Jungle Book (2018) (Andy Serkis, Christian Bale, Benedict Cumberbatch) (Warner Bros.)

[The Rocket]

Not only are Disney and Warner Bros. at war with comic book film universes, but they will now be engaged in a battle of Jungle Book films.

After Disney's wildly-successful, and critically-acclaimed The Jungle Book (2016), the company plans to release a sequel some time between 2018 and 2019, perhaps based on some of original author Rudyard Kipling's other Mowgli-related works, or based on their own, brand new material. Warner Bros., however, also plans to release a film in 2018 based on The Jungle Book, directed by Andy Serkis -- that film is titled Jungle Book and is scheduled for release on October 19, 2018.

What many people do not know is that Warner Bros. had originally announced in April 2012 that they would be developing a film based on The Jungle Book, while Disney made its announcement a year later in July 2013.

Warner Bros.' version stalled, however, with directors Steve Kloves (Harry Potter films screenwriter), Alejandro Iñárritu and Ron Howard all attached at various points to the project. Iñárritu left due to scheduling conflicts with Birdman and The Revenant.

The film finally found its director and star, Andy Serkis. Serkis will portray Baloo in the film, while Christian Bale will play Bagheera, and Benedict Cumberbatch will play Shere Khan. These roles were played by Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, and Idris Elba, respectively, in the 2016 Disney adaptation.

Disney's The Jungle Book sequel will likely be released in 2018 or 2019. Warner Bros.' film, Jungle Book, is scheduled for an October 19, 2018 release.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/warner-bros-pushes-jungle-book-881353

Warner Bros. Pushes 'Jungle Book' to 2018, 'Wonder Woman' Gets New Date
April 06, 2016 8:55am PT by Rebecca Ford

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Jungle Book, which will be directed by Andy Serkis, is moving back an entire year, from Oct. 6, 2017, to Oct. 19, 2018.

Warner Bros.' Jungle Book movie is one of two competing films based on Rudyard Kipling's book of the same name. Disney's version, directed by Jon Favreau, comes out on April 15 in the U.S.

"I've got to say that personally I'm absolutely thrilled that Warner Bros. has changed the delivery date of our movie," Serkis wrote Wednesday. "The ambition for this project is huge. What we are attempting is an unprecedented level of psychological and emotional nuance in morphing the phenomenal performances of our cast into the facial expressions of our animals."

He also added: "So, every minute more that we have to evolve the technological pipeline will make all the difference. … The evidence is there already and it's off the chain exciting, so hang on in there. …This is truly next-generation storytelling, and it will be the real deal!"

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http://variety.com/2016/film/news/d...jungle-book-2-mary-poppins-sequel-1201760227/

Disney Claims Dates for Several New Movies; Confirms ‘Jungle Book 2,’ ‘Mary Poppins’ Sequel
Brent Lang
Senior Film and Media Reporter
April 25, 2016 | 02:13PM PT

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The “Jungle Book” and “Mary Poppins” sequels are farther along in their development process and will likely be among the films snagging those dates. This kind of flag planting is becoming increasingly common place. As studios plunge deeper into the tentpole business, they want to establish themselves in prime release dates years in advance.

See below for dates:

UNTITLED DISNEY FAIRY TALE (Live Action) previously dated on 12/22/17 moves up to 7/28/17
UNTITLED DISNEY FAIRY TALE (Live Action) now dated on 4/6/18
UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION now dated on 8/3/18
UNTITLED DISNEY LIVE ACTION now dated on 12/25/18
UNTITLED DISNEY FAIRY TALE (Live Action) now dated on 12/20/19

Expect two Jungle Book films in 2018. Disney would be smart to place The Jungle Book 2 ahead of Warner Bros.' Jungle Book on the 2018 calendar.