Benedict Cumberbatch to Star in Warner Bros.’ Jungle Book

The Warner Bros.’ version of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book has snagged Benedict Cumberbatch as its first voice lead.

Cumberbatch will voice Shere Khan, the man-eating tiger and villain of the Kipling tale, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Andy Serkis—famed for his motion capture that brought the Lord of the Rings‘ Gollum to life—is making his directorial debut with the movie.

The Jungle Book, based on the Kipling short stories, follows the orphaned Mowgli, who is raised by wolves and befriends Baloo the bear and Bagheera the black panther.

A separate Disney adaptation of the The Jungle Book with Idris Elba as Shere Khan and Jon Favreau directing, meanwhile, is set for release in 2015.

[THR]