Jungle Book, The (film) Live-action film, based on the Rudyard Kipling stories and inspired by the 1967 animated feature. Mowgli, a man-cub, has been raised by a family of wolves, but he finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan, who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. Urged to abandon the only home he has ever known, Mowgli embarks on a journey of self-discovery, guided by panther-turned-stern mentor Bagheera and the free-spirited bear Baloo. Along the way, Mowgli encounters jungle creatures who do not exactly have his best interests at heart, including Kaa, a python, and the smooth-talking King Louie. Directed by Jon Favreau. Released on April 15, 2016, also in 3D and 3D IMAX. Stars Neel Sethi (Mowgli). Voices include Idris Elba (Shere Khan), Ben Kingsley (Bagheera), Bill Murray (Baloo), Scarlett Johansson (Kaa), Christopher Walken (King Louie), Lupita Nyong’o (Raksha), Giancarlo Esposito (Akela). Live-action is blended with photorealistic CGI animals and environments, using up-to-the-minute technology to immerse audiences in an enchanting and lush world. It won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects (Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew R. Jones, Dan Lemmon).
