Mowgli has been bounced around all corners of Hollywood for the last few years and now it seems there are finally some solid plans. Warner Bros. originally had the Movie slated for release in October 2016 but kept pushing the date back amid concerns about rushing the visual effects process and having to compete with Jon Favreau's live action retelling of The Jungle Book (2016). This week, Netflix has officially announced that they have purchased the rights to the movie and will release it on their online streaming platform in early 2019.
The film directed by Andy Serkis has been produced through his own production company The Imaginarium which he co-owns with Bridgett Jones producer Jonathan Cavendish, a company that has contributed heavily to the recent Star Wars movies and the modern Planet of the Apes series. Several high-profile names are featured in the cast lineup including Benedict Cumberbatch, Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Naomi Harris and of course, Serkis himself.
The director has made it quite clear in interviews that Mowgli will feature a much darker and more gritty take on the story. The trailer appears to show a strong dramatic epic with a deeper story and certainly a much more graphic and potentially bloodthirsty depiction of Rudyard Kipling's classic jungle tale. The characters appear to be much more emotionally driven and multi-dimensional which could perhaps sway the sympathy of viewers somewhat.
Mowgli has been in the works for a long while now. The project has gone through various directors, cast members and studios before finally settling this year. Not much is known of the specifics of the story yet but it will certainly grab the attention of Netflix users worldwide upon release. Serkis stated that at one point, the production of this movie was running neck-and-neck with the production of Favreau's 2016 hit, but they wanted to take more time over principal photography and make sure the film was in the best shape in which it could be. This perhaps is a strong testament to the quality of the film!
Unfortunately this news means that Mowgli will not be released theatrically but following the success of Favreau's 2016 remake which grossed nearly $1bn worldwide, it's unclear whether audiences will rush to cinemas to see another one quite so soon. There are some advantages, though! A Netflix exclusive release will mean the film won't be compared to its predecessor, or indeed any other film, in terms of box office success. Viewers who aren't fond of the cinema experience will be able to see the film for the first time from the comfort of their own homes.
The film directed by Andy Serkis has been produced through his own production company The Imaginarium which he co-owns with Bridgett Jones producer Jonathan Cavendish, a company that has contributed heavily to the recent Star Wars movies and the modern Planet of the Apes series. Several high-profile names are featured in the cast lineup including Benedict Cumberbatch, Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Naomi Harris and of course, Serkis himself.
The director has made it quite clear in interviews that Mowgli will feature a much darker and more gritty take on the story. The trailer appears to show a strong dramatic epic with a deeper story and certainly a much more graphic and potentially bloodthirsty depiction of Rudyard Kipling's classic jungle tale. The characters appear to be much more emotionally driven and multi-dimensional which could perhaps sway the sympathy of viewers somewhat.
Mowgli has been in the works for a long while now. The project has gone through various directors, cast members and studios before finally settling this year. Not much is known of the specifics of the story yet but it will certainly grab the attention of Netflix users worldwide upon release. Serkis stated that at one point, the production of this movie was running neck-and-neck with the production of Favreau's 2016 hit, but they wanted to take more time over principal photography and make sure the film was in the best shape in which it could be. This perhaps is a strong testament to the quality of the film!
