A $50 million live-action Jungle Book movie
Posted by Matt Holmes
Yesterday’s news but I never got chance to post it…
Variety report that the BBC and Pathe are going ahead with a big budget Jungle Book movie which will be shot in live action from Emmy nominated director John Downer. No… I didn’t know who he was either but apparently he’s done many wildlife and historical documentaries and such in the U.K.
Downer is said to have perfected a CGI technique which matched with real-life footage shot in a certain way can result in very realistic results which make the animals look like they talk. No doubt, most of the budget will go on perfecting this technique and for access to the animals.
The film will begin production in September and will take two years to complete from start to finish.
Everyone loves the story of The Jungle Book right? At the moment and probably forever, the Walt Disney version is King and the thought of a live-action one just brings up the idea of Narnia to me. If you can’t make those animals talk realistically then your fighting a losing battle.
Downer thinks he has that avenue covered but we’ll see. I’ve yet to see a talking animal that has convinced me yet.
If your wondering where that poster on the left comes from, it belongs to a 1994 live action adaptation of the story which I haven’t seen but a 5.8 IMDB rating hardly entices me to rush out and buy it.
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i think Stephen Sommers made the Disney version. It was part of a two-picture deal (Adventures of Huck Finn being the other) and while those tow are the only Sommers films I have yet to see, at the end of the day I doubt anyone will tell a more balanced story than Sommers.
I’m with you Matt. Nothing can top the Disney classic. The whole thing does sound of Narnia/Polar Express-style effects nonsense. Animated animals can talk realistically. With CGI it’s more likely to be clumsy and unconvincing. We’ll have to wait and see what techno-magic this man Downer has…