Lupita, Johansson in talks for Disney`s `Jungle Book`

Los Angeles: Disney is eyeing Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong`o and Scarlett Johansson to be added to the voice cast ensemble of a new big screen adaption of `The Jungle Book`. While Lupita, 31, who scored an Oscar for her debut film `12 Years a Slave`, is in final talks to voice Rakcha, a mother wolf who adopts Mowgli, Johansson, 29, is in negotiations to lend her voice to the character of Kaa, the python who preys other animals.

In Rudyard Kipling`s India-set story, the plot follows the adventures of Mowgli, a young boy raised by wolves whose friends include a bear and a panther in the jungles of India. Kaa is the second villain for Mowgli. The other enemy is man-eating tiger, Shere Khan, who would be voiced by Idris Elba. No actor has been announced for the main character and his trusty friends, Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther. Jon Favreau would be directing the upcoming adaptation, while the visual effects will be overseen by Oscar-winning Rob Legato and Justin Marks will write the script. Disney plans to release the movie across the country on October 9, 2015.