Disney and Jon Favreau’s The Lion King remake has swung into life with a full all-star cast announcement which just oozes in diversity.
Related: The Lion King News
The final cast list looks like this: Donald Glover as future king Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Simba’s friend-turned-love interest Nala, and James Earl Jones as Simba’s wise and loving father, Mufasa, reprising his iconic performance from Disney’s 1994 animated classic. Chiwetel Ejiofor was called on to portray Simba’s villainous uncle Scar, and Alfre Woodard portrays Simba’s no-nonsense mother, Sarabi. JD McCrary the shoes of Young Simba, a confident cub who can’t wait to be king, and Shahadi Wright Joseph brings tough cub Young Nala to life.
John Kani was cast as the wise baboon Rafiki, and John Oliver was tapped as hornbill Zazu, Mufasa’s loyal confidant. When Simba goes into exile, he relies on two newfound friends—Seth Rogen lends his comedic chops to naïve warthog Pumbaa, and Billy Eichner the cast as know-it-all meerkat Timon. Florence Kasumba portrays Shenzi, Eric André as Azizi, and Keegan-Michael Key as Kamari.
Jon Favreau said of the casting “It is a director’s dream to assemble a talented team like this to bring this classic story to life,”
Jon Favreau’s all-new “The Lion King” 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 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 Lion King” roars into cinemas Summer 2019
