Convention Connection: D23 and The Jungle Book

The Jungle Book is a collection of stories by English author Rudyard Kipling. The stories were first published in magazines in 1893–94. The Jungle Book is a story of a young boy, called Mowgli who lives in the jungle. Shere Khan, the tiger, wants to look after him, and so do the wolves. Akela, the wolf leader, decides that Mowgli will stay with the wolves. Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther also look after him. Mowgli stays in the jungle for ten years. When Akela becomes old, Shere Khan thinks he might now get Mowgli with the help of the young wolves who don’t like him. Mowgli defends himself by throwing fire at his enemies, but he must leave the jungle. He says goodbye sadly to his friends and family and goes to live in the village.

There have been many adaptations on this story and this time director Jon Favreau (Iron Man) gets his chance.  During Disney’s D23.

Although The Jungle Book is not yet finished, Favreau brought some unfinished, work-in-progress footage to share at D23. “Everything you’re about to see was filmed in downtown LA,” said Favreau. Here’s a rundown of the footage shown at D23:

Scarlett Johansson (Avengers) narrates and voices the python Kaa: “Far from the dark of the jungle, men stay in their village. But sometimes they travel, and their caves breathe in the dark. It brings warmth and light and protection.” Onscreen, a panther finds a little boy.

Cut to several years later. A tiger (Shere Khan, voiced by Idris Elba (Thor)) tells Mowgli, “The jungle is no longer safe, I’ll return you to where you belong.” The tiger chases the boy, who eventually jumps off of a small cliff.

Another clip shown brings us  Bill Murray (Ghostbusters) as Baloo and singing the classic signature tune “Bare Necessities” to Mowgli, while floating down the river. The song however, is not sung, but rather hummed as if he is remembering. Mowgli doesn’t know what a song is, which surprises Baloo. “You’ve never heard of a song before?”

more images are shown, but as the end footage is shared we see an orangutan voiced by  Christopher Walken introducing himself: “I’m the king. Call me Louie.”