With Beyonce and Donald Glover as the voices of Simba and Nala, Disney's remake of The Lion King uses movie-making magic to create photo-realistic animals that are nearly as pretty as its leads.
But look back at the 1994 original, and Disney always had a penchant for illustrating animals with weirdly attractive features. In the upcoming remake, Jon Favreau also directs an impressive cast of comedians who capture the beloved oafishness of Pumbaa (Seth Rogan), high energy of Timon (Billy Eichner), and neuroticism of Zazu (John Oliver). As the voice of Scar, Chiwetel Ejiofor sounds dramatically menacing, even if he doesn't have the absolutely chilling voice of Jeremy Irons.
In the most recent trailer, baby Simba bonds with Mufasa (voiced by James Earl Jones in a blessed reprisal of the 90s' best father figure), Scar is a dick, and Nala is a weirdly pretty lion. Wait for the very last seconds of the trailer, and you hear a snippet of Seth Rogan and Billy Eichner singing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."
As the latest of more than 20 remakes slated for production, Disney's mostly CGI "live-action" reboot is sure to be a mind-bending dose of nostalgia. The Lion King hits theaters July 19th, 2019.
The Lion King Official Trailer youtu.be
Meg Hanson is a Brooklyn-based writer, teacher, and jaywalker. Find Meg at her website and on Twitter @megsoyung.
POPâš¡DUST | Read More...
The Hollywood Appeal of NXIVM's "Sex Cult"
Body Positivity: Seven Celebrities Who Think You're Hot Just the Way You Are
