Scarlett Johansson brings some much-needed female energy to The Jungle Book.
In Walt Disney Pictures' live-action/CGI movie (on Digital HD Aug. 23 and on Blu-ray Aug. 30), Johansson voices Kaa, a deceptive and alluring python; Sterling Holloway first voiced the character in the studio's 1967 animated classic. When Jon Favreau agreed to direct this film, he saw it an "opportunity" to let someone as adept and talented as Johansson reimagine the role.
E! News got an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Johansson and Favreau redeveloping Kaa in the recording studio. As she explains in the clip (part of the Blu-ray and digital bonus features), "It's a boy snake in the cartoon. And also, he's a much...friendlier version of our Kaa. He's really kind of goofy in the film and friends with Mowgli and kind of follows him along. In this film, Kaa is more of a storyteller, and she's very seductive. She's a mirror into the past for Mowgli." The 31-year-old actress added, "For me, it was kind of exciting to reinvent this character with Jon."
To see how they accomplished that, watch the video above.
The 3D version of The Jungle Book will be available later this year. The family-friendly film introduces Neel Sethi as Mowgli and also features the voice talents of Idris Elba, Giancarlo Esposito, Ben Kingsley, Bill Murray, Lupita Nyong'o, Garry Shandling and Christopher Walken.
Additional bonus features include "The Jungle Book Reimagined," in which Favreau discusses Rudyard Kipling's stories with producer Brigham Taylor and visual effects supervisor Robert Legato; "I Am Mowgli," which reveals how Sethi was selected from thousands of hopefuls worldwide to play the lead; "King Louie's Temple: Layer by Layer," which shows how Favreau's team created a musical number featuring a man-cub, an ape and many monkeys; and "Audio Commentary," in which Favreau delivers his scene-by-scene perspective on the adventure film.
The Jungle Book is available on Digital HD Aug. 23 and on Blu-ray Aug. 30.