He mulled over the Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them job for a time but Alfonso Cuarón is still patiently waiting for his first directorial gig post-Gravity. He does have plenty to keep him busy though, including a new consulting role on Andy Serkis’ Jungle Book: Origins.
According to The Hollywood Reporter’s sources, Cuarón will 'consult' on the movie. As the trade title points out, that can involve anything from directorial responsibilities to helping out in the editing suite. Manning the craft services wagon is unlikely to feature.
It’s hardly a resounding sign of studio confidence in a project that’s recently been pushed back by a year to an October 2018 release date. Having the experienced Cuarón on hand should augment the performance-capture gifts of Serkis and afford him a seasoned sounding board.
Meanwhile, The Jungle Book's seismic box office haul will surely be giving Warner Bros. execs a bittersweet sensation. On the one hand, there’s clearly a huge market for a richly-rendered take on Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale; on the other, well, there’s just been one.
On the upside, Serkis’s version can point to a cast as spectacular as its likely setting. Aboard are Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hollander, Matthew Rhys and Naomie Harris. Serkis, himself, is playing Baloo.
Jungle Book: Origins will be arriving on October 19, 2018.