Ben will voice Bagheera - a black panther who watches over Mowgli and aids him in his adventures
Los Angeles:
British actor Ben Kingsley has signed on to play panther Bagheera in Jon Favreau's new version of The Jungle Book.
The 70-year-old is set to join the cast of Disney's new live-action version of their classic 1967 animation, playing the wise black panther who watches over orphan boy Mowgli, reports contactmusic.com.
Based on Rudyard Kipling's book, Jon Favreau's fresh take on the story follows Mowgli's adventures in the jungle with his sidekicks Bagheera and Baloo the bear.
Idris Elba is already on board to voice the villainous tiger Sher Khan, while Scarlett Johansson will lend her sound to Kaa, Mowgli's charming python ally.
12 Years a Slave breakout star Lupita Nyong'o has also been cast as Raksha, the wolf who raises the boy as her own.
The Jungle Book is set to release on October 9, 2015.
The 70-year-old is set to join the cast of Disney's new live-action version of their classic 1967 animation, playing the wise black panther who watches over orphan boy Mowgli, reports contactmusic.com.
Based on Rudyard Kipling's book, Jon Favreau's fresh take on the story follows Mowgli's adventures in the jungle with his sidekicks Bagheera and Baloo the bear.
Idris Elba is already on board to voice the villainous tiger Sher Khan, while Scarlett Johansson will lend her sound to Kaa, Mowgli's charming python ally.
12 Years a Slave breakout star Lupita Nyong'o has also been cast as Raksha, the wolf who raises the boy as her own.
The Jungle Book is set to release on October 9, 2015.
