Idris Elba is in final negotiations to perform and provide the voice for killer tiger Shere Khan in Disney's live-action The Jungle Book, under the direction of Jon Favreau (Iron Man).

Avatar VFX maestro Robert Legato will oversee the motion capture in this action-packed adaptation of the Rudyard Kipling novel. The Oscar winner will be working with a creative team that includes production designers Alex McDowell (Man of Steel) and Chris Glass, and concept artists Michael Kutsche (Maleficent), Iain McCaig (Star Wars: Episode VII ) and Justin Sweet (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe). David Lowery (Iron Man ) is heading up the story team, which is working around the clock with seven full-time illustrators, with Legacy Effects in charge of rigging and creature design.

Disney is moving quickly to beat Warner Bros.' own live action version of the classic story to the big screen. Both Studios are currently working on adaptations, as the novel rests in the public domain. Warner Bros. is at a disadvantage, as they lost original director Alejandro González Iñárritu weeks ago and have not yet found a replacement.

As Shere Khan, Idris Elba's deadly jungle cat will stalk and threaten to kill jungle boy and hero Mowgli, whom he views as a threat. The actor will next be seen in Beasts Of No Nation from director Cary Fukunaga (Sin Nombre).