Benedict Go wild? I Shere Khan
Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch will show fans the sheer range of his acting talent as he hits the jungle for his next film role.
The 40-year-old is getting his teeth into the character of fearsome tiger Shere Khan in a live- action remake of classic children’s favourite The Jungle Book.
The adventure – also starring Cate Blanchett and Christian Bale – is due to hit cinemas in October 2018.
King Kong star Andy Serkis, who is directing the film as well as playing bear Baloo, has revealed that Cumberbatch’s fans are in for a surprise.
The 53- year- old said: “Benedict’s phenomenal. He’s really scary.
“What’s brilliant about his performance is he’s not just a black- and-white villain. Bizarrely, you actually feel his point of view. You’ll see him in a new light.
“Sherlock fans will be surprised – definitely.”
But there are no plans for Cumberbatch to sing, like Shere Khan did in the 1967 Disney animation.
Serkis added: “There are no songs in this film.”
Last year, Disney released their live-action update of The Jungle Book, with Idris Elba and Scarlett Johansson voicing characters.
Serkis is working with rival studio Warner Bros on his own interpretation of author Rudyard Kipling’s yarn, written in 1894.
Meanwhile, film bosses are trying to stop details of the production leaking after Serkis lost a notebook with details about the movie. He revealed he left it on a seat while changing planes.