Andy Serkis To Helm Warner Bros’ The Jungle Book!

Mastering the art of motion-capture with Peter Jackson’s King Kong, Lord Of The Rings trilogy and Rupert Wyatt’s Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, Andy Serkis has brought many a vivid creation to life in the form of Gollum and Caesar.

So it’s perhaps no surprise to discover, that the actor is stepping behind the camera.

It has been confirmed (via The Hollywood Reporter), that a live-action version of ‘The Jungle Book’ being produced by Warner Bros’ will be his directorial debut. Serkis will be taking the reins despite talk of Rush director Ron Howard being ‘in talks’, from initial surprise choice Biutiful and Babel director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, whom dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.

This is of course not the only new interpretation with of the classic Rudyard Kipling tale, as Warner Bros will be going head to head with Disney’s latest version that is being helmed by Iron Man director Jon Favreau and has already cast Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom star Idris Elba as the voice of Shera Khan.

The material renowned for its colourful world and himself acclimatised to big budget projects, we wouldn’t rule out Serkis making the step up with relative ease.