Netflix Picks India for World Premiere of 'Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle'

Director Andy Serkis and stars Christian Bale, Freida Pinto, and newcomer Rohan Chand will walk the red carpet in Mumbai for the first-ever India world premiere of a big-budget Hollywood film.

In what will be the first-ever world premiere for a Hollywood film in India, talent from Netflix's Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle will jet down to Mumbai to walk the red carpet on Nov. 25.

Director Andy Serkis will be joined by Christian Bale, Freida Pinto, Louis Ashbourne Serkis and newcomer Rohan Chand, who plays Mowgli in the film, at the world premiere.

Netflix picked up worldwide rights to the live-action feature, based on Rudyard Kipling's classic novel The Jungle Book, and will stream Mowgli on its service Dec. 7.

The cast of the film includes Benedict Cumberbatch as the tiger Shere Khan, Cate Blanchett as the snake Kaa, director Serkis as the bear Baloo and Bale as the panther Bagheera. Naomie Harris, Peter Mullan and Matthew Rhys also star.

The film's trailer was launched last week in Singapore at Netflix's See What's Next: Asia event where the streaming giant also unveiled its upcoming India slate.

Netflix has been ramping up its marketing offensive in India as it strives to expand in the region. The streaming giant recently flew down talent, including actors Michael Pena and Diego Luna and showrunner Eric Newman, for the launch of Narcos: Mexico to Mumbai. Last year, Netflix brought A-listers Brad Pitt and Will Smith to India to promote its features War Machine and Bright, respectively.