The Lion King (2019 film)

In the Pride Lands of Tanzania, a pride of lions rule over the kingdom from Pride Rock. King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi's newborn son, Simba, is presented to the gathering animals by Rafiki the mandrill, the kingdom's shaman and advisor. Mufasa's younger brother, Scar, covets the throne.

Mufasa shows Simba the Pride Lands and forbids him from exploring beyond its borders. He explains to Simba the responsibilities of kingship and the "circle of life", which connects all living things. Scar manipulates Simba into exploring an elephant graveyard beyond the Pride Lands. There, Simba and his best friend, Nala, are chased by a clan of spotted hyenas led by the ruthless Shenzi. Mufasa is alerted by his majordomo, the hornbill Zazu, and rescues the cubs. Though disappointed with Simba for disobeying him and endangering himself and Nala, Mufasa forgives him. He explains that the great kings of the past watch over them from the night sky, from which he will one day watch over Simba. Scar visits the hyenas and convinces them to help him kill Mufasa and Simba in exchange for hunting rights in the Pride Lands.

Scar sets a trap for Simba and Mufasa. He lures Simba into a gorge and signals the hyenas to drive a large herd of wildebeest into a stampede to trample him. Scar alerts Mufasa, who saves Simba and tries to escape the gorge; he begs for Scar's help, but Scar betrays Mufasa by throwing him into the stampede to his death. Scar then deceives Simba into believing that Mufasa's death was his fault and tells him to leave the kingdom and never return. He then orders the hyenas to kill Simba, who escapes. Unaware of Simba's survival, Scar tells the pride that the stampede killed both Mufasa and Simba, and steps forward as the new king, allowing the hyenas into the Pride Lands.

Simba collapses in a desert but is rescued by two outcasts, a meerkat and a warthog named Timon and Pumbaa. Simba grows up with his two new friends in their oasis, living a carefree life under their motto "hakuna matata" ("no worries" in Swahili). Meanwhile, Scar attempts to convince Sarabi to be his queen, but she refuses. Years later, an adult Simba rescues Timon and Pumbaa from a hungry lioness, who is revealed to be Nala. Simba and Nala fall in love, and she urges him to return home, telling him that the Pride Lands have become drought-stricken under Scar's reign. Still feeling guilty over Mufasa's death, Simba refuses and leaves angrily. He encounters Rafiki, who tells Simba that Mufasa's spirit lives on in him. Simba is visited by the spirit of Mufasa in the night sky, who tells him that he must take his place as king. After Rafiki advises him to learn from the past instead of running from it, Simba decides to return to the Pride Lands.

Aided by his friends, Simba sneaks past the hyenas at Pride Rock and confronts Scar, who shames Simba over his supposed role in Mufasa's death. Scar then reveals to Simba that he killed Mufasa. Enraged, Simba retaliates and forces Scar to confess the truth to the pride. A battle ensues between Simba and his allies and the hyenas. Scar attempts to escape, but is cornered by Simba at a ledge near the top of Pride Rock. Scar begs for mercy and attempts to deceive Simba by blaming his actions on the hyenas. Simba spares Scar's life but orders him to leave the Pride Lands forever; Scar refuses and attacks Simba. Following a brief battle, Simba throws Scar off the ledge. Scar survives the fall, but the hyenas, who overheard him betraying them, attack and maul him to death.

With Scar and the hyenas gone, Simba takes his place as king, and Nala becomes his queen. With the Pride Lands restored, Rafiki presents Simba and Nala's newborn cub to the assembled animals, thus continuing the circle of life.

{{Main|List of The Lion King (franchise) characters{{!}}List of The Lion King (franchise) characters}}

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| image1= Donald Glover TIFF 2015.jpg

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| footer = Top row: Donald Glover, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter voice the characters of Simba, Scar, and Nala
Bottom row: Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, and James Earl Jones voice the characters of Pumbaa, Timon, and Mufasa

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• Donald Glover as Simba, son of Mufasa and Sarabi, who grows up to become King of the Pride Lands. Glover said that the film will focus more on Simba's time growing up than the original film did, stating that "[Favreau] was very keen in making sure we saw [Simba's] transition from boy to man and how hard that can be when there's been a deep trauma".{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftRPVHyELXo&t=19s |title=What To Expect From The Characters in the Upcoming 'The Lion King' Adaptation |work=Entertainment Weekly |medium=YouTube |time=0:19 |date=April 25, 2019 |access-date=April 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721115959/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftRPVHyELXo&t=19s |archive-date=July 21, 2019 |url-status=live}}
• JD McCrary as young Simba.
• Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, a naïve warthog who suffers from flatulence and is Timon's best friend. He also becomes one of Simba's best friends. Rogen said, "[a]s an actor, I [...] don't think I'm right for every role—there are a lot of roles I don't think I'm right for even in movies I'm making—but Pumbaa was one I knew I could do well".{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/movies/2019/04/25/the-lion-king-cover-story/ |title=The Lion King: EW visits the set of Disney's rule-breaking beast of a remake |first=Marc |last=Snetiker |date=April 25, 2019 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=February 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802215405/https://ew.com/movies/2019/04/25/the-lion-king-cover-story/ |archive-date=August 2, 2019 |url-status=live}} Favreau encouraged Rogen and Timon's Billy Eichner, who did their voice recordings together, to improvise a lot.{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/movies/2019/05/03/lion-king-timon-pumbaa-seth-rogen-billy-eichner/ |title=The Lion King: How Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen put a new twist on Timon and Pumbaa |first=Marc |last=Snetiker |date=May 3, 2019 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923231708/https://ew.com/movies/2019/05/03/lion-king-timon-pumbaa-seth-rogen-billy-eichner/ |archive-date=September 23, 2019 |url-status=live}} Rogen's casting would also mark the first time that Pumbaa was not played by Ernie Sabella, who had reprised the role for every Disney project the character was involved in up to that point.
• Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Mufasa's younger brother and rival who seizes the throne. Ejiofor described Scar as more "psychologically possessed" and "brutalized" than in the original film. Ejiofor said that "especially with Scar, whether it's a vocal quality that allows for a certain confidence or a certain aggression, to always know that at the end of it you're playing somebody who has the capacity to turn everything on its head in a split second with outrageous acts of violence—that can completely change the temperature of a scene". Ejiofor also said that "[Scar and Mufasa's] relationship is completely destroyed and brutalized by Scar's way of thinking. He's possessed with this disease of his own ego and his own want". Favreau said of casting Ejiofor, "[He] is just a fantastic actor, who brings us a bit of the mid-Atlantic cadence and a new take on the character. He brings that feeling of a Shakespearean villain to bear because of his background as an actor. It's wonderful when you have somebody as experienced and seasoned as Chiwetel; he just breathes such wonderful life into this character."
• Alfre Woodard as Sarabi, Mufasa's mate, Simba's mother, and the leader of the lioness hunting party.
• Billy Eichner as Timon, a wisecracking and self-absorbed yet loyal bipedal meerkat who becomes one of Simba's best friends. Eichner described Timon as "physically the smallest character, but he has one of the bigger personalities, and I love the combination of those two things. I kind of played into Timon, as I've done with many characters of mine, [the notion that] he might be small in stature but he has a huge sense of entitlement, which is always funny to play," and that "when Timon speaks and when he's quote-unquote 'being funny', he's very loud and boisterous, but [his] singing allows this vulnerable side, a slightly softer side, especially in 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight' and other moments." Eichner also talked about having "what some may consider a gay sensibility" that he brought to the table when he voiced Timon.{{cite web |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/adambvary/billy-eichner-lion-king-timon-lgbtq-characters |title=Billy Eichner Wants More LGBTQ Characters in Animated Movies |first=Adam |last=Vary |date=July 13, 2019 |publisher=BuzzFeed News |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902184240/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/adambvary/billy-eichner-lion-king-timon-lgbtq-characters |archive-date=September 2, 2019 |url-status=live}}
• John Kani as Rafiki, an old mandrill who serves as shaman of the Pride Lands and presents newborn cubs of the King and Queen to the animals of the Pride Lands.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-46314035 |title=Lion King 2019: First teaser trailer released for new film |publisher=BBC |date=November 23, 2018 |access-date=July 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123075423/https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-46314035 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |url-status=live}} Likening his role to that of a grandfather, Kani said, "Rafiki reminds all of us of that special wise relative. His wisdom, humor and his loyalty to the Mufasa dynasty is what warms our hearts towards him. [He's] always happy and wisecracking jokes as lessons of life and survival."
• John Oliver as Zazu, a hornbill who serves as the king's majordomo. Speaking of his role, Oliver said, "I think Zazu is basically a bird who likes structure. He just wants things to be as they should be. I think there are British echoes there because we tend to favor structure in lieu of having an emotional reaction to anything."
• Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, Simba's best friend and later his mate and Queen of the Pride Lands. According to Favreau, the character has a bigger role than in the original film.{{Cite web |url=https://people.com/music/beyonce-wrote-performed-brand-new-song-for-lion-king-soundtrack/ |title=Beyoncé 'Wrote and Performed' a Brand-New Song for Lion King Soundtrack, Jon Favreau Confirms |last=Mizoguchi |first=Karen |work=People |date=June 24, 2019 |access-date=July 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190625223635/https://people.com/music/beyonce-wrote-performed-brand-new-song-for-lion-king-soundtrack/ |archive-date=June 25, 2019 |url-status=live}} Favreau felt that "part of [Beyoncé joining the film] 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".{{Cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/movies/2019/04/26/the-lion-king-beyonce/ |title=How Jon Favreau's The Lion King landed Beyoncé |last=Snetiker |first=Marc |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=April 26, 2019 |access-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426161902/https://ew.com/movies/2019/04/26/the-lion-king-beyonce/ |archive-date=April 26, 2019| url-status=live}}
• Shahadi Wright Joseph as young Nala. Joseph reprises her role from the Broadway production.{{Cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2019/03/23/us-meet-shahadi-wright-joseph-jordan-peele-teen-horror-warrior/3241589002/ |title=Meet Shahadi Wright Joseph, the breakout horror warrior in Jordan Peele's 'Us' |last=Truitt |first=Brian |work=USA Today |date=March 23, 2019 |access-date=March 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324073204/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2019/03/23/us-meet-shahadi-wright-joseph-jordan-peele-teen-horror-warrior/3241589002/ |archive-date=March 24, 2019 |url-status=live}} Joseph chose to work on the film because "Nala inspires little girls [...] She's a great role model".
• James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Simba's father, King of the Pride Lands as the film begins. Jones reprises his role from the original 1994 animated film. According to Favreau, Jones' lines remain mostly the same from the original film. Ejiofor said that "the comfort of [Jones reprising his role] is going to be very rewarding in taking [the audience] on this journey again. It's a once-in-a-generation vocal quality".{{Cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/movies/2019/04/26/the-lion-king-james-earl-jones-mufasa/ |title=The Lion King director recalls James Earl Jones' 'powerful' return as Mufasa |last=Snetiker |first=Marc |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=April 26, 2019 |access-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426233353/https://ew.com/movies/2019/04/26/the-lion-king-james-earl-jones-mufasa/ |archive-date=April 26, 2019 |url-status=live}} Favreau saw Jones' return as "carrying the legacy across" the original film and the remake, and felt that his voice's change in tonality compared to the original film "served the role well because he sounds like a king who's ruled for a long time".{{Cite web |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/lion-king-jon-favreau-james-earl-jones-return-exclusive-image/ |title=The Lion King: Jon Favreau On The Return Of James Earl Jones – Exclusive Image |last=Travis |first=Ben |work=Empire |date=June 12, 2019 |access-date=July 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612203532/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/lion-king-jon-favreau-james-earl-jones-return-exclusive-image/ |archive-date=June 12, 2019 |url-status=live}}
• Florence Kasumba, Keegan-Michael Key, and Eric André voice Shenzi, Kamari, and Azizi: The Matriarch of the spotted hyena clan and her two lieutenants who join forces with Scar in order to kill Mufasa. While Shenzi is a character that was featured in the original 1994 animated film, Kamari and Azizi are the respective names of new characters loosely based on Banzai and Ed from the original film. The hyenas' characterizations were heavily altered from the original film's, as Favreau felt that they "had to change a lot" to fit the remake's realistic style, stating that "[a] lot of the stuff around them [in the original film] was very stylised".{{Cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a28033489/lion-king-2019-hyenas-change/ |title=The Lion King director reveals the biggest change from the original |last=Houghton |first=Rianne |website=Digital Spy |date=June 14, 2019 |access-date=June 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614204100/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a28033489/lion-king-2019-hyenas-change/ |archive-date=June 14, 2019 |url-status=live}} Kasumba elaborated, declaring that "[t]hose hyenas were funny. These hyenas are dangerous." Kasumba also voices Shenzi in the German dub of the film.{{Cite web|url=https://www.synchronkartei.de/film/44274|title=Deutsche Synchronkartei {{!}} Filme {{!}} Der König der Löwen|website=www.synchronkartei.de|access-date=April 10, 2020|archive-date=July 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711100710/https://www.synchronkartei.de/film/44274|url-status=live}}

Additionally, Penny Johnson Jerald voices Sarafina, Nala's mother. Amy Sedaris, Chance the Rapper, Josh McCrary, and Phil LaMarr voice a guineafowl, a bushbaby, an elephant shrew, and an impala, respectively, Timon and Pumbaa's neighbors in the oasis.{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/chance-the-rapper-the-lion-king-cast-nostalgia-consultant-1203263454/ |title=Chance the Rapper Says He Joined 'The Lion King' Cast as a 'Nostalgia Consultant' |last=Bell |first=Breanna |work=Variety |date=July 10, 2019 |access-date=July 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711121800/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/chance-the-rapper-the-lion-king-cast-nostalgia-consultant-1203263454/ |archive-date=July 11, 2019 |url-status=live}} J. Lee voices a hyena that chases after Timon and Pumbaa.

File:The Lion King European Premiere.png

On September 28, 2016, Walt Disney Pictures confirmed that Jon Favreau would be directing a remake of the 1994 animated film The Lion King, which would feature the songs from the 1994 film, following a string of recent box office successes of Disney live-action remake films such as Maleficent, Cinderella, Favreau's The Jungle Book, and Beauty and the Beast, with the latter three also earning critical praise.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-jon-favreau-the-lion-king/ |title=Disney and Jon Favreau Joining Forces on "The Lion King" |publisher=The Walt Disney Company |date=September 28, 2016 |access-date=July 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929013751/https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-jon-favreau-the-lion-king/ |archive-date=September 29, 2016 |url-status=live}} On October 13, 2016, it was reported that Disney had hired Jeff Nathanson to write the screenplay for the remake.{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2016/10/lion-king-movie-jeff-nathanson-writer-disney-jon-favreau-1201836009/ |title=Disney's Live-Action 'Lion King' Taps Jeff Nathanson As Writer |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=October 13, 2016 |access-date=July 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161015084425/http://deadline.com/2016/10/lion-king-movie-jeff-nathanson-writer-disney-jon-favreau-1201836009/ |archive-date=October 15, 2016 |url-status=live}}

In November, talking with ComingSoon.net, Favreau said the virtual cinematography technology he used in The Jungle Book would be used to a greater degree in The Lion King.{{Cite web |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/790753-jon-favreau-to-use-vr-tech-for-live-action-lion-king |title=Jon Favreau to Use VR Tech for Live-Action Lion King |last=Busch |first=Jenna |website=ComingSoon.net |date=November 30, 2016 |access-date=July 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202125815/http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/790753-jon-favreau-to-use-vr-tech-for-live-action-lion-king |archive-date=December 2, 2016 |url-status=live}} Although some reports reported The Lion King would be a live-action film, it actually utilizes photorealistic computer-generated animation. Disney also did not initially describe it as live-action, only stating it would follow the "technologically groundbreaking" approach of The Jungle Book.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/get-right-disney-animated-not-live-action-remake-lion-king-143343.html |title=Get It Right: Disney Is Doing An Animated—Not Live-Action—Remake of 'The Lion King' |last=Amidi |first=Amid |website=Cartoon Brew |date=September 28, 2016 |access-date=June 13, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929133919/http://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/get-right-disney-animated-not-live-action-remake-lion-king-143343.html |archive-date=September 29, 2016 |url-status=live}} While the film acts as a remake of the 1994 animated film, Favreau was inspired by the Broadway adaptation of the film for certain aspects of the remake's plot, particularly Nala and Sarabi's roles.{{cite web |last1=Stidhum |first1=Tonja Renée |title=The Lion King: Beyoncé's New Secret Song and How She Helped Director Jon Favreau's 'Cool' Stock Rise |url=https://thegrapevine.theroot.com/the-lion-king-beyonces-new-secret-song-and-how-she-hel-1835945453 |website=The Root |access-date=June 28, 2019 |date=June 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628231455/https://thegrapevine.theroot.com/the-lion-king-beyonces-new-secret-song-and-how-she-hel-1835945453 |archive-date=June 28, 2019 |url-status=live}} Favreau also aimed to develop his own take on the original film's story with what he said was the spectacle of a BBC wildlife documentary.

This serves as the final credit for film editor Mark Livolsi, who died in September 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mark-livolsi-dead-devil-wears-prada-lion-king-film-editor-was-56-1149310 |title=Mark Livolsi, Film Editor on 'The Devil Wears Prada,' 'The Blind Side' and 'The Lion King,' Dies at 56 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=October 4, 2018 |access-date=November 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007180643/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mark-livolsi-dead-devil-wears-prada-lion-king-film-editor-was-56-1149310 |archive-date=October 7, 2018 |url-status=live}} The film is dedicated to him.

In mid-February 2017, Donald Glover was cast as Simba, with James Earl Jones reprising his role as Mufasa from the 1994 film.{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/17/entertainment/donald-glover-james-earl-jones-lion-king/ |title=Donald Glover, James Earl Jones cast in Disney's live-action "Lion King" |last=Gonzalez |first=Sandra |date=February 18, 2017 |work=CNN|access-date=February 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728154659/http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/17/entertainment/donald-glover-james-earl-jones-lion-king/ |archive-date=July 28, 2017 |url-status=live}} In April 2017, Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen were cast to play Timon and Pumbaa, respectively.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/seth-rogen-billy-eichner-play-pumbaa-timon-lion-king-exclusive/ |title=Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner to Play Pumbaa and Timon in 'Lion King' (Exclusive) |date=April 25, 2017 |work=TheWrap |access-date=April 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426004049/http://www.thewrap.com/seth-rogen-billy-eichner-play-pumbaa-timon-lion-king-exclusive/ |archive-date=April 26, 2017 |url-status=live}} In July 2017, John Oliver was cast as Zazu.{{cite news |last=Donnelly |first=Matt |title=John Oliver Joins Disney's Live-Action "The Lion King" |url=https://www.thewrap.com/john-oliver-joins-live-action-lion-king-zazu-bird-exclusive/ |access-date=July 11, 2017 |work=TheWrap |date=July 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710230403/https://www.thewrap.com/john-oliver-joins-live-action-lion-king-zazu-bird-exclusive/ |archive-date=July 10, 2017 |url-status=live}} In August 2017, Alfre Woodard and John Kani were announced to play Sarabi and Rafiki, respectively.{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lion-king-alfre-woodard-cast-as-simbas-mom-disney-movie-1027011 |title=Alfre Woodard Joins Disney's 'The Lion King' (Exclusive) |last=Galuppo |first=Mia |date=August 7, 2017 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=August 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808003059/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lion-king-alfre-woodard-cast-as-simbas-mom-disney-movie-1027011 |archive-date=August 8, 2017 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.thewrap.com/john-kani-rafiki-lion-king/ |last1=Gonzalez |first1=Umberto |last2=Verhoeven |first2=Beatrice |title='Lion King' Rafiki Casting: John Kani, 'Civil War' Star, to Play Wise Baboon (Exclusive) |work=TheWrap |date=August 7, 2017 |access-date=August 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807223835/https://www.thewrap.com/john-kani-rafiki-lion-king/ |archive-date=August 7, 2017 |url-status=live}}

Earlier in March 2017, it was announced that Beyoncé Knowles-Carter was Favreau's top choice for the role of Nala and that the director and studio would be willing to do whatever it took to accommodate her busy schedule.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/beyonce-lion-king-remake-nala-1202019931/ |title=Beyoncé Top Choice to Voice Nala in 'Lion King' Remake (Exclusive) |date=March 30, 2017 |publisher=Variety |access-date=June 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621133859/http://variety.com/2017/film/news/beyonce-lion-king-remake-nala-1202019931/ |archive-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live}} Later on November 1, 2017, her role was confirmed in an official announcement,{{cite web |last=Verhoeven |first=Beatrice |title=Beyonce Will Voice Nala in Live-Action Adaptation of 'The Lion King' |url=https://www.thewrap.com/beyonce-will-voice-nala-live-action-adaptation-lion-king/ |work=TheWrap |access-date=November 1, 2017 |date=November 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171102063458/https://www.thewrap.com/beyonce-will-voice-nala-live-action-adaptation-lion-king/ |archive-date=November 2, 2017 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |first=Frank |last=Pallotta |date=November 2, 2017 |access-date=November 2, 2017 |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/01/entertainment/lion-king-beyonc-cast/index.html |title=Beyoncé joins cast of Disney's live-action 'Lion King' |website=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171102011858/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/01/entertainment/lion-king-beyonc-cast/index.html |archive-date=November 2, 2017 |url-status=live}} which also confirmed that Chiwetel Ejiofor would play the role of Scar, and announced that Eric André, Florence Kasumba, and Keegan-Michael Key would be the voices of Azizi, Shenzi, and Kamari while JD McCrary and Shahadi Wright Joseph would be the voices of young Simba and young Nala, respectively.{{cite web |url=http://www.playbill.com/person/shahadi-wright-joseph-vault-0000125498 |title=Shahadi Wright Joseph – Playbill Vault |publisher=Playbill |access-date=January 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530200902/http://www.playbill.com/person/shahadi-wright-joseph-vault-0000125498 |archive-date=May 30, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/chiwetel-ejiofor-will-voice-scar-in-live-action-lion-king-and-more-movie-news/ |title=Chiwetel Ejiofor Will Voice Scar in The Lion King |access-date=August 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203132025/https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/chiwetel-ejiofor-will-voice-scar-in-live-action-lion-king-and-more-movie-news/ |archive-date=December 3, 2017 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |first=Reiss |last=Smith |date=November 2, 2017 |access-date=November 9, 2017 |url=http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/874452/the-lion-king-2019-release-date-cast-beyonce-plot-trailer-premiere-uk-disney-remake |title=The Lion King: 2019 release date, cast including Beyoncé, plot synopsis and more |website=express.co.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108190556/https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/874452/the-lion-king-2019-release-date-cast-beyonce-plot-trailer-premiere-uk-disney-remake |archive-date=November 8, 2017 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lion-king-young-simba-actor-signs-icm-partners-1054468 |title='Lion King's' Young Simba Actor Signs With ICM Partners (Exclusive) |date=November 2, 2017 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=November 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104150332/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lion-king-young-simba-actor-signs-icm-partners-1054468 |archive-date=November 4, 2017 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/voices-behind-2019-lion-king-live-action-remake-gallery-1.3606971?pmSlide=1.3606968 |title=Shahadi Wright Joseph as Young Nala |date=November 2, 2017 |work=New York Daily News |access-date=November 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107003436/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/voices-behind-2019-lion-king-live-action-remake-gallery-1.3606971?pmSlide=1.3606968 |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |url-status=live}} In November 2018, Amy Sedaris was announced as having been cast in a role created for the film.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/lion-king-amy-sedaris-1203036261/ |title='Lion King' Adds Amy Sedaris in Original Voice Role (EXCLUSIVE) |first=Matt |last=Donnelly |date=November 26, 2018 |work=Variety |access-date=November 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704085315/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/lion-king-amy-sedaris-1203036261/ |archive-date=July 4, 2019 |url-status=live}} Director Jon Favreau stated that the film's predominantly black cast was a timely update that brought greater authenticity to the film's African inspirations.{{Cite web |title=Jon Favreau on The Lion King's predominantly black cast {{!}} The Voice Online |url=https://archive.voice-online.co.uk/article/jon-favreau-lion-king%E2%80%99s-predominantly-black-cast |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=archive.voice-online.co.uk}}

The Moving Picture Company, the lead vendor on The Jungle Book, provided the visual effects, which were supervised by Robert Legato, Elliot Newman, and Adam Valdez.{{cite web |access-date=January 1, 2019 |title=THE LION KING – The Art of VFXThe Art of VFX |url=https://www.artofvfx.com/the-lion-king/ |website=www.artofvfx.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101051643/https://www.artofvfx.com/the-lion-king/ |archive-date=January 1, 2019 |url-status=live}} The film uses "virtual-reality tools", according to Legato.{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/lion-king-disney-unveils-jaw-dropping-first-footage-jon-favreaus-remake-at-d23-1021535 |last=Giardina |first=Carolyn |title='Lion King': Disney Unveils Jaw-Dropping First Footage Of Jon Favreau's Remake at D23 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=July 15, 2017 |access-date=July 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716032916/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/lion-king-disney-unveils-jaw-dropping-first-footage-jon-favreaus-remake-at-d23-1021535 |archive-date=July 16, 2017 |url-status=live}} Virtual Production Supervisor Girish Balakrishnan said on his professional website that the filmmakers used motion capture and VR/AR technologies.{{Cite news |url=http://girishbalakrishnan.com/redesign/portfolio-posts/the-lion-king/ |title=The Lion King |work=Girish Balakrishnan |access-date=November 23, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124055224/http://girishbalakrishnan.com/redesign/portfolio-posts/the-lion-king/ |archive-date=November 24, 2018 |url-status=live}} According to Favreau, MPC worked together with tech firms Magnopus and Unity Technologies to build the film's technology platform using the Unity game engine.{{cite news |last1=Giardina |first1=Carolyn |title=Why Jon Favreau Chose Baby Yoda: "We Don't Know a Lot of Details About His Species" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/why-jon-favreau-chose-baby-yoda-we-dont-know-a-lot-details-his-species-1259164 |access-date=December 28, 2019 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |date=December 5, 2019 |location=Los Angeles |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206084030/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/why-jon-favreau-chose-baby-yoda-we-dont-know-a-lot-details-his-species-1259164 |archive-date=December 6, 2019 |url-status=live}}

MPC was in charge of all the VFX shots for the film. There are 1,490 VFX shots.{{cite tweet |user=Jon_Favreau |number=1154837688656134144 |date=July 26, 2019 |title=This is the only real shot in #TheLionKing. There are 1490 rendered shots created by animators and CG artists. I slipped in one single shot that we actually photographed in Africa to see if anyone would notice. It is the first shot of the movie that begins The Circle of Life.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728230416/https://twitter.com/Jon_Favreau/status/1154837688656134144|archive-date=July 28, 2019}} The animals were designed from art and photo references. From that, the characters were built; all the rigging, shapes, textures, and furs were rendered step-by-step for further improvement. After that, the animation of the animals was crafted by hand, based on the reference clips. The movements, muscles, eyes, facial expressions, and the way the animals breathe was animated for more than 30 species. The environment was created entirely in CGI from reference materials such as high-definition photos of the African landscape. All the FX simulations—such as water, dirt and fire—were created by combining VR technology with cameras shots so that scenes could be digitally built within a VR-simulated environment.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/05/30/how-jon-favreau-directed-the-lion-king-inside-a-video-game |title=How Jon Favreau Directed The Lion King Inside a Video Game |website=IGN |first=Joshua |last=Yell |date=May 30, 2019 |access-date=June 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605185624/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/05/30/how-jon-favreau-directed-the-lion-king-inside-a-video-game |archive-date=June 5, 2019 |url-status=live}} New software developed for the movie made it possible to create scenes with the shaky-cam look of a handheld camera.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2019-07-26/disneys-lion-king-remake-is-a-hit-its-virtual-reality-technology-could-change-how-movies-are-made |title='The Lion King's' VR helped make a hit. It could also change movie making |last=Faughnder |first=Ryan |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=July 26, 2019 |access-date=August 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729221049/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2019-07-26/disneys-lion-king-remake-is-a-hit-its-virtual-reality-technology-could-change-how-movies-are-made |archive-date=July 29, 2019 |url-status=live}} Sean Bailey, Disney's President of Production, said of the film's visual effects, "It's a new form of filmmaking. Historical definitions don't work. It uses some techniques that would traditionally be called animation, and other techniques that would traditionally be called live action. It is an evolution of the technology Jon [Favreau] used in Jungle Book".{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/lion-king-remake-different-live-action-animated/ |title=Disney's The Lion King Won't Be A Shot-for-Shot Remake of Animated Original |website=Screen Rant |first=Eric |last=Trigg |date=December 23, 2018 |access-date=January 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103004932/https://screenrant.com/lion-king-remake-different-live-action-animated/ |archive-date=January 3, 2019 |url-status=live}}

Rather than have animators do everything, the team used artificial intelligence to allow virtual characters to behave in ways that mimicked real animals.{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/30/lion-king-behind-the-scenes/ |title=How the new 'Lion King' came to life |last=Ha |first=Anthony |publisher=TechCrunch |date=July 30, 2019 |access-date=August 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807142928/https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/30/lion-king-behind-the-scenes/ |archive-date=August 7, 2019 |url-status=live}} The sole non-animated shot in the entire film is the sunrise in the opening scene.{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Nigel|date=July 29, 2019|title=The Lion King Director Reveals There's One 'Real Shot' in Hit CGI Remake|url=https://people.com/movies/the-lion-king-director-reveals-one-real-shot-in-remake/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214001658/https://people.com/movies/the-lion-king-director-reveals-one-real-shot-in-remake/|archive-date=December 14, 2019|access-date=August 28, 2020|website=People}}

{{Main|The Lion King (2019 soundtrack){{!}}The Lion King (2019 soundtrack)|The Lion King: The Gift{{!}}The Lion King: The Gift}}

File:Beyoncé at The Lion King European Premiere 2019.png, an album inspired by the film]]

Hans Zimmer, who composed the 1994 animated version, returned to compose the score for the remake with Pharrell Williams as a collaborator.{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/disney-lion-king-hans-zimmer-composer/ |title=Hans Zimmer Set to Score Disney's Live-Action The Lion King |first=Cooper |last=Hood |date=November 1, 2017 |publisher=Screen Rant |access-date=February 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107080821/https://screenrant.com/disney-lion-king-hans-zimmer-composer/ |archive-date=January 7, 2018 |url-status=live}} Elton John also returned to rework his musical compositions from the original film before his retirement,{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/confidential/elton-john-set-rake-article-1.3660427 |title=Elton John will make millions with live-action remake of The Lion King |work=New York Daily News |date=November 28, 2017 |access-date=November 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171128043933/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/confidential/elton-john-set-rake-article-1.3660427 |archive-date=November 28, 2017 |url-status=live}} with Knowles-Carter assisting John in the reworking of the soundtrack.{{cite news |url=https://www.nme.com/news/film/beyonce-elton-john-lion-king-songs-recording-report-2166304 |title=Beyoncé and Elton John were reportedly working on new versions of The Lion King songs |work=NME |date=November 29, 2017 |access-date=December 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204233050/http://www.nme.com/news/film/beyonce-elton-john-lion-king-songs-recording-report-2166304 |archive-date=December 4, 2017 |url-status=live}} John, the original film's lyricist, Tim Rice, and Knowles-Carter were also slated in 2018 to create a new song for the film.{{cite news |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/the-lion-king/news/a849649/disney-lion-king-remake-sir-elton-john-tim-rice-beyonce-collaboration/ |title=Sir Elton John confirms new Tim Rice collaboration for Disney's The Lion King remake |work=Digital Spy |date=February 10, 2018 |access-date=February 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212083148/http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/the-lion-king/news/a849649/disney-lion-king-remake-sir-elton-john-tim-rice-beyonce-collaboration/ |archive-date=February 12, 2018 |url-status=live}} However, the collaboration between Knowles-Carter and John did not pan out as the unreleased song was not added to the official soundtrack.{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/the-lion-king-elton-john-song-end-credits-never-too-late/ |title='The Lion King': What Was That Elton John Song During the Credits? |last=Welk |first=Brian |website=TheWrap |date=July 19, 2019 |access-date=August 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721115940/https://www.thewrap.com/the-lion-king-elton-john-song-end-credits-never-too-late/ |archive-date=July 21, 2019 |url-status=live}} John and Rice also wrote a new song for the film's end credits, titled "Never Too Late" and performed by John.{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/the-lion-king-soundtrack-details-new-song |title='The Lion King' Soundtrack Details Revealed; Includes New Elton John Song |first=Adam |last=Chitwood |work=Collider |date=June 24, 2019 |access-date=June 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624205352/http://collider.com/the-lion-king-soundtrack-details-new-song/ |archive-date=June 24, 2019 |url-status=live}}

"Spirit", performed by Knowles-Carter and written by herself, Ilya Salmanzadeh, and Labrinth, was released on July 9, 2019, as the lead single from the soundtrack.{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/beyonce-releasing-new-song-spirit-tonight-curates-lion-king-album/ |title=Beyoncé Releasing New Song "Spirit" Tonight, Curates Lion King Album |first=Matthew |last=Strauss |work=Pitchfork Media |date=July 9, 2019 |access-date=July 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710011553/https://pitchfork.com/news/beyonce-releasing-new-song-spirit-tonight-curates-lion-king-album/ |archive-date=July 10, 2019 |url-status=live}} The film also features all the songs from the original film, a cover of The Tokens' "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", and the song "He Lives in You" from Rhythm of the Pride Lands and the Broadway production. The soundtrack, featuring Zimmer's score and John and Rice's songs, was released digitally on July 11, 2019, and physically on July 19, 2019.

Knowles-Carter also produced and curated an album titled The Lion King: The Gift, which features "Spirit", as well as songs inspired by the film. The album was released on July 19, 2019.

The first teaser trailer and the official teaser poster for The Lion King debuted during the Dallas Cowboys' annual Thanksgiving Day game on November 22, 2018.{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/trailers/2018/11/22/the-lion-king-trailer/ |title=See the first trailer for Disney's new Lion King movie |last=Lawrence |first=Derek |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=November 22, 2018 |access-date=November 25, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125061813/https://ew.com/trailers/2018/11/22/the-lion-king-trailer/ |archive-date=November 25, 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/the-lion-king-first-teaser-trailer-watch-1203035346/ |title=Watch the First 'The Lion King' Live-Action Teaser Trailer |last=Stedman |first=Alex |website=Variety |date=November 22, 2018 |access-date=November 22, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125062251/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/the-lion-king-first-teaser-trailer-watch-1203035346/ |archive-date=November 25, 2018}} The trailer was viewed 224.6 million times in its first 24 hours, becoming the then 2nd-most-viewed trailer in that time period.{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lion-king-trailer-nabs-second-biggest-debut-ever-1163695 |title='The Lion King' Trailer Nabs Second-Biggest Debut Ever |last=Perez |first=Lexy |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=November 24, 2018 |access-date=November 25, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125060736/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lion-king-trailer-nabs-second-biggest-debut-ever-1163695 |archive-date=November 25, 2018}} A special sneak peek featuring John Kani's voice as Rafiki and a new poster were released during the 91st Academy Awards on February 24, 2019.{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/movies/2019/02/24/the-lion-king-teaser-poster/ |title=The Lion King puts Mufasa front and center in new poster |first=Samantha |last=Highfill |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=February 24, 2019 |access-date=February 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225072346/https://ew.com/movies/2019/02/24/the-lion-king-teaser-poster/ |archive-date=February 25, 2019 |url-status=live}} On April 10, 2019, Disney released the official trailer featuring new footage which revealed Scar, Zazu, Simba and Nala (both as cubs and as adults), Sarabi, Rafiki, Timon and Pumbaa, and the hyenas.{{cite web |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1031264/the-lion-king-s-new-trailer-will-make-you-go-wild |title=The Lion King's New Trailer Will Make You Go Wild |first=Elyse |last=Dupre |work=E! Online |date=April 10, 2019 |access-date=April 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410151236/https://www.eonline.com/news/1031264/the-lion-king-s-new-trailer-will-make-you-go-wild |archive-date=April 10, 2019 |url-status=live}} The trailer was viewed 174 million times in its first 24 hours, which was revealed on Disney's Investor Day 2019 Webcast.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/the-walt-disney-companys-2019-investor-day-webcast/ |title=Disney's Investor Day 2019 Webcast |date=April 11, 2019 |website=The Walt Disney Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414153430/https://www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/the-walt-disney-companys-2019-investor-day-webcast/ |archive-date=April 14, 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=April 14, 2019}} On May 30, 2019, 11 individual character posters were released.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/05/30/disney-the-lion-king-new-posters-mufasa-simba-scar-nala-rafiki |title=Disney Releases New Lion King Character Posters |first=Jessie |last=Wade |work=IGN |date=May 30, 2019 |access-date=May 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530215131/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/05/30/disney-the-lion-king-new-posters-mufasa-simba-scar-nala-rafiki |archive-date=May 30, 2019 |url-status=live}} A special sneak peek featuring Beyoncé Knowles-Carter's, Billy Eichner's, and Seth Rogen's voices as Nala, Timon, and Pumbaa, respectively, was released on June 3, 2019.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/lion-king-trailer-beyonce-nala-1203231794/ |title=Hear Beyoncé as Nala in New 'Lion King' Trailer |first=Dano |last=Nissen |work=Variety |date=June 3, 2019 |access-date=June 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607103527/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/lion-king-trailer-beyonce-nala-1203231794/ |archive-date=June 7, 2019 |url-status=live}} A special sneak peek featuring Knowles-Carter and Donald Glover's voices as Simba and Nala singing "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" and also featuring James Earl Jones' voice as Mufasa, was released on June 20, 2019.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/beyonce-donald-glover-can-you-feel-the-love-tonight-1203248821/ |title=Beyoncé and Donald Glover Harmonize in 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight' Ad Preview |work=Variety |date=June 20, 2019 |access-date=June 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620224807/https://variety.com/2019/music/news/beyonce-donald-glover-can-you-feel-the-love-tonight-1203248821/ |archive-date=June 20, 2019 |url-status=live}} On July 2, 2019, Disney released an extensive behind-the-scenes featurette detailing the various aspects of the film's production along with seven publicity stills featuring the voice actors facing their animal counterparts.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/the-lion-king-portraits-new-featurette-behind-the-scenes-disney-1202641190/ |title='The Lion King' Stars Face Their Characters in New Posters; Disney Shows Off New Footage |first=Brandon |last=Choe |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=July 2, 2019 |access-date=July 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702222953/https://deadline.com/2019/07/the-lion-king-portraits-new-featurette-behind-the-scenes-disney-1202641190/ |archive-date=July 2, 2019 |url-status=live}} All-in-all, Disney spent around $145 million promoting the film.

A tie-in novelization of the film written by Elizabeth Rudnick was published by Disney Publishing Worldwide on June 4, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://books.disney.com/book/the-lion-king-the-novelization/|title=The Lion King: The Novelization|website=Disney Books|access-date=December 24, 2020|archive-date=February 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204074526/https://books.disney.com/book/the-lion-king-the-novelization/|url-status=dead}}

The trailers of the film led to a claim of its being a shot-for-shot remake of Disney's 1994 film. On December 23, 2018, Sean Bailey, Disney's President of Production, said that while the film will "revere and love those parts that the audience wants", there will be "things in the movie that are going to be new". On April 18, 2019, Favreau stated that "some shots in the 1994 animated film are so iconic" he couldn't possibly change them, but "despite what the trailers suggest, this film is not just the same movie over again",{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/the-lion-king-not-shot-for-shot-remake-jon-favreau-1202060339/ |title='The Lion King' Is Not A Shot-for-Shot Remake, Jon Favreau Says |last=Sharf |first=Zack |date=April 18, 2019 |work=IndieWire |access-date=April 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423080526/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/the-lion-king-not-shot-for-shot-remake-jon-favreau-1202060339/ |archive-date=April 23, 2019 |url-status=live}} and later said "it's much longer than the original film. And part of what we're doing here is to (give it more dimension) not just visually but both story-wise and emotionally."{{cite web |url=https://www.apnews.com/b5cb18e7655243dbb148100f1eea1fdc |title=Summer Movie Preview: 'The Lion King' roars again |first=Lindsey |last=Bahr |work=Associated Press |date=April 30, 2019 |access-date=May 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509081638/https://www.apnews.com/b5cb18e7655243dbb148100f1eea1fdc |archive-date=May 9, 2019 |url-status=live}}

On May 30, 2019, Favreau said that some of the humor and characterizations are being altered to be more consistent with the rest of the film,{{cite web |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/1071727-from-the-set-jon-favreau-on-the-challenges-and-changes-in-the-lion-king#IcXuel6gCIPAIEmX.99 |title=From The Set: Jon Favreau On the Challenges and Changes in The Lion King |website=ComingSoon.net |first=Jenna |last=Busch |date=May 30, 2019 |access-date=June 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603000621/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/1071727-from-the-set-jon-favreau-on-the-challenges-and-changes-in-the-lion-king#IcXuel6gCIPAIEmX.99 |archive-date=June 3, 2019 |url-status=live}} and this remake is making some changes in certain scenes from the original film, as well as in its structure. On June 14, 2019, Favreau said that, while the original film's main plot points would remain unchanged in the remake, the film would largely diverge from the original version, and hinted{{Clarify |date=June 2024}} that the Elephant Graveyard, the hyenas' lair in the original film, will be replaced by a new location.

name="DirectorHyenas"/> The film is approximately 30 minutes longer than the original.{{cite web |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/film/lion-king-2019-run-time-17477560 |title=The Lion King 2019 run time revealed – is it longer than the original? |first=Lewis |last=Knight |work=Daily Mirror |date=July 5, 2019 |access-date=July 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706162700/https://www.mirror.co.uk/film/lion-king-2019-run-time-17477560 |archive-date=July 6, 2019 |url-status=live}} Despite Favreau's claims, upon release, the film was criticized by fans and critics alike for being nearly identical to the original, with many citing its overall lack of originality as a major flaw.{{cite web |url=https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/heres-why-fans-are-hating-the-lion-king-remake.html/ |title=Here's Why Fans are Hating 'The Lion King' Remake |first=Tamiera |last=Vandergrift |work=Showbiz CheatSheet |date=August 15, 2019 |access-date=February 11, 2020 |archive-date=December 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204143415/https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/heres-why-fans-are-hating-the-lion-king-remake.html/ |url-status=live }}

The Lion King premiered in Hollywood on July 9, 2019.{{cite news |last1=Aiello |first1=McKenna |title=All the Star Sightings From the The Lion King{{'}}s First Premiere Are So '90s |url=https://m.eonline.com/news/1055268/all-the-star-sightings-from-the-the-lion-king-s-first-premiere-are-so-90s |access-date=July 9, 2019 |work=E! News |date=July 9, 2019 |archive-date=December 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204143401/https://www.eonline.com/news/1055268/all-the-star-sightings-from-the-the-lion-king-s-first-premiere-are-so-90s |url-status=live }} The film had a European premiere in London on July 14 in Leicester Square, which included the first red carpet appearance of Prince Harry together with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. who attended in support of their charitable conservation work in Africa.{{Cite web |title=See Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Make Their Red Carpet Debut at The Lion King Premiere |url=https://people.com/royals/meghan-markle-prince-harry-lion-king-red-carpet-premiere/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=People.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2019-07-14 |title=Meghan Markle Hits First Red Carpet as a Royal at The Lion King Premiere |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1056462/meghan-markle-hits-first-red-carpet-as-a-royal-at-the-lion-king-premiere |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=E! Online}} Prince Harry was reported as saying he "knew all the words" to the original film, and his attendance made headlines months later when it was suggested he had spoken to Disney CEO Bob Iger about voice-over opportunities for his wife.{{Cite web |date=2019-07-16 |title=Prince Harry Knows 'The Lion King' by Heart & We Want Him in the Film |url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a28408935/prince-harry-knows-lion-king-by-heart/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Harper's BAZAAR |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Fry |first=Naomi |date=2020-01-16 |title=Even Prince Harry Has to Hustle |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-appearances/even-princes-have-to-hustle |access-date=2025-03-14 |work=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}} The film was theatrically released in the United States on July 19, 2019,{{cite news |last1=Lesnick |first1=Silas |title=Disney Movie Release Schedule Gets a Major Update |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/841525-disney-movie-schedule |access-date=April 25, 2017 |work=ComingSoon.net |date=April 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426002456/http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/841525-disney-movie-schedule |archive-date=April 26, 2017 |url-status=live}} in IMAX and 3D.{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2017/02/disney-films-show-imax-through-2019-new-distribution-deal-star-wars-1201938700/ |title=Disney Films To Show on Imax Through 2019 With New Distribution Deal |last=Lieberman |first=David |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=February 22, 2017 |access-date=May 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223125955/http://deadline.com/2017/02/disney-films-show-imax-through-2019-new-distribution-deal-star-wars-1201938700/ |archive-date=February 23, 2017 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/star-wars-episode-ix-release-date-jj-abrams-1202555963/ |title='Star Wars: Episode IX' Release Date Moves to December 2019 |last=Kroll |first=Justin |work=Variety |date=September 12, 2017 |access-date=May 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912213141/http://variety.com/2017/film/news/star-wars-episode-ix-release-date-jj-abrams-1202555963/ |archive-date=September 12, 2017 |url-status=live}} It is one of the first theatrical films to be released on Disney+, alongside Aladdin, Toy Story 4, Frozen II, Captain Marvel, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.{{cite web |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/disney-is-planning-to-pull-all-of-its-movies-from-netfl-1797653277 |title=Disney Is Planning to Pull All of Its Movies from Netflix and Start Its Own Streaming Service [Updated] |last=Whitbrook |first=James |date=August 8, 2017 |work=IO9 |access-date=August 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817092238/https://io9.gizmodo.com/disney-is-planning-to-pull-all-of-its-movies-from-netfl-1797653277 |archive-date=August 17, 2018 |url-status=live}} The film began its international rollout a week before its domestic release, starting with July 12 in China.

The Lion King was released by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on Digital HD on October 11, 2019, followed by a DVD, Blu-ray, and Ultra HD Blu-ray release on October 22.{{cite web |url=https://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/8492/the-lion-king |title=The Lion King DVD Release Date |website=DVDs Release Dates |language=en |date=September 16, 2019 |access-date=September 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823222714/https://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/8492/the-lion-king |archive-date=August 23, 2019 |url-status=live}} It started streaming on Disney+ on January 28, 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/live-action-the-lion-king-streaming-on-disney-plus/ |title=The Live-Action The Lion King Is Now Streaming on Disney Plus |website=TV Guide |language=en |date=January 28, 2020 |access-date=February 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224081305/https://www.tvguide.com/news/live-action-the-lion-king-streaming-on-disney-plus/ |archive-date=February 24, 2020 |url-status=live}}

The Lion King grossed $543.6{{nbsp}}million in the United States and Canada, and $1.113{{nbsp}}billion in other territories, for a worldwide total of $1.657{{nbsp}}billion. $63 million came from IMAX.{{cite web|publisher=Deadline|title= 'Moana 2' & 'Mufasa: The Lion King' Will Play In Imax|first=Anthony|last= D'Alessandro|url= https://deadline.com/2024/09/moana-2-mufasa-the-lion-king-imax-box-office-1236094108/|date=September 19, 2024|access-date=September 19, 2024}}

The film had a global debut of $446 million, the ninth-largest of all time and the biggest opening for an animated film. On July 30, 2019, The Lion King passed the $1 billion mark at the global box office.{{Cite web |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=July 30, 2019 |title=Box Office: The Lion King Roars Past $1B in Global Ticket Sales |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/lion-king-box-office-roars-past-1b-global-ticket-sales-1227920/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123225409/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/lion-king-box-office-roars-past-1b-global-ticket-sales-1227920/ |archive-date=January 23, 2022 |access-date=January 24, 2022 |website=The Hollywood Reporter }} The Lion King became the highest-grossing animated film of all time, a title it held until September 2024 when it was surpassed by Inside Out 2.{{Cite web |last=Desta |first=Yohana |date=August 12, 2019 |title=The Lion King Is Now Disney's Highest-Grossing Animated Movie Ever |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/08/the-lion-king-box-office-animation-record |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806135530/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/08/the-lion-king-box-office-animation-record |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |access-date=January 24, 2022 |website=Vanity Fair}}{{Cite web |last1=Verhoeven |first1=Beatrice |last2=Robinson |first2=Cassidy |date=May 9, 2020 |title=30 Highest Grossing Animated Movies of All Time Worldwide |url=https://www.thewrap.com/30-highest-grossing-animated-movies-of-all-time/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818221804/https://www.thewrap.com/30-highest-grossing-animated-movies-of-all-time/ |archive-date=August 18, 2021 |access-date=January 24, 2022 |website=TheWrap}}{{refn|name="HighestGrossingAnimated"|group=N|According to Disney, the film was not an anіmated fіlm but a live-action reboot.{{Cite web |last=Gartenberg |first=Chaim |date=August 12, 2019 |title=The Lion King remake is the biggest animated earner ever, but Disney claims it isn't |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/12/20802717/lion-king-live-action-animated-remake-biggest-film-of-all-time-disney-debate |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813001014/https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/12/20802717/lion-king-live-action-animated-remake-biggest-film-of-all-time-disney-debate |archive-date=August 13, 2019 |access-date=January 24, 2022 |website=The Verge}}}} the highest-grossing musical film of all time,{{Cite web |last1=Welk |first1=Brian |last2=Seitz |first2=Loree |date=December 16, 2021 |title=The Highest Grossing Movie Musicals of All Time, From Grease to La La Land (Photos) |url=https://www.thewrap.com/movie-musicals-highest-grossing-40-years-grease-la-la-land-mamma-mia/ |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123224004/https://www.thewrap.com/movie-musicals-highest-grossing-40-years-grease-la-la-land-mamma-mia/ |archive-date=January 23, 2022 |access-date=January 23, 2022 |website=TheWrap }} the highest-grossing remake of all time, the second-highest-grossing film of 2019,{{Cite web |title=2019 Worldwide Box Office |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/world/2019/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425204010/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/world/2019/ |archive-date=April 25, 2020 |access-date=January 8, 2024 |website=Box Office Mojo}} and the seventh-highest-grossing film of all time.{{Cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=Josh |author2=Paste Movies Staff |date=August 11, 2021 |title=The Top 20 Highest-Grossing Movies of All Time Worldwide |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/highest-grossing-movies/the-highest-grossing-movies-of-all-time/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220123045433/https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/highest-grossing-movies/the-highest-grossing-movies-of-all-time/ |archive-date=January 23, 2022 |access-date=January 23, 2022 |website=Paste }} Deadline Hollywood calculated the net profit of the film to be $580{{nbsp}}million, when factoring together all expenses and revenues.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/the-lion-king-movie-profit-2019-jon-favreau-1202916432/ |title='Lion King' Leaves Huge Paw Print As No. 3 On Deadline's 2019 Most Valuable Blockbuster Tournament |first=Anthony |last=D'Alessandro |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=April 23, 2020 |access-date=April 23, 2020 |archive-date=April 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425073314/https://deadline.com/2020/04/the-lion-king-movie-profit-2019-jon-favreau-1202916432/ |url-status=live }}

Beginning on June 24, 2019 (which marked the 25th anniversary of the release of the original film), in its first 24 hours of pre-sales, The Lion King became the second-best pre-seller of 2019 on Fandango in that frame (behind Avengers: Endgame), while Atom Tickets reported it was their best-ever first-day sales for a family film.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/the-lion-king-fandango-atom-ticket-sales-records-1202637689/ |title='The Lion King' Roars in First Day Advance Ticket Sales Breaking Disney Live-Action Records For Fandango & Atom |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Anthony |last=D'Alessandro |date=June 25, 2019 |access-date=June 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626032117/https://deadline.com/2019/06/the-lion-king-fandango-atom-ticket-sales-records-1202637689/ |archive-date=June 26, 2019 |url-status=live}} Three weeks prior to its release, industry tracking projected the film would gross $150–170 million in its domestic opening weekend.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/the-lion-king-opening-projection-1202638783/ |title=Is Disney's Live-Action 'The Lion King' Headed to a July Opening Record? |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Anthony |last=D'Alessandro |date=June 27, 2019 |access-date=June 27, 2019 |archive-date=December 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204143438/https://deadline.com/2019/06/the-lion-king-opening-projection-1202638783/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/box-office/lion-king-box-office-tracking-opening-weekend-disney-jon-favreau-1203253369/ |title=Box Office: 'Lion King' Tracking Mighty $150 Million-Plus Opening Weekend |website=Variety |first=Rebecca |last=Rubin |date=June 27, 2019 |access-date=June 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627154551/https://variety.com/2019/film/box-office/lion-king-box-office-tracking-opening-weekend-disney-jon-favreau-1203253369/ |archive-date=June 27, 2019 |url-status=live}} By the week of its release, estimates had the film debuting to as much as $180 million from 4,725 theaters, beating Avengers: Endgame{{'}}s record of 4,662.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/the-lion-king-worldwide-box-office-opening-july-record-1202646684/ |title='The Lion King' Expected To Leave A Big Paw Print Around The World With $450M+ Total By Sunday – Preview |website=Deadline Hollywood |first1=Anthony |last1=D'Alessandro |first2=Nancy |last2=Tartaglione |date=July 16, 2019 |access-date=July 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722235029/https://deadline.com/2019/07/the-lion-king-worldwide-box-office-opening-july-record-1202646684/ |archive-date=July 22, 2019 |url-status=live}} The film made $77.9 million on its first day, including $23 million from Thursday night previews.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/the-lion-king-weekend-box-office-july-records-1202648944/ |title='Lion King' Rips Up July & Disney Remake Records With $191.8M Opening – Monday Update |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Anthony |last=D'Alessandro |date=July 22, 2019 |access-date=July 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904202332/https://deadline.com/2019/07/the-lion-king-weekend-box-office-july-records-1202648944/ |archive-date=September 4, 2019 |url-status=live}} It went on to debut to $191.8 million over the weekend, the highest opening total of the Disney reimaginings of animated films (beating Beauty and the Beast{{'}}s $174.8 million), a July release (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2{{'}}s $169.2 million){{refn|This was surpassed by Deadpool & Wolverine in 2024.|group=N}} and Favreau's career (Iron Man 2{{'}}s $128.1 million).{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/box-office-the-lion-king-opening-weekend-jon-favreau-1203272697/ |title=Box Office: 'The Lion King' Rules With $192 Million Debut |website=Variety |first=Rebecca |last=Rubin |date=July 22, 2019 |access-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722145245/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/box-office-the-lion-king-opening-weekend-jon-favreau-1203272697/ |archive-date=July 22, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lion-king-all-box-office-records-broken-1225928 |title='The Lion King': All the Box Office Records Broken |website=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Pamela |last=McClintock |date=July 22, 2019 |access-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722230607/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lion-king-all-box-office-records-broken-1225928 |archive-date=July 22, 2019 |url-status=live}} The film had a slightly higher-than-expected drop of 60% in its second weekend, but still topped the box office with $76.6 million.{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-quentin-tarantino-box-office-lion-king-weekend-1202654606/ |title=Hooray For 'Hollywood': Quentin Tarantino Sees His Biggest B.O. Opening Of All-Time With $40M+ As 'Lion King' Still Lords With $76M+ – Sunday Update |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=July 27, 2019 |access-date=July 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726232213/https://deadline.com/2019/07/once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-quentin-tarantino-box-office-lion-king-weekend-1202654606/ |archive-date=July 26, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-28/-lion-king-and-tarantino-s-hollywood-tribute-boost-box-office |title='Lion King' and Tarantino's Hollywood Tale Boost Box Office |last=Golum |first=Rob |website=Bloomberg News |date=July 28, 2019 |access-date=July 30, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730004802/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-28/-lion-king-and-tarantino-s-hollywood-tribute-boost-box-office |archive-date=July 30, 2019}} It was dethroned by newcomer Hobbs & Shaw in its third weekend but still grossed $38.5 million, crossing the $400 million mark in the process.{{cite news |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title='Hobbs & Shaw' West Coast Business Driving Pic To $60M, But Looks To Overseas For More Muscle |url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/hobbs-shaw-targeting-4-5m-thursday-night-early-b-o-read-1202659422/ |access-date=August 4, 2019 |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=August 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805223740/https://deadline.com/2019/08/hobbs-shaw-targeting-4-5m-thursday-night-early-b-o-read-1202659422/ |archive-date=August 5, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Bean |first1=Travis |title=Box Office: 'The Lion King' Now The 19th-Highest Earner Of All Time |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbean/2019/08/05/box-office-the-lion-king-now-the-19th-highest-earner-of-all-time/#7f5dd2482061 |access-date=August 5, 2019 |work=Forbes |date=August 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805160750/https://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbean/2019/08/05/box-office-the-lion-king-now-the-19th-highest-earner-of-all-time/#7f5dd2482061 |archive-date=August 5, 2019 |url-status=live}} On August 21, it became the second animated film to have grossed $500 million at North America box office, after Incredibles 2.{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/the-lion-king-passes-500-million-domestic-will-soon-pass-beauty-and-the-beast/ |title='The Lion King' Crosses $500 Million Domestic, Will Soon Pass 'Beauty and the Beast' |website=The Wrap |author=Jeremy Fuster |date=August 22, 2019 |access-date=September 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925025310/https://www.thewrap.com/the-lion-king-passes-500-million-domestic-will-soon-pass-beauty-and-the-beast/|archive-date=September 25, 2019|url-status=live}} At the end of the film's box office run, it was the second highest-grossing film of 2019 in this region behind Avengers: Endgame.{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/2019/|title=Domestic Box Office For 2019|website=Box Office Mojo|publisher=IMDb|access-date=January 7, 2023|archive-date=December 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220022235/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/2019/|url-status=live}}

The film was expected to gross around $450 million over its first 10 days of a global release, including $160–170 million from its worldwide opening weekend. In China, where it released a week prior to the rest of the world, the film was projected to debut to $50–60 million.{{cite news |last1=Tartaglione |first1=Nancy |title='The Lion King' Poised To Pounce On $50M-$60M In Early China Opening – Preview |url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/the-lion-king-china-box-office-preview-disney-1202644761/ |access-date=July 11, 2019 |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=July 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711174618/https://deadline.com/2019/07/the-lion-king-china-box-office-preview-disney-1202644761/ |archive-date=July 11, 2019 |url-status=live}} It ended up opening to $54.2 million, besting the debuts of live-action remakes The Jungle Book and Beauty and the Beast.{{cite news |last1=Tartaglione |first1=Nancy |title='Spider-Man: Far From Home' Lassos $847M Global & Tops Franchise Offshore With $573M; 'Lion King' Reigns In China – International Box Office |url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/spider-man-far-from-home-the-lion-king-aladdin-toy-story-4-china-global-international-box-office-1202646040/ |access-date=July 14, 2019 |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=July 14, 2019 |archive-date=December 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204143402/https://deadline.com/2019/07/spider-man-far-from-home-the-lion-king-aladdin-toy-story-4-china-global-international-box-office-1202646040/ |url-status=live }} Over its first 8 days of global release, the film made a total of $751 million, including $351.8 million from overseas territories. This included $269.4 million from its opening weekend (sans China), with its largest countries being the United Kingdom, Ireland and Malta ($20.8 million), France ($19.6 million), Mexico ($18.7 million), Brazil ($17.9 million), South Korea ($17.7 million), Australia ($17.1 million), and Russia ($16.7 million, second-largest ever in the country), as well as $6 million in the Netherlands, the best opening of a film ever in the country.{{cite news |last1=Tartaglione |first1=Nancy |title=Cat's Meow: 'The Lion King' Rises To $531M Global In 10 Days; 'Aladdin' & 'Spider-Man' Each Near $1B WW – International Box Office |url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/the-lion-king-spider-man-far-from-home-avengers-endgame-toy-story-4-aladdin-china-global-international-box-office-1202650112/ |access-date=July 22, 2019 |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=July 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722020636/https://deadline.com/2019/07/the-lion-king-spider-man-far-from-home-avengers-endgame-toy-story-4-aladdin-china-global-international-box-office-1202650112/ |archive-date=July 22, 2019 |url-status=live}} As of September 16, 2019, the film's top 10 largest markets were China ($120.4 million), the United Kingdom, Ireland and Malta ($91.3 million), France ($79 million),{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/box-office-it-chapter-two-international-debut-1203327862/ |title=Box Office: 'It: Chapter Two' Balloons to $94 Million Overseas |date=September 8, 2019 |publisher=Variety|access-date=September 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908215048/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/box-office-it-chapter-two-international-debut-1203327862/amp/|archive-date=September 8, 2019|url-status=live}} Brazil ($69.1 million, second-highest all time in the country), Japan ($60 million), Germany ($53.8 million), Mexico ($51.8 million), Russia ($47.3 million), Australia ($42.8 million), and Italy ($40 million).{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=lionkingliveaction.htm |title=The Lion King (2019) – International Box Office results |website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb |access-date=September 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825154110/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=lionkingliveaction.htm |archive-date=August 25, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{Cite the numbers |id=Lion-King-The-(Live-Action)-(2019)#tab=international |title=The Lion King (2019) |access-date=January 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924172658/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Lion-King-The-(Live-Action)-(2019)#tab=international |archive-date=September 24, 2019 |url-status=live}} The film became the first animated and musical film to gross $1 billion at overseas box office.

As of September 2019, the film became the highest-grossing film of all time in the Netherlands ($30.2 million), surpassing previous record held by Titanic ($28.5 million including re-release){{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-quentin-tarantino-record-hobbs-and-shaw-global-international-box-office-1202670663/ |title=Tarantino's 'Hollywood' Has Bountiful $54M Overseas Weekend, Tops 'Django' In Debuts; 'Hobbs & Shaw' Muscles in On $437M WW – International Box Office |date=August 18, 2019 |publisher=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=September 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827025738/https://deadline.com/2019/08/once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-quentin-tarantino-record-hobbs-and-shaw-global-international-box-office-1202670663/ |archive-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live}} and South Africa (R107.6 million, $7.29 million), surpassing Black Panther in local currency terms (in dollar terms, is still second-highest of all time).{{Cite web |url=https://www.gadget.co.za/lion-king-rules-sa-box-office/ |title=The Lion King rules SA box office |date=September 6, 2019 |publisher=Gadget|access-date=September 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909055715/https://gadget.co.za/lion-king-rules-sa-box-office/|archive-date=September 9, 2019|url-status=live}} Meanwhile, the film become the highest-grossing films of 2019 in many other countries and regions: Austria,{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/austria/yearly/ |title=Austria Yearly Box Office |website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb |access-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920224710/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/austria/yearly/ |archive-date=September 20, 2019 |url-status=live}} Belgium and Luxembourg,{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/belgium/yearly/ |title=Belgium and Luxembourg Yearly Box Office |website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb |access-date=August 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822214847/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/belgium/yearly/ |archive-date=August 22, 2019 |url-status=live}} Bulgaria,{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/bulgaria/yearly/ |title=Bulgaria Yearly Box Office |website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb |access-date=September 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706114349/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/bulgaria/yearly/ |archive-date=July 6, 2018 |url-status=live}} France, Algeria, Monaco, Morocco and Tunisia,{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/france/yearly/ |title=France and Algeria, Monaco, Morocco and Tunisia Yearly Box Office |website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb |access-date=August 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508095054/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/france/yearly/ |archive-date=May 8, 2019 |url-status=live}} Italy,{{Cite web |url=https://www.tamilrockrs.net/2019/09/it-chapter-2-is-first-at-italian-box-office-in-the-weekend.html |title=IT Chapter 2 is First at The Italian Boxoffice of The Weekend, While The Lion King Touches 33 million Euros |website=Tamil Rockrs |access-date=September 9, 2019 }}{{dead link|date=August 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Lithuania,{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/lithuania/yearly/ |title=Lithuania Yearly Box Office |website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb |access-date=September 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902215057/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/lithuania/yearly/ |archive-date=September 2, 2019 |url-status=live}} Norway,{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/norway/yearly/ |title=Norway Yearly Box Office |website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb |access-date=September 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106221559/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/norway/yearly/ |archive-date=November 6, 2018 |url-status=live}} Portugal and Angola,{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/portugal/yearly/ |title=Portugal and Angola Yearly Box Office |website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb |access-date=August 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824005310/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/portugal/yearly/ |archive-date=August 24, 2019 |url-status=live}} Russia,{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/cis/yearly/ |title=Russia (CIS) Yearly Box Office |website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb |access-date=September 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718224454/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/cis/yearly/ |archive-date=July 18, 2019 |url-status=live}} Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia,{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/slovenia/yearly/ |title=Slovenia Yearly Box Office |website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb |access-date=August 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827221814/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/slovenia/yearly/ |archive-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live}} Sweden,{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/sweden/yearly/ |title=Sweden Yearly Box Office |website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb |access-date=August 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827215522/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/sweden/yearly/ |archive-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live}} Switzerland,{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/switzerland/yearly/ |title=Switzerland Yearly Box Office |website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb |access-date=September 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403051245/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/switzerland/yearly/ |archive-date=April 3, 2018 |url-status=live}} and Spain.{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/spain/yearly/ |title=Spain Yearly Box Office |website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb |access-date=August 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822214848/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/spain/yearly/ |archive-date=August 22, 2019 |url-status=live}} It is also the highest-grossing foreign film of 2019 in Poland{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/poland/yearly/ |title=Poland Yearly Box Office |website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb |access-date=August 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827215522/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/poland/yearly/ |archive-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live}} In India, the film grossed $26.3 million, making it the fourth-highest-grossing Hollywood or foreign films of all time, highest-grossing animated film of all time (both local and foreign films), and one of top 50 highest-grossing films of all time in India.{{Cite news |url=https://gadgets.ndtv.com/entertainment/news/lion-king-movie-2019-box-office-7th-biggest-avengers-fast-furious-hobbs-shaw-2094168 |title=The Lion King Tops The Avengers to Become 7th Biggest Movie of All Time, With $1.564 Billion at Worldwide Box Office |work=NDTV |access-date=September 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905083949/https://gadgets.ndtv.com/entertainment/news/lion-king-movie-2019-box-office-7th-biggest-avengers-fast-furious-hobbs-shaw-2094168|archive-date=September 5, 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.livemint.com/industry/media/animation-comes-to-life-in-india-with-box-office-streaming-success-1566498330719.html |title=Animation comes to life in India with box office, streaming success |work=Livemint |access-date=September 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905083954/https://www.livemint.com/industry/media/animation-comes-to-life-in-india-with-box-office-streaming-success-1566498330719.html|archive-date=September 5, 2019|url-status=live}} In Europe, Middle East, and Africa, the film surpassed Avengers: Endgame to become the fourth-highest-grossing film of all time and highest-grossing film of 2019 across the region.{{Cite web |url=https://www.screendaily.com/box-office/it-chapter-two-rules-box-office-in-88m-worldwide-session-downton-abbey-storms-uk-update/5142898.article |title=It: Chapter Two' rules box office in $88m worldwide session, 'Downton Abbey' storms UK (update) |publisher=Screendaily |access-date=September 17, 2019 |archive-date=December 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204143440/https://www.screendaily.com/box-office/it-chapter-two-rules-box-office-in-88m-worldwide-session-downton-abbey-storms-uk-update/5142898.article |url-status=live }}

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a critics' approval rating of {{RT data|score}} with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}, based on {{RT data|count}} reviews. The website's critical consensus reads: "While it can take pride in its visual achievements, The Lion King is a by-the-numbers retelling that lacks the energy and heart that made the original so beloved — though for some fans that may just be enough."{{cite Rotten Tomatoes |id={{RT data|rtid|noprefix=y}} |title=The Lion King (2019) |type=m |access-date={{RT data|access date}} |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814174639/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_lion_king_2019 |archive-date=August 14, 2023 |url-status=live}} It is the highest-grossing film with a "rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Metacritic gave the film a weighted average score of 55 out of 100, based on 54 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite Metacritic |id=the-lion-king-2019 |type=movie |title=The Lion King (2019) |access-date=December 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815141645/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-lion-king-2019 |archive-date=August 15, 2023 |url-status=live}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, and those at PostTrak gave the film a four out of five stars.

Some critics praised the fidelity to the original, while others criticized it for its lack of originality.{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/the-lion-king-reviews-1203265214/|title=The Lion King: Reviews What the Critics Are Saying|work=Variety|last=Nissen|first=Dano|date=July 11, 2019|access-date=October 17, 2023}} Kenneth Turan at the Los Angeles Times called the film "polished, satisfying entertainment."{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-lion-king-beyonce-review-20190711-story.html|title=Review: Disney's photo-real 'The Lion King' remake sings a new yet familiar tune|work=Los Angeles Times|last=Turan|first=Kenneth|date=July 11, 2019|access-date=July 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711162742/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-lion-king-beyonce-review-20190711-story.html|archive-date=July 11, 2019|url-status=live}} Todd McCarthy at The Hollywood Reporter considered it to be inferior to the original, noting, "The film's aesthetic caution and predictability begin to wear down on the entire enterprise in the second half."{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/lion-king-review-1223757|title=The Lion King: Review|work=The Hollywood Reporter|last=McCarthy|first=Todd|date=July 11, 2019|access-date=July 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711162737/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/lion-king-review-1223757|archive-date=July 11, 2019|url-status=live}} At The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw found the film "watchable and enjoyable. But I missed the simplicity and vividness of the original hand-drawn images."{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jul/11/the-lion-king-review-anthro-leonine-clones-original|title=The Lion King review: deepfake copycat ain't so grrreat|work=The Guardian|last=Bradshaw|first=Peter|date=July 11, 2019|access-date=July 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711162737/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jul/11/the-lion-king-review-anthro-leonine-clones-original|archive-date=July 11, 2019|url-status=live}} Among the vocal performances, the roles of Eichner and Rogen as Timon and Pumbaa, respectively, received particular praise by critics,{{cite web|title=Lion King 2019 vs. the original: what's better and worse about the remake|url=https://www.vox.com/2019/7/17/20694836/lion-king-2019-versus-1994-original-review-comparison|website=Vox|date=July 17, 2019|access-date=July 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723210218/https://www.vox.com/2019/7/17/20694836/lion-king-2019-versus-1994-original-review-comparison|archive-date=July 23, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|last=Bucksbaum|first=Sydney|title=Billy Eichner's best lines as Timon in The Lion King remake|url=https://ew.com/movies/2019/07/19/the-lion-king-billy-eichner-timon-best-quotes/?#|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=July 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720163355/https://ew.com/movies/2019/07/19/the-lion-king-billy-eichner-timon-best-quotes/|archive-date=July 20, 2019|url-status=live}} with The A.V. Club{{'}}s A. A. Dowd proclaiming: "Ultimately, only Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen, as slacker sidekicks Timon and Pumbaa, make much of an impression; their funny, possibly ad-libbed banter feels both fresh and true to the spirit of the characters — the perfect remake recipe."

William Bibbiani of TheWrap wrote in his review, "Jon Favreau's remake looks incredibly literal, but the digital animal performers lack the facial expressions and body movement to tell the story."{{cite news|url=https://www.thewrap.com/the-lion-king-film-review-2019-jon-favreau/|title=The Lion King Film Review: Impressive Technical Mastery Drains the Life From the Original |work=TheWrap|last=Bibbiani|first=William|date=July 17, 2019|access-date=November 19, 2023}} Sreeparna Sengupta of The Times of India praised the film, giving it a score of 3.5/5 and stating "For those who haven't seen the original, 'The Lion King' (2019) is certainly worth a watch for its gorgeous visuals and technical genius."{{cite web|last=Sengupta|first=Sreeparna|date=July 16, 2019|title=The Lion King Movie Review|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/the-lion-king/movie-review/70240680.cms|url-status=live|access-date=February 15, 2021|website=Times of India|archive-date=August 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805062936/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/the-lion-king/movie-review/70240680.cms}} Helen O'Hara of Empire gave the film 3/5 stars, saying, "The great circle of life has thrown up a gorgeous, star-studded story, but trading feeling for realism means that we lose something of the original film's excellence."{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-lion-king-2019/|title=The Lion King (2019) Review|website=Empire|last=O'Hara|first=Helen|date=July 12, 2019|access-date=July 29, 2021|url-status=live|archive-date=August 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826225618/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-lion-king-2019/}} Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com gave the film 3/4 stars, saying, "The worst thing you can say about this movie, and perhaps the highest compliment you can pay it, is to say it would be even more dazzling if it told a different story with different animals and the same technology and style — and maybe without songs, because you don't necessarily need them when you have images that sing."{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-lion-king-2019|title=The Lion King|last=Seitz|first=Matt Zoller|website=RogerEbert.com|date=July 19, 2019|access-date=July 27, 2021|url-status=live|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730024128/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-lion-king-2019}} Kevin Maher of The Times gave the film 4/5 stars, praising it as an improvement over the original, though he criticized the ending as "descend[ing] into a sprawling Avengers-style donnybrook with little dramatic resonance."{{cite news|last=Maher|first=Kevin|date=July 11, 2019|title=The Lion King review — roars of approval for a superior remake starring Donald Glover and Beyoncé|language=en|work=The Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/the-lion-king-review-better-than-the-original-yes-really-2l99hcdb7|access-date=2022-01-23|issn=0140-0460|archive-date=January 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123013220/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-lion-king-review-better-than-the-original-yes-really-2l99hcdb7|url-status=live}} Edward Porter of The Sunday Times gave the film 3/5 stars, praising the visuals and performances, but criticizing the lack of expressiveness of the characters' faces.{{cite news|last=Porter|first=Edward|date=July 21, 2019|title=The Lion King review — an eye‑popping spectacle, but less emotional than the original|language=en|work=The Sunday Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/film-review-the-lion-king-varda-by-agn-s-3rmsn6t8w|access-date=2022-01-23|issn=0140-0460|archive-date=January 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123013219/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/film-review-the-lion-king-varda-by-agn-s-3rmsn6t8w|url-status=live}}

A. A. Dowd, writing for The A.V. Club, summarized the film as such: "Joyless, artless, and maybe soulless, it transforms one of the most striking titles from the Mouse House vault into a very expensive, star-studded Disneynature film." Dowd bemoaned the film's insistence on realism, commenting, "We're watching a hollow bastardization of a blockbuster, at once completely reliant on the audience's pre-established affection for its predecessor and strangely determined to jettison much of what made it special."{{cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/be-prepared-for-the-photorealistic-cruddiness-of-disney-1836271258|title=Be prepared for the photorealistic cruddiness of Disney's pointless Lion King remake|work=The A.V. Club|first=A. A.|last=Dowd|date=July 11, 2019|access-date=July 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711162740/https://film.avclub.com/be-prepared-for-the-photorealistic-cruddiness-of-disney-1836271258|archive-date=July 11, 2019|url-status=live}} Scott Mendelson at Forbes condemned the film as a "crushing disappointment": "At almost every turn, this redo undercuts its own melodrama by downplaying its own emotions."{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2019/07/11/the-lion-king-review-be-prepared-for-a-crushing-disappointment/#85526a85d86a|title='The Lion King' Review: Be Prepared For A Crushing Disappointment|work=Forbes|first=Scott|last=Mendelson|date=July 11, 2019|access-date=July 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711162747/https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2019/07/11/the-lion-king-review-be-prepared-for-a-crushing-disappointment/#85526a85d86a|archive-date=July 11, 2019|url-status=live}} David Ehrlich of IndieWire panned the film, writing, "Unfolding like the world's longest and least convincing deepfake, Jon Favreau's (almost) photorealistic remake of The Lion King is meant to represent the next step in Disney's circle of life. Instead, this soulless chimera of a film comes off as little more than a glorified tech demo from a greedy conglomerate — a well-rendered but creatively bankrupt self-portrait of a movie studio eating its own tail."{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/the-lion-king-review-2019-1202157153/|title='The Lion King' Review: Disney's Remake Is a Disastrous Plunge into the Uncanny Valley|last=Ehrlich|first=David|date=July 11, 2019|website=IndieWire|access-date=July 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712101608/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/07/the-lion-king-review-2019-1202157153/amp/|archive-date=July 12, 2019|url-status=live}}

Elton John, who worked on the film's soundtrack, disowned the film and stated "The new version of The Lion King was a huge disappointment to me, because I believe they messed the music up. Music was so much a part of the original and the music in the current film didn't have the same impact. The magic and joy were lost."{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/elton-john-the-lion-king-disney-1203373678/|title=Elton John Calls 'Lion King' Remake a 'Huge Disappointment'|first=Nate|last=Nickolai|date=October 16, 2019|website=Variety|access-date=September 23, 2021|archive-date=October 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024053229/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/elton-john-the-lion-king-disney-1203373678/|url-status=live}}

{{main|Mufasa: The Lion King}}

On September 29, 2020, Deadline Hollywood reported that a follow-up film was in development with Barry Jenkins attached to direct.{{cite news|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/the-lion-king-sequel-barry-jenkins-moonlight-director-disney-1234586787/|title='The Lion King' Followup Set With 'Moonlight' Director Barry Jenkins To Helm For Walt Disney Studios|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=September 29, 2020|access-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929165220/https://deadline.com/2020/09/the-lion-king-sequel-barry-jenkins-moonlight-director-disney-1234586787/|archive-date=September 29, 2020|url-status=live}} While The Hollywood Reporter said the film would be a prequel about Mufasa during his formative years, Deadline said it would be a sequel centering on both Mufasa's origins and the events after the first film, similar to The Godfather Part II. Jeff Nathanson, the screenwriter for the remake, has reportedly finished a draft.{{cite news|last1=Rubin|first1=Rebecca|last2=Lang|first2=Brent|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/lion-king-sequel-director-barry-jenkins-1234786355/|title='The Lion King' Follow-Up in the Works With Director Barry Jenkins|work=Variety|date=September 29, 2020|access-date=September 29, 2020|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929195502/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/lion-king-sequel-director-barry-jenkins-1234786355/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Couch|first1=Aaron|last2=Kits|first2=Borys|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lion-king-prequel-in-the-works-with-director-barry-jenkins|title='Lion King' Prequel in the Works with Director Barry Jenkins|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=September 29, 2020|access-date=September 29, 2020|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929164424/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lion-king-prequel-in-the-works-with-director-barry-jenkins|url-status=live}} In August 2021, it was reported that Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. had been cast as Mufasa and Scar respectively.{{cite news|last=Wiseman|first=Andreas|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/lion-king-prequel-cast-kelvin-harrison-jr-aaron-pierre-barry-jenkins-1234822447/|title='The Lion King' Prequel: Kelvin Harrison Jr. & Aaron Pierre To Lead Cast For Disney & Barry Jenkins|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 26, 2021|access-date=August 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826192900/https://deadline.com/2021/08/lion-king-prequel-cast-kelvin-harrison-jr-aaron-pierre-barry-jenkins-1234822447/|archive-date=August 26, 2021|url-status=live}} The film is not a remake of The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, the 1998 direct-to-video sequel to the original animated film.{{cite web|last=Sandell|first=Rachel|url=https://collider.com/lion-king-2-underrated-disney-sequel/|title=The Lion King II: Simba's Pride Is an Underrated Disney Sequel|work=Collider|date=March 18, 2022|access-date=March 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319170217/https://collider.com/lion-king-2-underrated-disney-sequel/|archive-date=March 19, 2022|url-status=live}} In September 2022 at the D23 Expo, it was announced that the film would be titled Mufasa: The Lion King and that it would follow the titular character's origin story. Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, and John Kani reprised their roles as Pumbaa, Timon, and Rafiki, respectively. The film was released on December 20, 2024.{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=J. Kim |title=Marvel Delays Deadpool 3, Captain America 4 and Thunderbolts in Post-Strike Disney Release Shake-Up |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/deadpool-3-captain-america-4-lion-king-prequel-delayed-1235786760/ |website=Variety |access-date=November 10, 2023 |date=November 10, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110010516/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/deadpool-3-captain-america-4-lion-king-prequel-delayed-1235786760/ |url-status=live }}

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