Ben Kingsley in Disney's 'Jungle Book'

Los Angeles: Ben Kingsley is the latest star to join Disney's live-action adaptation of 'The Jungle Book'. Kingsley, 70, will voice the black panther 'Bagheera'. Jon Favreau is directing the film from a script by Justin Marks, which is based on a collection of stories by Rudyard Kipling about a boy who is raised by wolves in the Indian jungle with the help of Baloo the bear and Bagheera.

The project, slated for release in 3D on October 9, 2015, is a combination of live-action and animation with CG being used for the animals, said the Hollywood Reporter. Idris Elba already has been cast as the voice of the tiger Shere Khan, the main villain in the story.

Kingsley's upcoming films include 'Autobahn', 'Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb' and 'Exodus: Gods and Kings'. Kipling's classic tale is getting another adaptation at Warner Bros with Andy Serkis attached to direct.