Idris Elba to Voice Shere Khan in The Jungle Book

There have been so many adaptations of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book it’s not even funny anymore. From the Disney classic animated film to Zenescope’s crapfest of a limited series, everyone seems to want to take a swing at the story of the man-cub Mowgli. Currently, Iron Man director Jon Favreau is working on a version, and he already has its antagonist.

THR is reporting that Idris Elba, of Idris Elba fame, is in final negotiations to play Shere Khan, a Bengal tiger and life-long enemy of Mowgli. In the Disney version he was voiced by George Sanders. Elba is the first confirmed actor to join the production, with the studio still looking for a mixed race actor to play Mowgli.

It is worth noting that Favreau’s version of The Jungle Book is one of two currently in development. Warner Bros. is also working on a live action Jungle Book with Ron Howard.