Jungle Book: Origins ditches lazy name for slightly improved 'Mowgli'

(Warner Bros)

Jungle Book: Origins, the least imaginative sequel title since 'Dawn of Justice', is no more.

The title of Andy Serkis' upcoming Warner Bros project has officially changed to Mowgli, Deadline has confirmed.

As the new name suggests, Mowgli will centre on the titular character as he is raised by wolves, learns the ways of the jungle and becomes friends with a bear named Baloo.

Expected to have a darker tone to Jon Favreau's Jungle Book film that came before it, Serkis himself will star in Mowgli, alongside Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Naomie Harris, Matthew Rhys, Freida Pinto, Peter Mullan, Jack Reynor, Eddie Marsan, Tom Hollander, with Rohan Chand playing Mowgli.

A combination of live action and motion capture, Mowgli is set to open in cinemas 19 October, 2018.