It's been over 20 years since The Lion King burst onto the scene and became a pop culture sensation. Well, by the time the beloved animated Disney movie hits its 25th anniversary, moviegoers will be treated to a different kind of Lion King. The "live action" remake has already kicked off production, and after months of casting reports, it's finally been officially announced who will comprise the cast of the updated Lion King tale.
Here's the full character/actor list (as provided by Beyonce on her Facebook page) for those who want to see it laid out more simply.
Donald Glover - Adult SimbaBeyonce - NalaJames Earl Jones - MufasaChiwetel Ejiofor - ScarAlfre Woodard - SarabiJohn Oliver - ZazuJohn Kani - RafikiSeth Rogen - PumbaaBilly Eichner - TimonEric Andre - AziziFlorence Kasumba - ShenziKeegan-Michael Key - KamariJD McCrary - Young SimbaShahadi Wright Joseph - Young Nala
If you've been following along with how The Lion King remake is progressing, then you know that all the actors in the top two rows were either officially announced or reported on earlier this year. The bottom row, however, is full of fresh names. Looking at the kids who will voice the adolescent Simba and Nala, respectively, JD McCrary has previously appeared on TV shows like K.C. Undercover and I'm Dying Up Here, while Shahadi Wright Joseph is best known for Hairspray Live! and School of Rock - The Musical. As for the adults, both Eric Andre and Keegan-Michael Key are well-known TV stars, while Florence Kasumba has appeared in Captain America: Civil War, Emerald City and Black Panther. As you might suspect by the grouping, Andre and Key's characters are playing the re-named hyenas who will accompany Shenzi, who were known as Banzai and Ed in the animated version.
Along with this official casting announcement, Disney revealed that The Lion King remake is bringing back Hans Zimmer to score the feature. Like its animated predecessor, this new Lion King will be a musical, and like with Beauty and the Beast earlier this year, you can count on some new songs being thrown in with the classic tunes. The Lion King will also follow in Beauty and the Beast's footsteps by being a relatively straightforward adaptation of the original Lion King, as opposed to a drastically different re-telling akin to Maleficent.
Directed by Jon Favreau, the man who brought The Jungle Book to life in a "live action" setting last year, and written by Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tale's Jeff Nathanson, The Lion King will be released in theaters on July 19, 2019. Don't forget to also browse through our Disney movie guide to find out what other cinematic offerings the House of Mouse has on the way.
