Netflix Buys Distribution Rights To Warner Bros. Blockbuster ‘Mowgli’ And Will Release In 2019

Netflix has done it again. The streaming giant has come in and bought another major film that was in trouble, and in doing so, perhaps saved it. This time, however, it looks like the streamer really had to open up its pocketbook.

Deadline is reporting that Netflix has secured a deal with Warner Bros. to buy the distribution rights to the Andy Serkis-helmed “Jungle Book” re-telling “Mowgli.” The massive production, which stars the vocal and motion capture talents of Benedict Cumberbatch, Idris Elba, Cate Blanchett, Naomie Harris, Christian Bale, and Serkis himself, is now headed to the streaming service with a 2019 release planned. That’s a big change from the upcoming October 19 theatrical release date.

READ MORE: ‘Mowgli’ Trailer: Andy Serkis Creates A Darker, Scarier Jungle Book

“I think this is their largest acquisition, it’s a big movie,” Serkis said.

To say this is shocking is an understatement. However, “Mowgli” has always had the specter of trouble surrounding it. Clearly, the film is a passion project for Serkis, who makes his directorial debut. He wanted to take the classic “Jungle Book” story but adapt it with a more faithful approach to the source material. Gone are the musical numbers, and kid-friendly attitude, seen in the Disney versions. In their place is a version of the “Jungle Book” aimed at older audiences, with all the realism and political messaging from the source material added back.

“There is real jeopardy and consequence here, with an emotional resonance meant to be for a slightly older audience than most of the ‘Jungle Book’ films we’ve seen. That was reflected in the script and how it was cast, and the whole way we approached the design of the animals,” admitted Serkis.

But regardless of the tone and content of the film, the real nail in the coffin for the film’s theatrical release was the live-action “Jungle Book” that Disney released in 2016. At the time, both Disney and Serkis were working on their live-action versions of the story. However, not only did Disney beat Serkis to the punch and released its film before his, the 2016 film went on to become a massive hit, earning almost $1 billion worldwide and critical-acclaim. That’s a big shadow cast over Serkis’ production.

“Then, of course, we found ourselves in this race with Disney and there was a when we were neck and neck, in who would come first,” said Serkis. “Both studios wanted to be first. But we realized that the performance capture techniques required time in how I wanted to work in post, and we decided to let the other film have its moment. By that point, we’d shot the whole thing, and we did a series of pickup shots that we wanted to have in time for post production.”

Enter Netflix and its recent strategy of taking perceived troubled productions from major studios and offering them a second life. Before “Mowgli,” the streaming service had made deals with Paramount to release sci-fi film “Annihilation” to almost all international territories and to release “The Cloverfield Paradox” worldwide. Both films were seen as potential box office bombs for Paramount, who decided to take the guaranteed money that Netflix offered.

The same seems to be happening with Warner Bros. and Netflix. Now, with its purchase of “Mowgli,” Netflix can release the film worldwide, and WB can wipe their hands clean and cash a large check. One of the big questions remaining with “Mowgli” is in regards to a theatrical release. A great deal of money was spent on the 3D technology for the film, and according to Serkis, it appears that Netflix promised a small theatrical run of some sort.

“I’m really excited about Netflix for ‘Mowgli,’” Serkis continued. “Now, we avoid comparisons to the other movie and it’s a relief not to have the pressure. I’ve seen the 3D version, and it’s exceptional, a different view from the 2D version, really lush and with great depth, and there will be some kind of theatrical component for that.”

Ultimately, the filmmaker is just happy the film has found a home that will let him see his vision through to the end. “What excites me most is the forward thinking at Netflix in how to present this, and the message of the movie. They understand this is a darker telling that doesn’t fit it into a four-quadrant slot. It’s really not meant for young kids, though I think it’s possible that 10 or above can watch it. It was always meant to be PG-13, and this allows us to go deeper, with darker themes, to be scary and frightening in moments. The violence between animals is not gratuitous, but it’s definitely there. This way of going allows us to get the film out without compromise,” said Serkis.

No word on a release date, but Deadline says the film is being eyed as an “event release” in 2019.