Disney is currently in the casting phase for a new live action adaptation of The Jungle Book. The film already has cast Scarlett Johansson as Kaa, with Idris Elba set to voice the villainous Shere Khan. Now the film will be adding Sir Ben Kingsley, who will be lending his talents to voice Bagheera, the black panther who adopts an infant Mogwli, and raises him as his own. Lupita N’yong’o also stars. She’ll play the mother wolf, Rakcha.

Iron Man and Iron Man 2 director Jon Favreau will helm this latest adaptation, using a script penned by Justin Marks. The film will be based on the Rudyard Kipling novels. Hit the jump to learn more.

All that remains are two roles: Mogwli and Baloo. According to the press release, the film will combine live action and animated filmmaking.

But this isn’t the only adaptation of Kipling’s novels currently in pre-production. Warner Bros. is working on their own, more grittier take, on the novel. Andy Serkis will be directing that one, which has yet to cast a role.

Disney has scheduled The Jungle Book for a October 9, 2015 release.

So what do you think? Is Kingsley a right fit for the voice of Bagheera?

[Source: Disney]