Interview: Jon Favreau, Director Of The Jungle Book

Maybe you know Jon Favreau as the director of Iron Man 1 & 2, Elf and Chef.

Maybe you know him as the screenwriter and star of that ‘90s touchstone Swingers (what with its swing music, bowling shirts and rakish Vince Vaughn performance).

Maybe you know him as Monica’s tech genius/ UFC-obsessed boyfriend Pete Becker.

Chances are, if you are of a certain age, it’s that latter credit that tickles you most.

In fact, Jon himself admits that his six-episode arc on Friends still gets him stopped on the street (okay, partly because of his Tony Stark-inspiring facial hair).

But his acting past aside, he’s largely recognised today as a leading director of major Hollywood blockbusters, and his latest, Disney’s The Jungle Book, sees him working with some of cinema’s most advanced and impressive technological creations yet.

(FYI, you can read our review of Jon’s Jungle Book right here.)

We caught up with Jon when he was in Sydney to chat about the influence of CGI wonders Life of Pi and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes on his Jungle Book, as well as the lustrous, somehow not CGI hair of its young star, Neel Sethi.

During our talk, Jon also reflected on his friendship with the late Garry Shandling, who gives his last film performance – as a porcupine – in The Jungle Book.

He even shared an early review of Captain America: Civil War, which he got to watch while working alongside his old Marvel buddies at Disney. “[It's] wonderful. You heard it here first.”

Once again, check out our review of The Jungle Book. It's in cinemas now.

Photo: Disney.