The 'Rush' director is in negotiations to replace Alejandro Gonzalez at the helm and serve as a producer with Steve Kloves.
- Feb 15, 2014
AceShowbiz - Ron Howard ("Frost/Nixon", "Rush") is in negotiations to make a live-action adaptation of "The Jungle Book (2016)" for Warner Bros. The Oscar winner is expected to helm and produce the movie after director Alejandro Gonzalez left due to scheduling conflicts.
The pic hasn't booked a release date, but it has to keep up with rival project which is set up at Disney as another live-action take on the classic Mowgli adventure. Jon Favreau, who directed the first two "Iron Man" films, is set to sit behind the lens for the Disney film.
The story set in India centers on Mowgli who is raised by wolves and makes friends with bear Baloo and panther Bagheera. The Rudyard Kipling classic tale is in public domain so both studios are free to pursue to adapt it into the big screen.
"Harry Potter" scribe Steve Kloves serves as a producer for WB's "Jungle Book", and his daughter Callie Kloves writes the script. No cast has been announced for both movies, but the Mouse House's "The Jungle Book" is already set for October 9, 2015.
