May 22 (UPI) -- Director Andy Serkis offers a darker take on author Rudyard Kipling's classic tale The Jungle Book in the first trailer for Mowgli.
The clip, released Monday, features the titular hero, portrayed by Rohan Chand, struggling to survive inside the harsh jungles of India.
Mowgli, raised by a pack of wolves, is seen contending with the villainous Shere Khan (Benedict Cumberbatch) and the realization that he is a human.
"When you were a cub, I looked you in the eye and saw no fear," Mowgli's friend Bagheera (Christian Bale) says.
Serkis, known for starring in The Lord of the Rings and the latest Planet of the Apes trilogy, will also be stepping in front of the camera to portray Baloo, Mowgli's bear partner. The cast, which provided motion capture performances, also includes Cate Blanchett, Naomie Harris, Matthew Rhys and Freida Pinto.
Mowgli is set to arrive in theaters on Oct. 19.
