Christian Bale and Cate Blanchett join Benedict Cumberbatch in Jungle Book: Origins

The Hollywood actors will voice animals in Andy Serkis' Indian jungle

Christian Bale will voice panther Bagheera in Warner Bros' rival Jungle Book movie (Getty Images)

Christian Bale and Cate Blanchett are the latest names to join Andy Serkis’ movie adaptation of The Jungle Book.

The two Hollywood actors will star in Jungle Book: Origins, set for release just one year after Disney’s live action and CGI remake of the Rudyard Kipling classic hits cinemas.

Bale will voice panther Bagheera, while Blanchett will tackle Kaa the python. These parts will be taken by Ben Kingsley and Scarlett Johansson in the rival film, directed by Jon Favreau.

Benedict Cumberbatch will play villainous tiger Shere Khan for his motion capture mentor Serkis, who will take on the role of lovable bear Baloo in his directorial debut.

Rohan Chand has been cast as Mowgli, the human boy raised by wild animals in the Indian jungle, while Tom Hollander is voicing evil jackal Tabaqui who will be an ally of Shere Khan.

Naomie Harris, Peter Mullan and Eddie Marsan are also on board as wolves, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Steve Kloves, who penned the Harry Potter scripts, will be producing, and his daughter Callie Kloves is writing the script.

Set for release by Warner Bros, Jungle Book: Origins will reach big screens on 21 October 2016.