Lion King Latest News, Photos, and Videos

Entertainment Weekly‘s Summer Movie Preview issue features brand-new photos from Disney’s highly anticipated The Lion King remake!

Here’s what director Jon Favreau and cast members Seth Rogen and Chiwetel Ejiofor had to share in the issue, available online today and in print on April 26:

Jon on the process of virtual production: “We’ve basically built a multiplayer VR filmmaking game just for the purposes of making this movie…The whole reason for all of this is to make an animated film feel live-action—to have a real crew make all the camera decisions that you would on set, instead of somebody sitting at a keyboard programming in the camera moves.”

Jon on Beyonce’s (Nala) motivation to be involved in the film: “Part of it is that she’s got young kids, part of it is that it’s a story that feels good for this phase of her life and her career, and she really likes the original very much. And then, of course, there are these wonderful musical numbers that she can be involved with, and my God…she really lives up to her reputation as far as the beauty of her voice and talent.”

Seth (Pumbaa) on preserving the original film’s legacy: “I once heard it referred to as the crown jewel of the Disney movies, and for me at least, it’s for sure the one that hit me the hardest and taught me the most lessons about life and death and many things in between…Whenever Jon has shown me [footage], I weep uncontrollably because it just hits a raw nerve in some ways and taps directly into these feelings from my childhood, but updates them with a scope that is heavily impactful to me as an adult.”

Chiwetel (Scar) on the importance of casting black actors in the Africa-set fantasy: “The Lion King is a wonderful opportunity to bring in a cast of black actors to play these extraordinary iconic roles…Obviously, I feel very connected to anything African because of my heritage, and that’s why it’s a very special experience to me. It’s wonderful that both Jon Favreau and Disney have really pushed to engage with that kind of casting.”

For more from the issue and to see brand-new images from the film, visit EW.com.

The Lion King has a brand new live action trailer!

The voice cast stars Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, and Billy Eichner as Timon.

Here’s a synopsis of the upcoming film: Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s 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 movie hits theaters on July 19, 2019.

Check out the brand new images as well…

We’ve been so ready for this moment ever since Disney announced that The Lion King was being remade into a live-action movie!!!

The first teaser trailer for the upcoming movie has been released as a Thanksgiving treat to fans.

James Earl Jones is reprising his role as the voice of Mufasa and his voice is heard in the trailer in the famous speech to Simba: “Everything the light touches is our kingdom. But, a king’s time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day, the sun will set on my time here, and will rise with you as the new king.”

The movie also features the voices of Donald Glover as Simba, Beyonce Knowles-Carter as Nala, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Billy Eichner as Timon, John Oliver as Zazu, and Keegan-Michael Key as Kamari.

The Lion King will hit theaters on July 19, 2019.

Kion (voiced by Max Charles) roars into the sky in this new clip from Disney Junior’s The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar.

The primetime television movie event will premier in November on Disney Channel, with a TV show following. The movie follows Kion, the second-born cub of Simba and Nala, as he assumes the role of leader of the Lion Guard, a team of animals tasked with preserving the Pride Lands.

In the television series, while traditionally the Lion Guard has been comprised of lions known to be the fiercest, bravest, fastest, strongest and keenest of sight in the Pride Lands, Kion breaks tradition by instead calling upon some of his friends — Bunga, a fearless honey badger (Joshua Rush); Fuli, a confident cheetah (Diamond White); Beshte, a happy-go-lucky hippo (Dusan Brown); and Ono, an intellectual egret (Atticus Shaffer) — who he believes best exemplify these heroic qualities.

Throughout the movie and the series, the diverse team of young animals will learn how to utilize each of their unique abilities to solve problems and accomplish tasks to maintain balance within the Circle of Life, while also introducing young viewers to the vast array of animals that populate the prodigious African landscape.

Th stories will also include special appearances by Kion’s deceased grandfather Mufasa, Timon the meerkat, Pumbaa the warthog, Rafiki the mandrill, Zazu the hornbill, and Kion’s older sister, Kiara, the future Queen of the Pride Lands.

Sarah Hyland, Madison Pettis, James Earl Jones, Ernie Sabella, Rob Lowe, and Gabrielle Union will also be featured in the upcoming series.