You’re going to want to watch out forRohan Chand. The young actor has already starred oppositeJason BatemaninBad Wordsand appeared in other films includingLone SurvivorandThe Hundred-Foot Journey, but his performance inAndy Serkis’Mowgli: Legend of the Jungleis undeniable proof; Chand is downright phenomenal, and can absolutely command the screen and lead a movie. He takes the title role in Serkis' adaptation of theRudyard Kiplingclassic,The Jungle Book, stepping in as a young boy who loses his parents and is instead raised by a pack of wolves in the jungle where a tiger named Shere Khan (Benedict Cumberbatch) threatens their survival.
The role of Mowgli is a challenging one all on its own, but adding to the complexity of this particular production, Chand had to film many scenes twice to accommodate the combination of performance capture work and real locations. I recently got the chance to sit down with Chand and he was kind enough to break down the whole process for me and to tell me about working with Serkis, this incredible ensemble, the physical training required to be able to run with the wolves, and loads more. You can catch all of that in the video interview at the top of this article and, in case you missed it,click herefor my discussion with Serkis on the film.Mowgli: Legend of the Jungleis available to watch right now on Netflix.
Here’s the official synopsis forMowgli: Legend of the Jungle:
Acclaimed actor and director Andy Serkis reinvents Rudyard Kipling’s beloved masterpiece, in which a boy torn between two worlds accepts his destiny and becomes a legend. Mowgli (Rohan Chand) has never truly belonged in either the wilds of the jungle or the civilized world of man. Now he must navigate the inherent dangers of each on a journey to discover where he truly belongs. Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andy Serkis, Freida Pinto, Matthew Rhys and Naomie Harris lead an all-star cast along with newcomer Rohan Chand in this visually spectacular and emotionally moving adventure.
