‘Mowgli’ Moves From Warner Bros to Netflix

In a move that isn’t too shocking, Warner Bros has sold the Andy Serkis–directed Mowgli to Netflix.

At one stage, Warner Bros and Disney were racing to be first to release a film based on Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, with Disney’s Jon Favreau–directed live-action The Jungle Book arriving in 2016. In response, Mowgli—a darker, more mature take on the material—was shelved to give it space from Disney’s successful film, allow more time for animation, and hopefully alleviate comparisons upon release.

Until today the film was due for a theatrical release in October, but Deadline broke the story that Netflix has acquired the rights and plans to release it in 2019. The film will get a limited theatrical release alongside the 3D version Serkis has been working on.

Andy Serkis told Deadline:

“Now, we avoid comparisons to the other movie and it’s a relief not to have the pressure. I’ve seen the 3D version, and it’s exceptional, a different view from the 2D version, really lush and with great depth, and there will be some kind of theatrical component for that. Netflix has allowed the filmmaking that I wanted to do, to exist and they’ve created an atmosphere for my kind of storytelling I set out to do.”

We checked out the official trailer for Mowgli in May, although it’s safe to bet Netflix will cut their own trailer before release next year.

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