<Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $966.6 million </Td> </Tr> <P> The Jungle Book is a 2016 American fantasy adventure film directed and produced by Jon Favreau, produced by Walt Disney Pictures, and written by Justin Marks . Based on Rudyard Kipling's eponymous collective works and inspired by Walt Disney's 1967 animated film of the same name, The Jungle Book is a live - action / CGI film that tells the story of Mowgli, an orphaned human boy who, guided by his animal guardians, sets out on a journey of self - discovery while evading the threatening Shere Khan . The film introduces Neel Sethi as Mowgli and also features the voices of Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong'o, Scarlett Johansson, Giancarlo Esposito, and Christopher Walken . </P> <P> Favreau, Marks and producer Brigham Taylor developed the film's story as a balance between Disney's animated adaptation and Kipling's original works, borrowing elements from both into the film . Principal photography commenced in 2014, with filming taking place entirely in Los Angeles . The film required extensive use of computer - generated imagery to portray the animals and settings . </P> <P> The Jungle Book was released in North America in Disney Digital 3 - D, RealD 3D, IMAX 3D, D - Box, and premium large formats, on April 15, 2016 . It became a critical and commercial success, grossing over $966 million, making it the fifth - highest - grossing film of 2016 and the 36th - highest - grossing film of all time . The film won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects at the 89th Academy Awards . </P>

Who plays the snake in the jungle book