Two Separate Live-Action Adaptations for THE JUNGLE BOOK Being Made

Rudyard Kipling's THE JUNGLE BOOK is about to get, not just one... but two live-action film adaptations. One by Disney and another by Warner Brothers.

The Jungle Book is Rudyard Kipling’s classic novel (and/or series of novels) about an orphaned Indian boy named Mowgli, who is raised by animals that protect him from a ferocious tiger who rules the jungle. Book is currently in the public domain (as to intellectual rights). [full article after the jump]

Over a year ago, it was also reported that Warner Brothers has also been working on their Jungle Book adaptation, with Harry Potter scribe Steve Kloves as the writer-director for the project. Kloves previous work as director include The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) and Flesh and Bone (1993).

This week, it was reported that Disney has hired Justin Marks (The Raven) to pen the script for their own Jungle Book movie. No director has been named as of yet.

This new Jungle Book is only the latest in a series of live-action reboots that Disney has in development, as the studio recently wrapped filming on the Sleeping Beauty redo Maleficent with Angelina Jolie in the lead role, and they’re gearing up to begin production on a live-action Cinderella from director Kenneth Branagh.  There’s also another Alice in Wonderland film in the pipeline.

THE JUNGLE BOOK is a property that has been adapted into film several times already. The most popular one is Disney's 1967 animated film version which is really what immortalized The Jungle Book. But back in 1937, it was adapted into the British live-action film "Elephant Boy." THE JUNGLE BOOK was also adapted in 1942 with the same title, directed by Zoltán Korda. In 1994 Stephen Sommers (best known for The Mummy movies with Brendan Fraser) directed "Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book" with Jason Scott Lee (best known for his role as lead in "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story") as Mowgli. In 1997, there was "The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli and Baloo" and in 1998, the direct-to-video "The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story"

A target release date has yet to be announced for these two upcoming film adaptations.