The all-star cast of The Jungle Book includes Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o as the voice of the fiercely protective mother wolf Raksha, and Giancarlo Esposito, acclaimed actor as the voice of wolf pack’s alpha male Akela. Both actors were part of The Jungle Book press event before the movie’s Red Carpet World Premiere of the movie.
Lupita Nyong’o and Giancarlo Esposito The Jungle Book Interview
Lupita Nyong’o Interview
Lupita Nyong’o (“12 Years a Slave,” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) is the voice of “Raksha, a mother wolf” Mowgli’s adopted mother who adopts him as one of her own when he’s abandoned in the jungle as an infant.
Bringing Raksha to Life
According to Nyong’o, “She is the protector, the eternal mother.” “The word Raksha actually means protection in Hindi. I felt really connected to that, wanting to protect a son that isn’t originally hers but one she’s taken for her own.”
Seeing the Movie as a “Family
What was quite funny about the timing of our interview, is that neither star had previewed the movie and would be seeing it that night at the movie’s world premiere at the El Capitan theatre. They actually been offered to screen the movie but refused wanting to see it together as a “family.” Sweet!
Her favorite Jungle Book Character
Lupita was a fan of both the movie and the book which she read when she was about 10 years old. Her favorite character was Baloo.
Taking the Role after the 12 Years a Slave Train
Lupita sprung to fame from her breakout role as Patsey in Steve McQueen’s Academy Award winning film, “12 years a slave” winning an Academy Award for best supporting actress. I like many film fans watched her make the awards ceremonies throughout that year. This was the first role she took after the 12 Years a Slave train as she referred to it. And what appealed to her about the role was the idea of playing a mother. She admitted that she has been fantasizing about playing motherhood since she was about two and half.
Next up for Lupita, she will be starring in the Walt Disney Studios film QUEEN OF KATWE.
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Giancarlo Esposito Interview
Giancarlo Esposito is a celebrated television, film and stage actor whose acting career spans several decades, known best from his iconic portrayal of drug kingpinGustavo “Gus” Fring in AMC’s critically acclaimed award-winning series “Breaking Bad.” That all said, he has not exactly been in many family friendly films so it was exciting to see him join the Disney family of stars.
Longtime fan of The Jungle Book
Roundabout Story on Getting the Role
Esposito provided us an usual story of how his role in the movie came about. He and Director Jon Favreau were working on the Destiny Law of the Jungle trailer at which some point during the filming they discussed Kipling and The Jungle Book. They talked about how wonderful it would be do the movie again and a year and half later he called Esposito about taking a role in the movie.
Identifying with Akela and the Importance of Women
Esposito stated that he did identify with his alpha male character Akela in so many ways. Akela is the leader of the wolves and discussed his four daughters starting to come in their own as women and mothers. He expressed the importance of the female and the mother presence in society is greater than ever
What’s up next for Giancarlo. He will be directing his second feature film, “This is your Death” with Famke Janssen and Josh Duhamel.
For two actors who are voices in the movie, they had such an easy rapport with each during the interview. You only wish you could spend an entire evening chatting with them. Both are so thoughtful, serious and deep. Yes, I can say deep especially Esposito who has a very zen way about him which as you can imagine is the complete opposite of his more villainous roles. And that’s why them call them actors.
BEVERLY HILLS – APRIL 04 – Group photo with Lupita Nyong’o & Giancarlo Esposito “The Jungle Book” press junket at the Beverly Hilton on April 4, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Becky Fry/My Sparkling Life for Disney)
“Hibernation” Film Clip
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THE JUNGLE BOOK opens in theatres everywhere in 3D, RealD 3D, and IMAX 3D on April 15th!
Disclosure: NYC Single Mom’s travel and accommodations to attend the The Jungle Book event is being covered by Disney. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.
