Walken (A Behanding in Spokane, James Joyce's The Dead) will take on the role of King Louie, the ruler of a troop of monkeys and apes, with Giancarlo Esposito (Critics Choice Award winner and Emmy nominee for "Breaking Bad," Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) voicing Akela, the leader of the wolf pack.
Walken and Esposito join Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley as Bagheera, Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong'o as Raksha, Golden Globe winner Idris Elba as Shere Khan and Scarlett Johansson as Kaa. "The Jungle Book" also marks the debut of newcomer Neel Sethi (Mowgli), who will be the only actor to physically appear on screen.
"The Jungle Book" is a combination of live-action and animation, directed by Jon Favreau from a script by Justin Marks. The film will be released in 3D and arrives in theatres Oct. 9, 2015.
The stage version of The Jungle Book made its world premiere at Chicago's Goodman Theatre and played Boston's Huntington Theatre Company in fall 2013. Mary Zimmerman directed.
