Disney’s The Jungle Book child star reveals the story behind his audition.
Disney’s Jungle Book movie has rocked box offices making millions upon millions worldwide and destroying low expectations for the live-action remake.
Since, the movie release details surrounding the pre-production and casting process have been revealed including the details surrounding the Disney auditions for the lead role. In the Jungle Book Neel Sethi plays a young Indian boy raised by wolves, but the young actor’s audition for the movie apparently had nothing to do with animals.
“They literally just wanted me to do a couple lines and I had to play imaginary tennis,” Neel, who plays Mowgli, told “Good Morning America” correspondent Rachel Smith during an interview at Tiger Mountain at the Bronx Zoo in New York.
“I showed a karate move and I said, ‘I don’t need no stunt double,’” the 12-year-old recalled. “And they really, they started laughing.”
The Jungle Book is Neel’s debut as an actor. he is also the only human character to appear onscreen in the Disney live-action remake of the 1967 classic. In fact, all of the animals and backdrops that surround Neel’s character in the movie are all CGI.
“There was no tigers, no animals, no nothing,” Neel said of filming the movie.
The young actor is ready for more movie roles. “I want to act a lot more,” Neel said. “I have some stuff in the works.”
It’s also worth pointing out that Project Casting featured the open casting call for the lead role in The Jungle Book.
