‘Harry Potter’ Franchise Scribe to Write and Direct New ‘Jungle Book’

Now that he’s adapted all seven of J.K. Rowling’s best-selling Harry Potter books into a multi-billion dollar film franchise, writer Steve Kloves is ready to sit in the director’s chair this time, but for a different adaptation. Variety has word that the writer is in talks to write and direct a new live-action adaptation of The Jungle Book for Warner Bros. The last live-action take on Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale came from Disney and starred Jason Scott Lee as an adult Mowgli and a supporting cast that included Cary Elwes, Lena Headey, Sam Neill and John Cleese. It’s not clear how this new take will handle the source material though. Coming from Warner Bros, I’d anticipate some sort of edgier, darker take on the story, but that’s just speculation. Kloves clearly has a knack for crafting interesting stories for the big screen that adults and children can enjoy. Kloves hasn’t directed …