When you hear the name Andy Serkis what do you picture in your head? A little goblin running around in the search for his “precious” ring. Well now you can add Director to that list. That’s right the actor who portrayed Gollum in the Lord of The Rings movies is getting his directorial debut, and he is adapting…the Jungle Book?
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Serkis told a tale of reading the original Jungle Book story as a child living in Baghdad.
I found it mesmerizing, and it transported me into this incredible world. It’s extraordinary that I’m getting a chance to bring it to the screen … The jungle is a Garden of Eden and a wonderful place for Mowgli to grow up in, but also is a place of fear and a place of threat.
Not much has been revealed, but Serkis promises that this version will be faithful to the source material. It most likely won’t have singing bears.
This also marks his directorial debut, though it is important to note he is Peter Jackson’s Second Unit Director on The Hobbit Trilogy.
This news comes months after the announcement that John Favreu was brought on board to direct the new Disney adaptation. You can expect to see singing bears in that one.