And isn’t that the best of all fake computer movie bears? A new trailer for Jon Favreau’s update of The Jungle Book was released as part of the Super Bowl Trailer Apocalypse, and goddamn this movie looks gorgeous. Watch the new trailer and keep in mind two things: 1) The animals are not real, not even one, and 2) none of the locations are real, either. This entire movie was shot in a warehouse in Los Angeles and the only real thing on set was Neel Sethi as Mowgli. And yet, we’re looking at photo-real environments and the animals, even when they’re talking, don’t look f*cking ridiculous.
This time we get to hear more animals talk. Ben Kingsley is present as Bagheera, Idris Elba sounds super menacing as Shere Khan, Christopher Walken sounds like Christopher Walken as King Louie, and Bill Murray sounds like he’ll be a wonderful Baloo. He sounds totally different from the beloved cartoon character, but the way he delivers the line, “But I nap, a lot,” is great. There’s no overselling it or trying to affect his voice. It’s very natural delivery. The question remains as to whether or not this movie can correct the gross racial politics of the original, and I really hope it does. If they nail the story AND it looks this good? Instant classic.
Attached - Idris Elba at the London Evening Standard British Film Awards on the weekend.
