12 Years a Slave and Doctor Strange actor, Chiwetel Ejiofor, is reportedly in talks to join Jon Favreau’s live action remake of The Lion King to voice the cunningly villainous Scar.
Related: The Lion King News
In 1994’s original Lion King, which was one of the most successful animated films of all time grossing $968.8 million from worldwide sales, Jeremy Irons voiced Scar, Mufasa’s younger brother and Simba’s uncle, who takes the throne. It had previously been rumoured that Logan actor, Hugh Jackman was being lined up to voice the role, but his agents soon put a stop to talk and flatly denied the rumours.
If the talks are successful, Ejiofor would be joining a previously confirmed cast of Han Solo’s Donald Glover as Simba, James Earl Jones as his father Mufasa – reprising his role from the 1994 outing – and John Oliver as Zazu, a hornbill who serves as the king’s majordomo, Seth Rogan as Pumbaa, a naïve warthog who suffers from flatulence and Billy Eichner as Timon, a wise-cracking and self-absorbed yet somewhat loyal meerkat.
Ejiofor most recently made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as Mordo in Doctor Strange and will be seen this fall in director Garth Davis biblical drama Mary Magdalene in the role of Peter.
With production already in full flow, The Jungle Book’s Jon Favreau still has a few more characters left to cast including Nala who was recently rumoured to be linked with Beyonce, but as yet no word, either way, has been forthcoming.
After the major success of Favreau’s remake of the Jungle Book back in 2016, anticipation is rapidly building for his Lion King adventure which is due for release in summer 2019.
The Lion King is now officially set for release on July 19th, 2019
