You know how in prison movies, the new fish are sometimes taught that to establish their place in the pecking order, they should pick a fight with the biggest, baddest inmate to see if they can win some respect? That extremely stretched metaphor is our way of introducing the fact that someone has decided to make a new animated version of The Jungle Book.
Of course, Rudyard Kipling’s stories have been adapted several times. It’s just that Disney’s 1967 effort is still considered a classic and is still being watched years later. None of that is putting a new India-based gaming and ‘toon company called DQ Entertainment off the idea, with a plan to craft a new version in shiny 3D.
In rather more promising news, however, the company has recruited a former Disney staff member, Tigger Movie writer / director Jun Falkenstein, to direct the film, with **Iron Giant **veteran Kevin Johnson as a co-director.
“We have assembled a truly world-class team with a remarkable résumé of animation accomplishments,” producer and collaborator Eric S Rollman said in a statement picked up by The Wrap. “The net result will be a distinctive and captivating presentation for families the world over to enjoy, and one more illustration of the unique acumen of DQ Entertainment, an unstoppable creative force in our industry.”
The film is currently set fir release in 2014, and we’re intrigued to see if anyone can top the Mouse House’s version. Just don't mention The Jungle Book 2...