--- description: Warner Bros and Disney are both working on competing adaptations of Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book" title: Everything We Know About the Two "Jungle Book" Films image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7dbd76984f274f88/6986a03b361760ca7c90d896/jungle-book.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [movies](/tag/movies/) ## movies Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Everything We Know About the Two Competing _Jungle Book_ Films So Far by [Megan Gibson](/author/megan-gibson/) ## Megan Gibson Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Aug 20, 2014 5:19 PM CUT  Idris Elba and Benedict Cumberbatch will voice the tiger Shere Khan in their respective renditions of The Jungle Book. Idris Elba and Benedict Cumberbatch will voice the tiger Shere Khan in their respective renditions of The Jungle Book.Getty Images (2) by [Megan Gibson](/author/megan-gibson/) ## Megan Gibson Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Aug 20, 2014 5:19 PM CUT By now, you may have heard that Benedict Cumberbatch [has been tapped](http://time.com/3148347/benedict-cumberbatch-to-star-in-warner-bros-jungle-book/ "undefined") to voice the tiger Shere Khan in Warner Bros. upcoming production of _The Jungle Book_. _But wait,_ you might also be thinking, _isn’t_ [_Idris Elba doing the voice of Shere Khan_](http://time.com/15520/idris-elba-the-jungle-book-shere-khan/ "undefined") _in another upcoming production of the same title?_ The answer is yes — though it’s a different film altogether. Both Warner Bros. and Disney are planning competing adaptations of the Rudyard Kipling classic story about an orphan boy named Mowgli who is raised by animals in the jungle. The two films are set to be released about a year apart and though the Warner Bros. version — which is said to be a relatively dark film, especially compared to the 1967 Disney animated classic — has only just recently landed its director, news of each production has been rolling in fast. In fact, [The Hollywood _Reporter_](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/christian-bale-cate-blanchett-join-726475?utm%5Fsource=twitter "undefined") has just named a whole slew of actors — including Cate Blanchett and Christian Bale — that have joined the Warner Bros. cast. With all the big names being thrown around, it can all get confusing. That’s why we’re here to break down what we know about each film so far: **Disney** **Director**: Jon Favreau, best known for _Swingers_ and the _Iron Man_ films. **Mowgli**: Neel Sethi, an adorable newcomer. **Shere Khan**: Idris Elba, best known for his roles on _The Wire_ and _Luther_. **Baloo**: [Bill Murray](http://time.com/3074721/bill-murray-baloo-jungle-book/ "undefined"), best known for _Ghostbusters_, Wes Anderson films and crashing parties in Brooklyn. **King Louie**: Christopher Walken, best known for _Deer Hunter_, his dance moves and “more cowbell.” **Kaa**: Scarlett Johansson, best known for _Lost in Translation_, _Vicky Cristina Barcelona_ and playing a superhero. **Bagheer**: Ben Kingsley, who needs no introduction. **Raksha**: Lupita Nyong’o, best known for _12 Years a Slave_. **Release date**: October 9, 2015 **Warner Bros.** **Director**: [Andy Serkis](http://time.com/33237/andy-serkis-direct-jungle-book/ "undefined"), best known for his roles in _The Lord of the Rings_ and the new _Planet of the Apes_ films, is making his directorial debut. **Mowgli**: Rohan Chand, best known for his role in _Bad Words_. **Shere Khan**: Benedict Cumberbatch, best known for playing any number of oddballs and misfits and making the internet swoon. **Baloo**: Serkis, again. **Begheera**: Christian Bale, best known for playing Batman. **Kaa:** Cate Blanchett, best known for playing [a queen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wNboYbgYjo "undefined") and _Blue Jasmine_. **Nisha**: Naomie Harris, best known for playing Eve Moneypenny in _Skyfall_ and Winnie Mandela in _Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom_. **Release date**: October 21, 2016 With all the big names that Warner Bros has just landed for its cast, the studio is indicating they’re ready to go head to head with Disney. So which version will come out on top? Only time and the laws of the jungle — that is, Hollywood — will tell. 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