Disney Has Already Started Work On The Jungle Book 2
Now, that's what you call a show of confidence.
Just days before Disney's live-action remake of The Jungle Book hits theatres worldwide, the studio has announced that they've already started production on a sequel picture. That's right: The Jungle Book 2 is happening.
Yes, Disney are already in talks with director Jon Favreau and writer Justin Marks with regards to their involvement in a follow-up film, which means that the studio have made the rather smart decision to go full-on franchise with their latest blockbuster - given that Jungle Book author Rudyard Kipling wrote lots of stories about Mowgli and company, it's not exactly a surprising move.
This swift announcement has probably resulted from the immensely positive reception that Favreau's film has received in overseas territories, where it was released in advance. Despite the fact that The Jungle Book hasn't been unveiled in the US, it has already pulled in an impressive $31 million in Asian markets.
The film is also a major critical success, and is currently sitting pretty with a score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 25 reviews. I'm estimating that this movie will go on to gross close to a billion dollars, if not more (if Alice in Wonderland can do it, this film definitely can).
Jon Favreau has very much revealed himself as something of a Disney secret weapon, it seems: first Iron Man, and now this. Here's hoping that we all don't get sick of The Jungle Book by the time the sequel rolls around, however, given that there's another, non-Disney Jungle Book movie - subtitled "Origins" - set for release next year that could very well trigger an overload effect.
The Jungle Book swings into theatres in the UK and the Us on April 15, 2016