BBC and Pathe are joining forces to create a new US$50 million live action film based on the Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling.

John Downer will be directing the film from a script by Richard Kurti and Bev Doyle, Downer is well known for creating BBC natural history programmes. Indeed his documentary called Pride, about lions, was nominated for an Emmy in 2004. According to the Variety article he has pioneered the technique of filming animals in the wild and using CGI to make them appear to talk.

The film is expected to take two years to create and will film in the Indian tiger reserve Ranthambore and will mix this with shots of trained animals in the jungle and against blue screens in the studio.

Downer said of the film:

“My ambition is to use pioneering digital and wildlife filming techniques to portray one of the greatest stories of all time just as the author intended -- with real live talking animals inhabiting the jungle world of Kipling’s India...The script is full of thrills and humor, but it also reminds us of our place in nature and our duty to protect the wild places of the world.”

I'm not sure if there's really much more to be had from the story of the Jungle Book, there have been cartoon and live action versions before, although this one sounds like it is going to use some new techniques to really bring the animals to life.

Is it something that you would find interest in? Another Jungle Book?