The all-star lineup for director Jon Favreauâs new take on Disneyâs 1994 classic animated film âThe Lion Kingâ includes stars from the film, TV, theater and music arenas. Featuring pioneering filmmaking techniques, the film welcomes back to the big screen iconic characters that audiences have long treasuredâbut in a whole new way. From Disney Live Action, âThe Lion Kingâ is slated for U.S. theaters on July 19, 2019.
âIt is a director’s dream to assemble a talented team like this to bring this classic story to life,â said Favreau.
Lions rule the African savanna in âThe Lion King,â which welcomes Donald Glover (âAtlanta,â âSolo: A Star Wars Storyâ) as future king Simba, BeyoncĂŠ Knowles-Carter (âDreamgirls,â âLemonadeâ visual album) as Simbaâs friend-turned-love interest Nala, and James Earl Jones (âRogue One: A Star Wars Story,â âField of Dreamsâ) as Simbaâs wise and loving father, Mufasa, reprising his iconic performance from Disneyâs 1994 animated classic. Chiwetel Ejiofor (âTwelve Years a Slave,â Marvel Studiosâ âDoctor Strangeâ) was called on to portray Simbaâs villainous uncle Scar, and Alfre Woodard (âJuanita,â Marvelâs âLuke Cageâ) portrays Simbaâs no-nonsense mother, Sarabi. JD McCrary (OWNâs âTyler Perryâs The Paynes,â Appleâs âVital Signsâ) fills the shoes of Young Simba, a confident cub who canât wait to be king, and Shahadi Wright Joseph (NBCâs âHairspray Live,â Broadwayâs âThe Lion Kingâ) brings tough cub Young Nala to life.
Every kingdom comes with a trustworthy advisor or two. John Kani (âCoriolanus,â Marvel Studiosâ âCaptain America: Civil Warâ) was cast as the wise baboon Rafiki, and John Oliver (HBOâs âLast Week Tonight with John Oliver,â Comedy Centralâs âThe Daily Show with Jon Stewartâ) was tapped as hornbill Zazu, Mufasaâs loyal confidant. When Simba goes into exile, he relies on two newfound friendsâSeth Rogen (âSausage Party,â âNeighborsâ) lends his comedic chops to naĂŻve warthog Pumbaa, and Billy Eichner (âBilly on the Street,â FXâs âAmerican Horror Storyâ) joins the cast as know-it-all meerkat Timon.
While most of the animals in the kingdom respect the king, the hyenas have other plans. Florence Kasumba (NBCâs âEmerald City,â Marvel Studiosâ âBlack Pantherâ) portrays Shenzi, Eric AndrĂŠÂ (Adult Swimâs âThe Eric AndrĂŠ Show,â FXXâs âMan Seeking Womanâ) is Azizi, and Keegan-Michael Key (âPredator,â Netflixâs âFriends from Collegeâ) plays Kamari.
âThe Lion Kingâ is directed by Favreau (âThe Jungle Book,â Marvel Studiosâ âIron Manâ) and produced by Favreau, Jeffrey Silver (âBeauty and the Beast,â âEdge of Tomorrowâ) and Karen Gilchrist (âThe Jungle Book,â âChefâ). Jeff Nathanson (âCatch Me If You Can,â âPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Talesâ) penned the screenplay based on the 1994 screenplay by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts and Linda Woolverton. Tom Peitzman (co-producer âKong: Skull Island,â âAlice in Wonderlandâ) and Thomas Schumacher (âThe Lion King,â âBeauty and the Beastâ) are executive producers, and John Bartnicki (âThe Jungle Book,â âChefâ) is co-producer. The award-winning team of artists tapped to bring the African savanna and its animal inhabitants to life include visual effects supervisor Rob Legato, who conceived the virtual production on âAvatar,â won Academy AwardsÂŽ for his work on âThe Jungle Book,â âHugoâ and âTitanic,â and was nominated for an OscarÂŽ for his work on âApollo 13.â
The filmâs animation supervisor is OscarÂŽ-winner Andrew R. Jones (âThe Jungle Book,â âAvatar,â âWorld War Zâ). VFX supervisor is Adam Valdez (“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towersâ), who won an Oscar for his work on âThe Jungle Book.â Five-time Oscar nominee Caleb Deschanel, ASC, (âJack Reacher,â âThe Patriotâ), is director of photography, and James Chinlund (âWar for the Planet of the Apes,â âMarvelâs The Avengersâ) serves as the production designer. Oscar winner Ben Grossman (âAlice in Wonderland,â âHugo,â âStar Trek into Darknessâ) is virtual production supervisor, and Mark Livolsi, ACE, (âThe Jungle Book,â âSaving Mr. Banks,â âThe Blind Sideâ) and Adam Gerstel (âTransformers: The Last Knight,â âThe Jungle Bookâ) are editors. Hans Zimmer (âDunkirk,â âHidden Figuresâ), who won an Oscar for his score for the animated classic, will score the adventure.
ABOUT THE MOVIE:
From Disney Live Action, director Jon Favreauâs all-new âThe Lion Kingâ journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cubâs arrival. Scar, Mufasaâs brotherâand former heir to the throneâhas plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simbaâs exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his. The all-star cast includes Donald Glover as Simba, BeyoncĂŠ Knowles-Carter as Nala, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Billy Eichner as Timon and Seth Rogen as Pumbaa. Utilizing pioneering filmmaking techniques to bring treasured characters to life in a whole new way, âThe Lion Kingâ roars into theaters on July 19, 2019.