Lupita Nyong'o and Scarlett Johansson 'in talks' to star in new Jungle Book film

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Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

The Jungle Book may have found its Rakcha and Kaa, with Lupita Nyong'o and Scarlett Johansson reportedly in negotiations for the respective roles.

Disney is behind the latest adaptation of the Rudyard Kipling fairytale, which will be directed by Jon Favreau and blend live action with CGI.

The 12 Years A Slave actress is in 'final negotiations' to play Rakcha, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the mother wolf who adopts the as yet uncast Mowgli.

Johansson is believed to be being lined up to voice Kaa meanwhile, the python with hypnotic powers who serves as the film's secondary villain after Shere Khan, the man-eating tiger who will be voiced by Idris Elba.

The trade magazine claims Nyong'o's talks are much further along than Johansson's.

Justin Marks has penned the script for the movie, which has been given a release date of 9 October, 2015.

Oddly this is not the only Jungle Book project in development, with Warner Bros working up its own version to be directed by motion-capture maestro Andy Serkis.