The trailer, seen above, paints a darker version of The Jungle Book than audiences familiar with the Disney movie will remember. That’s part of the plan: Andy Serkis told journalists at CinemaCon last month that Mowgli will be a “darker retelling” of The Jungle Book — an almost complete reinvention of the story Jon Favreau recently explored in Disney’s 2016 version of The Jungle Book, according to Variety.
Kipling’s original Jungle Book story is far scarier than some people might expect as well. It’s not a charming tale of a young boy lallygagging in the jungle with his best bear friend and myriad other animal pals. It’s a story of gruesome and terrifying realities that come with living in a jungle. I mean, there’s a couple of good reasons why more of us are not just aimlessly hanging out in the jungle. Mowgli looks to touch upon that traumatizing aspect of jungle life. Expect less singing.
Mowgli, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Naomie Harris and Serkis himself, will be released on Oct. 19.
