Motion capture and live action are blended for MOWGLI, a new, big-screen, 3D adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s classic The Jungle Book. The film features an impressive roster of stars under the direction of Andy Serkis.
The story follows the upbringing of the human child Mowgli, raised by a wolf pack in the jungles of India. As he learns the often harsh rules of the jungle, under the tutelage of a bear named Baloo and a panther named Bagheera, Mowgli becomes accepted by the animals of the jungle as one of their own. All but one: the fearsome tiger Shere Khan. But there may be greater dangers lurking in the jungle, as Mowgli comes face to face with his human origins.
The actors performing the roles of the story’s central animal characters are: Oscar winner Christian Bale as the cunning panther, Bagheera; Cate Blanchett as the sinister snake, Kaa; Oscar nominee Benedict Cumberbatch as the fearsome tiger, Shere Khan; Naomie Harris as Nisha, the female wolf, who adopts the baby Mowgli as one of her cubs; Andy Serkis as the wise bear, Baloo; Peter Mullan as the leader of the wolf pack, Akela; Jack Reynor as Mowgli’s Brother Wolf; Eddie Marsan as Nisha’s mate, Vihaan; and Tom Hollander as the scavenging hyena, Tabaqui.
On the human side, Matthew Rhys is Lockwood; Freida Pinto is Messua; and young actor Rohan Chand as play Mowgli, the boy raised by wolves.
MOWGLI is produced by Steve Kloves, who wrote seven of the blockbuster ‘Harry Potter’ films; Jonathan Cavendish (‘Elizabeth: The Golden Age’); and David Barron (‘Harry Potter’), with Nikki Penny serving as executive producer. The screenplay is by Kloves’ daughter, Callie Kloves, based on the stories of Rudyard Kipling.
MOWGLI is in Irish cinemas from October 19.