable Shere Khan, as he paces around today’s first clip for The Jungle Book.
Existing on the cutting-edge of computer animation, Jon Favreau’s jaw-dropping reimagining of Rudyard Kipling’s wondrous children’s novel has turned heads and raised eyebrows for its spectacle alone, and as if the aforementioned Bengal tiger wasn’t menacing enough in Disney’s original animation, the latest slice of footage proves just why Elba’s scarred antagonist is the undisputed king of the jungle.
Fleeing for his life is Neel Sethi’s iconic man-cub Mowgli who, despite Khan’s glowering presence, continues to fight for his rightful home, flanked by a who’s who of Hollywood talent in the form of Scarlett Johansson (Kaa), Lupita Nyong’o (Raksha), Ben Kingsley (Bagheera), Christopher Walken (King Louie) and Breaking Bad‘s Giancarlo Esposito as Akela.
For those who wish to peer further into Jon Favreau’s animal kingdom, behind the glistening foliage Disney has set up a Tumblr page to educate fans on the law of the jungle. Expect the House of Mouse to offer a new spin on an old classic when The Jungle Book dances all the way into theaters on April 15.
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).
