After a worldwide search, 10-year-old Neel Sethi has been cast as Mowgli in Disney’s live-action adaptation of “The Jungle Book,” the studio announced on Wednesday.
Jon Favreauย is directing from a script by Justin Marks. The new film will follow the adventures of Mowgli, the little human boy who’s raised by wolves and who’s friends with all sorts of jungle creatures.
Neel, who will be the only actor onscreen in the film, is a newcomer from New York who was picked from thousands of auditions, and his role in “The Jungle Book”ย marks his first foray into acting.
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“Casting is the most important element of any film and finding the right kid to play Mowgli was imperative.