You never really know when or where Bill Murray might turn up. Unless it's a Wes Anderson movie, in which case, there's a pretty good chance. But The Jungle Book isn't a Wes Anderson movie, it's a Disney movie directed by Jon Favreau, and Bill Murray is voicing the role of Baloo. Murray joins a top-notch cast of voices that already includes Christopher Walken, Giancarlo Esposito, Ben Kingsley, Lupita Nyong'o, Idris Elba,and Scarlett Johansson, the latter of whom starred alongside Murray in Lost in Translation.
To celebrate the news, Jon Favreau posted this teasy announcement, offering a nod to Caddyshack, but no direct mention of Murray...
Post by Jon Favreau.
Disney has since sent around an announcement confirming that Murray is voicing Baloo in Favrou's Jungle Book.
The Jungle Book is set to be a combination of live-action and animation, and is based off a script by Justin Marks. The previously cast roles are as follows:
Mowgli - Neel Sethi
King Louie - Christopher Walken
Akela - Giancarlo Esposito
Bagheera - Ben Kingsley
Raksha - Lupita Nyong'o
Shere Khan - dris Elba
Kaa - Scarlett Johansson
Based on a book by Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book centers on a little boy who's raised by animals in the jungle. Phil Harris voiced the role of Baloo in the 1967 Disney animated adaptation of the story (pictured above). Singing about the "Bare Necessities, the animated Baloo was carefree and full of wisdom on simple living and a worry-free existence. It'll be great to see Murray's take on the character in Favreau's adaptation of the story. This won't be the first classic character Murray has lent his voice to either. While he's better known for live-action roles, Murray voiced the role of Garfield in the 2004 film by the same name, and the 2006 sequel that followed. He also voiced Badger in Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Disney has The Jungle Book scheduled to release October 9, 2015 in 3D.
Check out Baloo's big song from the Disney animated film after the jump...
