To the surprise of no one, Disney is already planning a sequel to Favreau's live-action The Jungle Book. I wonder if they'll take any ideas from the animated sequel.
Days before the studio opens its live-action take on The Jungle Book, Disney is already putting together the pieces for a sequel. Jon Favreau and Justin Marks, who respectively directed and wrote the movie, are in negotiations to return in their roles for a follow-up. Favreau also will produce. Brigham Taylor, who produced the upcoming movie with Favreau, will also return. Kipling wrote many a Mowgli tale and Disney plans to dig deep into the source material.
The studio has every reason to be high on the new movie. Jungle Book is already generating very strong reviews and currently stands at 100 percent on review aggregating website Rotten Tomatoes. While it opens Friday in North America (as well as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the U.K., China, Brazil and Mexico), Jungle Book had an strong rollout this past weekend in a handful of markets in Asia and Latin America. It brought in $31.7 million and opened at No. 1 in all territories. India was the standout with a $8.4 million gross, registering the second-highest industry opening for a Western release there.
I wonder if they'll take ideas from the cut ending of the first movie. When Mowgli is reunited with his parents but forced back into the jungle because of the greedy hunter who seeks the treasure from King Louie's palace.
We’re a dyad in the Force. Two that are one. "I offered you my hand once. You wanted to take it." - Kylo Ren "I did want to take your hand. Ben's hand." - Rey
DisneyJedi wrote:Whoa, whoa. Slow down, Disney. The first one isn't even out yet.
To be fair, it's getting a lot of pre-release buzz and is expected to be a big hit. It already opened in a couple of international territories last week, where it did great business.
"There are two wolves and they are always fighting. One is darkness and despair. The other is light and hope. Which wolf wins? Whichever one you feed." - Casey Newton, Tomorrowland
Speaking exclusively to Empire, Favreau appeared to pour at least a small cup of cold water on the story. “What was printed was a rumour,” he told us. Nonetheless, conversations about a second film have taken place at the Mouse House.
“I can at least confirm that we've been talking about the notion of doing a sequel, and what the sequel might be,” Favreau said. “But there was no decisive step taken [from the conversation] that that report was based on.”
The film has already opened strongly in some international markets, ahead of its UK/US release this Friday. But Favreau emphasised Disney will be watching its box-office take before greenlighting a sequel. “For a film of this size,” he continued, “the sequel conversation doesn't really begin until they see how the film performs.”
He also confirmed that if a sequel gets made, it won't be based on any of the sequels or spin-offs from the animated film.
If and when a sequel does happen, The Favs will be at the helm. “Yeah, I would be involved. And I'd be happy to. It was a very interesting process.” He also confirmed that it would not be based on any of the sequels or spin-offs from the 1967 film.
“It won’t be based on TaleSpin,” he joked, referring to the odd early ‘90s Disney Channel cartoon series, which featured Baloo as an airplane pilot, for some reason.
Sotiris wrote:With these kind of numbers, a sequel is as good as made. Before we know it, we'll get The Jungle Book trilogy!
With everything Disney makes these days (be it animated or live-action), my expectation is that there'll be at least 2 sequels, unless the film in question bombs.
Listening to most often lately:
Taylor Swift ~ ~ "The Fate of Ophelia"
Taylor Swift ~ "Eldest Daughter"
Taylor Swift ~ "CANCELLED!"
I'm glad to hear that. There's a lot of cut material from the Disney film which I would love to see, and of course, the original two books have lots of stories as well.
We’re a dyad in the Force. Two that are one. "I offered you my hand once. You wanted to take it." - Kylo Ren "I did want to take your hand. Ben's hand." - Rey
