Disney is developing a live action adaptation of 'The Jungle Book'.

The family-friendly movie studio has hired screenwriter Justin Marks - who penned the studio's upcoming reboot of '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' - to write the script for the film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The proposed film is said to be in the early stages so no producers are attached to it yet, but Disney is already on the lookout for a director to helm the flick.

'The Jungle Book' will be based on Rudyard Kipling's classic 1894 set of short stories, which are set in India and tell the story of a young boy, Mowgli, who is raised by wolves, and befriends a loveable bear named Baloo and a panther named Bagheera.

Disney previously made a famous animated version of the book in 1967, which is the final film credit for pioneering producer, Walt Disney, who died midway through production.

However, Disney isn't the only film studio looking to bring 'The Jungle Book' back to the big screen; Warner Bros. is developing its own film centred on Mowgli.

The rival films are both able to take advantage of the fact that Kipling's original stories are no longer protected by copyright and are in the public domain.

The movie marks Disney's latest live action adaptation of one of its hit animated films, following their upcoming remake of 'Cinderella'.

The fairytale movie will be directed by Kenneth Branagh and will star Lily James, Cate Blanchett and Helena Bonham Carter.