Netflix has not only dropped its own first trailer and poster for directorAndy Serkis’ ambitiousJungle BookadaptationMowgli—now retitledMowgli: Legend of the Jungle—but the streaming service has changed course on its release strategy and will be dropping the film in theaters at the end of November and on the streaming service next month. The story ofMowgliis long and winding, as Serkis originally directed the film for Warner Bros. as a grounded live-action take onRudyard Kipling’s story with cutting-edge motion-capture effects for the animals.
But while filming began in March 2015, after which an intense period of post-production was underway, Disney released its own grounded and somewhat grittyThe Jungle Bookin 2016. WB and Serkis no doubt assumed Disney’s version would be colorful and musical, thereby makingMowglistand apart, but that wasn’t the case, so the release date was pushed back and Serkis kept tinkering with the film via motion-capture.Thenin July 2018, just three months before it was set to hit theaters, it was announced that Warner Bros. wasoffloading the movie altogetherand selling worldwide rights to Netflix, which was expected to release it sometime in 2019.
But today we get a surprise twist in theMowglinarrative, as Netflix has released a trailer and poster announcing a 2018 release date. Warner Bros. had already released a trailer and other marketing materials before it sold off the film, so this is a unique scenario of getting to see how two different studios aim to market this movie. Not only that, but Netflix’s decision to release Oscar-contending films likeROMAandThe Ballad of Buster Scruggsin theatersbeforethey hit the streaming service—breaking Netflix’s long-held rule about day-and-date releases—is now expanding to includeMowgli: Legend of the Jungle.
Yes indeed,Mowgli: Legend of the Jungleis getting an exclusive limited theatrical engagement beginning July 13, 2025 in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and London before launching globally on Netflix and in additional U.S. and U.K. theaters on June 10, 2025. Warner Bros. had intended a 3D release for the movie, so it’ll be interesting to see if Netflix gets a much wider theatrical release than it’s previously gotten with this family blockbuster, or if it’ll remain limited due to theater chains refusing to showcase Netflix movies until the streaming service offers a much bigger window between theatrical release and streaming availability. It’s possible this theatrical release is mostly to qualify for the Best Visual Effects Oscar, thereby increasing Netflix’s awards profile.
We’ll no doubt learn more soon as this was a bit of a surprise announcement, but check out the newMowglitrailer and poster below. The film starsChristian Bale,Cate Blanchett,Benedict Cumberbatch,Freida Pinto,Matthew Rhys,Naomi Harrie, newcomerRohan Chand, and Andy Serkis himself.
Here’s the official synopsis forMowgli: Legend of the Jungle:
Acclaimed actor and director Andy Serkis reinvents Rudyard Kipling’s beloved masterpiece, in which a boy torn between two worlds accepts his destiny and becomes a legend. Mowgli (Rohan Chand) has never truly belonged in either the wilds of the jungle or the civilized world of man. Now he must navigate the inherent dangers of each on a journey to discover where he truly belongs. Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andy Serkis, Freida Pinto, Matthew Rhys and Naomie Harris lead an all-star cast along with newcomer Rohan Chand in this visually spectacular and emotionally moving adventure.
