Disney’s JUNGLE BOOK Adds Ben Kingsley as Bagheera

‘Iron Man 3’ star joins the live-action adaptation…

Oscar winner Ben Kingsley (Iron Man 3, Ender’s Game, Hugo) is set to lend his voice to Bagheera in Disney’s upcoming 3D live-action adaptation of ‘The Jungle Book,’ according to reports.

Based on the classic tales by Rudyard Kipling, the India-based tale follow the adventures of Mowgli, a young boy abandoned and brought up by wolves, and educated in the ways and secrets of the jungle by Kaa the python, Baloo the bear, and a black panther named Bagheera.

As previously revealed, Idris Elba (‘The Gunman,’ ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’) will voice the villainous tiger Shere Khan. Scarlett Johansson will voice Kaa, with Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o voicing Rakcha, Mowgli’s adopted wolf mother.

Jon Favreau is attached to direct the film, with the script coming from Justin Marks.