Idris Elba to voice Disney's The Jungle Book remake

The actor accepts the Britannia Humanitarian Award at 2013 Baftas

Idris Elba will voice the character of killer tiger Shere Khan in a film remake of The Jungle Book.

The Disney project will be a take on the classic children's film using a mix of live action and special effects.

The actor, who recently played the late Nelson Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, is in final negotiations to join the cast according to Deadline.

It's thought the 41-year-old will be the voice of the animal who stalks the main character, young boy Mowgli.

The film is being overseen by Oscar-winning visual effects designer, Rob Legato, who has worked on Avatar, The Wolf of Wall Street, Hugo and Titanic.

Idris Elba and Naomie Harris at Long Walk to Freedom's Royal performance

Production designer Alex McDowell, who worked on Man Of Steel, Rise Of The Guardians, and Chris Glass will lead a team of concept artists.

The story team is headed by Iron Man's David Lowery, who's working with seven illustrators.

Disney is in a race with Warner Bros to film different versions of The Jungle Book, based on Rudyard Kipling's book.

But the rival project is still reportedly searching for a director after theirs dropped out of the project.

Meanwhile, Idris Elba will also soon appear in Beasts Of No Nation, although no release date has been set as yet.

It's about a young West African boy forced to join a group of soldiers.

Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter