Disney is looking to get a little more than the “Bear Necessities.” Despite The Jungle Book not having come out in theaters yet, the studio has announced that sequel is already in the works. Jon Favreau and Justin Marks, who respectively directed and wrote the upcoming live-action reboot, are in negotiations to return in their roles for a follow-up. Favreau also will produce.
The movie, which was shot all in a sound stage in Los Angeles (a la Avatar), is based off of the 1967 animated classic and the Rudyard Kipling classic novel of the same name. It centers around a young boy named Mowgli, who was orphaned in the jungle as a baby and raised by wolves in secret. When word catches on to Shere Khan (Idris Elba), the terrorizing tiger king of the jungle, that human is living amongst the animals, Mowgli (Neel Sethi) instantly becomes a living target. With the help of panther Bagheera (Ben Kingsley), and bear Baloo (Bill Muarry), they work to ensure his safety and deliver him back to the humans.
The Jungle Book had an strong release this past weekend in a handful of theaters in Asia and Latin America. It brought in $31.7 million and opened at No. 1 in all territories. Disney has also been hitting it out of the park in the box office with their live-action renditions of their animated classics (Alice in Wonderland, Malefecent, Cinderella). a sequel to Alice in Wonderland is set to release in May as well as a live-action reboot of Pete’s Dragon, which is set to come out this summer, starring Bryce Dallas Howard and Robert Redford.
Favreau and Marks are repped by CAA. Favreau is additionally repped by law firm Jackoway Tyerman, while Marks is also repped by Madhouse Entertainment and Lichter Grossman. The Jungle Book is opening in theaters everywhere this Friday.
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