EDGARDO OCHOA INTERVIEWS JON FAVREAU & NEEL SETHI — “THE JUNGLE BOOK”
Based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories and inspired by Disney’s classic animated film, The Jungle Book returns as an all-new live-action adventure directed by Jon Favreau, the visionary filmmaker behind Iron Man.
Favreau’s version follows Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi), a man-cub raised by wolves who must face his destiny when the fearsome tiger Shere Khan (voiced by Idris Elba) declares that humans have no place in the jungle.
Guided by his wise protector Bagheera (Ben Kingsley) and the free-spirited bear Baloo (Bill Murray), Mowgli embarks on a journey of self-discovery — one filled with beauty, danger, and the eternal call of belonging.
Along the way, he encounters unforgettable characters: the hypnotic python Kaa (Scarlett Johansson), and the ambitious King Louie (Christopher Walken), who craves the secret of fire, the “red flower” that separates Man from the wild.
From Vision to Reality
“What excited me most was the chance to use technology not to replace reality, but to bring emotion closer to it,” shares Jon Favreau. “The jungle feels alive — it breathes, it challenges, it protects. And at the center of it all is Mowgli’s story: one about family, courage, and finding your place.”
Neel Sethi, who was just 10 years old during filming, adds:
“Every animal, every sound, every tree was created around me. It was wild — but also magical. I learned how to act by imagining the world instead of seeing it.”
The Craft
With an all-star cast that includes Lupita Nyong’o as the protective mother wolf Raksha, and Giancarlo Esposito as the alpha Akela, The Jungle Book redefines what’s possible when storytelling and technology meet.
Combining live-action and photorealistic CGI, the film immerses audiences in a breathtaking digital jungle that feels both ancient and alive — a place where instinct meets imagination.
About the Film
Genre: Live-Action / Action-Adventure
Rating: PG
U.S. Release Date: April 15, 2016
Director: Jon Favreau
Screenplay by: Justin Marks
Producers: Jon Favreau, Brigham Taylor
Cast: Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong’o, Scarlett Johansson, Giancarlo Esposito, Neel Sethi, Christopher Walken
©Disney. All rights reserved.
