The cast of Warner Bros.' upcoming film adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book" is now complete.
Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Naomie Harris, Tom Hollander, Eddie Marsan and Peter Mullan are joining Benedict Cumberbatch to voice the animal characters in the movie officially titled as "Jungle Book: Origins." Rohan Chand, who appeared in films "Jack and Jill," "Lone Survivor" and "Bad Words," will star as the human boy Mowgli. Andy Serkis, who is making his directorial debut with the flick, is also part of the cast, The Hollywood Reporter reported.
Serkis is directing from a script by Callie Kloves. Kloves' father, Steve, who wrote the screenplay for the entire "Harry Potter" film series is producing with Jonathan Cavendish.
The 1894 classic tale "Jungle Book" follows the story of Mowgli, an orphaned boy raised by wolves who befriends different kinds of animals who help him grow up. Bale will lend his pipes to fearsome panther Bagheera and Serkis will voice Baloo the sloth bear. Both of whom save Mowgli from the villainous tiger Shere Khan (to be voiced by Cumberbatch) and teach Mowgli the law of the jungle.
Blanchett will voice Kaa, a rock python who is also one of Mowgli's friends. Hollander, on the other hand, will play Tabaqui, the golden jackal who is an underling of Shere Khan.
Mullan will play Akela, the leader of the wolf pack that raises Mowgli. Harris is the female wolf Nisha, while Marsan is her mate, Vihaan.
"Jungle Book: Origins" will use a mix of motion capture, CG animation and live action, Entertainment Weekly noted.
This is not the only "Jungle Book" film currently in the works. Disney's rival "Jungle Book" production is also underway, with John Favreau directing. It will star Idris Elba, Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray, Christopher Walken, Ben Kingsley, and Lupita Nyong'o, The Telegraph reported.
Warner Bros.' reimagination of "Jungle Book" is said to be darker than Disney's version, according to The Guardian.
Disney's "Jungle Book" is set for an Oct. 9, 2015 release while that of Warner Bros.' will hit the theaters on Oct. 21 2016.