"The king has returned" in The Lion King. This musical drama film directed by Jon Favreau, adapted by Jeff Nathanson, based on 1994 Disney animated classic. In the African savanna, a future king is born. Simba idolises 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.
In late September 2016, following the success of The Jungle Book, plans for a remake of The Lion King was announced by Disney with Favreau in the director's chair, and would feature songs from the original film by Elton John and Tim Rice. In early October, Disney brought on Nathanson to pen the script. In November, Disney and Favreau stated that the film will utilise the "technologically groundbreaking" approach used for The Jungle Book. In addition to the 1994 film, the film was also inspired by the Broadway adaptation. Favreau aimed to develop his own take with what he said was "the spectacle of a BBC wildlife documentary". In mid 2017, production commended on a blue screen soundstage in Los Angeles. By early November, Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, Billy Eichner, John Kani, John Oliver, JD McCrary, Shahadi Wright Joseph and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter rounded out the film's cast as Simba, Pumbaa, Scar, Sarabi, Timon, Rafiki, Zazu, Young Simba, Young Nala and Nala, with James Earl Jones reprising his original role as Mufasa. It was also announced that the original film's composer, Hans Zimmer would return to score the film. The Moving Picture Company, who previously worked on The Jungle Book, provided the visual effects, under the supervision of Robert Legato, Elliot Newman and Adam Valdez. In late November 2018, the first teaser trailer and the official teaser poster debuted during the annual Dallas Cowboys' Thanksgiving day game. The trailer was viewed 224.6 million times in its first 24 hours.
The film stars the voice talents of Glover, Rogen, Ejiofor, Woodard, Eichner, Kani, Oliver, Knowles-Carter, and Jones. Despite the stellar new cast, they are no match against the original, and more powerful, cast. Jones' performance this time round seemed rather phoned-in and just did it for the hefty pay cheque.
The Lion King stumbles as it is too committed to being a near-shot-for-shot remake instead of going in a new and different direction. Favreau relies too heavily on the film's animated predecessor for plot, characterisation, songs, and set pieces, when he should have concentrated more on his own coherent vision. The better these talking animals look, the more the film resembles a gorgeous screen saver. You can admire it, but you can't lose yourself in it.
Simon says The Lion King (2019) receives:
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