The Lion King
Summary
The Lion King2019 mould saw a mostly new chemical group of actors bring these beloved animal character back to the big filmdom in the retelling of the Disney classic . The Lion Kingis one of Disney ’s most popular movies , and that continuing adoration is why it made perfect good sense to expel a " live - activeness " version , directed by Jon Favreau , with many big names joiningThe Lion King2019 ’s roll . While the novel variant ofThe Lion Kingdidn’t have the ethnic impact of the 1994 animate original , the astral voice acting and singing throughout has received merited and noteworthy eclat .
Favreau rack up a huge hitwith his remaking ofThe Jungle Bookin 2016 ; a photorealistic computer - enliven version of the movie that refreshed the original animated interpretation and made it more magical , exciting , and entertaining than ever before . Favreau was no doubt hoping for the same withThe Lion King , and while limited review from critics were mixed at practiced , audiences responded more positively , carrying the remake to a $ 1.6 billion universal box office take ( viaBox Office Mojo).The Lion Kingboasts stunning visuals , very realistic animals , and a stellar ensemble of vox thespian who helped bring these dear grapheme to life in a new way .
late , Disney has cash in on nostalgia and is making many alive - action remakes of some of their recreate classics . Letterboxd ranks the best here .
Watch On Disney+
Donald Glover As Simba
Played By Matthew Broderick In The Lion King (1994)
Donald Glover plays Simba inThe Lion King2019 shape , theyoung lion cub who finally grow to be baron . Glover ’s career carry on to uprise at an amazing rate , including creatingAtlantaand how he has grow his alter - ego Childish Gambino into one of the biggest voices in music . As an role player , he ’s star as Troy inCommunity , Miles Morales in theUltimate Spider - Mananimated series , Aaron Davis inSpider - Man : Homecoming , and act a immature Lando Calrissian inSolo : A Star Wars Story . His TV adaption of the 2005 action filmMr . and Mrs. Smithis lay out to air on Prime Video in January 2024 .
Simba lives deep in the jungle with his friend Timon and Pumbaa , postdate the dying of his father . He continue there , happy , until it becomes time for him to take his rightful station as king of Pride Rock and Nala find him . Simba must overthrow Scar , his uncle , who had forced Simba into exile and now rules the superbia land with his pack of hyenas . Simba ’s character differs little from the original Disney animated film , though when he live with Timon and Pumbaa , he does adopt a more or less vegetarian life-style . This leads to a humourous scene between Simba and a panicky antelope .
James Earl Jones As Mufasa
Played By James Earl Jones In The Lion King (1994)
voice by the uncomparable James Earl Jones , Mufasa seems like he really could n’t be played by anyone else . As such , Jones is the only original cast penis to reprize his role inThe Lion Kingremake . Jones is a well - respected actor but is , of trend , good known as the voice of Darth Vader in theStar Warsfranchise , a role he has reprised multiple times since the original trilogy . In increase , Jones has appear inThe Hunt For Red Octoberas Admiral Greer and played King Jaffe Joffer inComing 2 America .
" call up who you are , " is one of Disney ’s most iconic lines . Mufasa is a shining Christ Within for untested Simba , delivering deep and meaningful life lessons before his own life-time is cruelly snatched from him by Scar . Even after his death , Mufasa continues to give notice his son about his place in the circle of life . The expectant difference to Mufasa ’s character from the animated original is his complex backstory and human relationship with Scar . It ’s implied inThe Lion King2019 that it was Mufasa who sacrifice Scar his cicatrice during their fight for the potty , with Mufasa ’s brawn beating Scar ’s brainpower .
Beyoncé Carter-Knowles As Nala
Played By Moira Kelly In The Lion King (1994)
Beyoncé was Jon Favreau ’s top pick for the role of Nala inThe Lion King2019 cast , Simba ’s childhood ally and eventual love interest . While the role of adult Nala is not necessarily major , having Beyoncé voice her — as well as write songs for the movie — bring home the bacon even more inflammation for the remake . Beyoncé would go on to draw onThe Lion Kingas inhalation for her later projectBlack is King . doubtlessly one of the biggest musical superstars of all clip , Beyoncé has betray over 100 million records as a solo creative person , acquire 23 Grammy Awards , and is the most nominated female creative person in the award ’s story .
Nala essentially plays the same theatrical role as her enliven counterpart , and there is small differentiation between the two quality save for Beyoncé lending her voice to the role . However , The Lion King2019 does give the distaff lions more agency overall than its animated predecessor , which falls more in line of merchandise with the matriarchal complex body part of lion prides in nature . Her reasons for leave the superbia are different in the 2019 translation , she essay to reverse Scar ’s tyrannical reign and gets her own escape sequence . In the inspire interpretation , Scar propositioned her for marriage and she turn down , leading to her banishment .
Chiwetel Ejiofor As Scar
Played By Jeremy Irons In The Lion King (1994)
Scar isone of the vicious Disney villain of all timewhich set high-pitched expectations for how the remaking would handle the character . Scar is make for to life sentence by Chiwetel Ejiofor , a British worker best screw for his performance in12 Years A Slave , and for playing Mordo inDoctor Strange . He reprised therole of Mordo forDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessand has also appeared in the television seriesA Man Who Fell to Earthand the filmThe Pod coevals . He will soon star inVenom 3 , The Old Guard 2 , andTonight at Noon .
Throwing Mufasa from the top of a drop as he begs for aid is one of the most traumatic fit in the Disney canon . Scar then set the blame on his young nephew , prompting him to fly , and congeal a pack of hyenas after the young carnivore , allowing Scar to take over as king . The large difference between the inspire Scar and the 2019 Scar is his complex backstory and family relationship with the hyenas . Rather than already knowing the pack , he meets them for the first prison term in the 2019 film and call for their assistance with his evil plan . This make the hyenas exhaust Scar at the end much more credible .
Alfre Woodard As Sarabi
Played By Madge Sinclair In The Lion King (1994)
Sarabi is the mother of Simbaand is vocalise by Alfre Woodard , inThe Lion King2019 cast . Woodard has appeared in ( among others)Star Trek : First Contact , Desperate Housewives , 12 days a Slave , A Series of Unfortunate Events , andLuke Cage . Since asterisk inThe Lion King , she has appeared in the television showSeeas Paris andThe Porteras Fay . She had a role in the filmWeatheringas Serena and voices Mimi inMarvel ’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur . She will presently appear in the Stephen King adaptationSalem ’s Lotas Dr. Cody .
Sarabi is so happy and proud of her untested cub , and then she lose her mate and her Logos in one day . Under Scar ’s rule , she is treated seriously and penalize for not hunting enough , despite there being no animal left to hunt as he has destroyed the pride lands . Sarabi inThe Lion King2019 stamp is quite standardized to her animated counterpart . However , the female lions are collapse bigger role in general in the hot - action CGI film . This think of that Sarabi in reality gets more covert clip and better exploitation outside of just being Simba ’s mother .
JD McCray as Young Simba
Played By Jonathan Taylor Thomas In The Lion King (1994)
As fans of the animated original know , The Lion Kingshows Simba ’s life from the very beginning . WhenThe Lion Kingopens , both Simba and Nala are unseasoned cubs and therefore different actors are postulate to vocalise them . JD McCray plays Simba inThe Lion King2019 cast . At the time of filming , he was 12 year old , and starring inThe Payneson The Oprah Winfrey internet . He reprised his role as young Simba in 2020’sBlack is King , and starred as Brett in13 : the Musical .
Young Simba is very much the same as he is in the inspire original . He ’s still adventurous and rambunctious , exploring the elephant graveyard with Nala and generally enjoying his life as heir to the toilet . However , one big difference between the two films is Mufasa ’s death scene . In the animated movie , Simba falls into a pile of thorns during the stampede scene . However , inThe Lion King2019 , the stampede view is much more visceral , realistic , and heartrending . He instead falls down a lower cliff and manages to escape the hyena by hiding himself carefully .
Shahadi Wright Joseph As Young Nala
Played By Niketa Calame-Harris In The Lion King (1994)
Shahadi Wright Joseph sound vernal Nala inThe Lion King2019 mold . She was 14 years old at the metre of motion-picture photography and best known for playing Zora Wilson / Umbrae in the Jordan Peele movie , Us . She also played Little Inez in the TV pic musicalHairspray Live!Since appearing inThe Lion King , Joseph starred in the tv set seriesThemas Ruby Lee Emory . She also represent the part of Yeleni inCome regain Me .
Young Nala is about the same inThe Lion King2019 as she is in the original outside of her unexampled and improved photorealistic look . One of Simba ’s friend from birth , Nala is likewise lured by Scar ’s ruse as she unite Simba in exploring the elephant burial ground . Outside of this , she does n’t get a lot of screen time until she and Simba ’s reunification as adult lions . Either elbow room , her tantrum as a cub do at least set the stage for their succeeding family relationship and showcase what a substantial family relationship the two have from childhood onward .
Seth Rogen As Pumbaa
Played By Ernie Sabella In The Lion King (1994)
Pumbaa isa lovable , hapless warthogwho picks up a well-nigh numb Simba in the desert . He is n’t very smart , has a very bad gas job , and likes to eat bugs , but he also has a heart of gold and would do anything for his acquaintance . Pumbaa is voiced inThe Lion King2019 by Seth Rogen . Rogen has a long leaning of comedic acting and voice - over accolades , includingKnocked Up , Superbad , This Is The End , SausageParty , andNeighbors , and vaunt prior voiceover experience inHorton Hears a Whoand theKung - Fu Pandamovies .
Pumbaa is one half of a drollery duo with the meerkat Timon . While Pumbaa does n’t differ much in characterization from the animated original , Seth Rogen was countenance to extemporise many of his lines which conduce to some dissimilar dialog than the original . In addition , he finally gets his big moment of turgidity in the 2019 cinema and even take to sing the word , " farted , " which was only implied in the animated movie .
Billy Eichner As Timon
Played By Nathan Lane In The Lion King (1994)
Pumbaa is nothing without his best pal , the meerkat Timon . They ’ve been live in the hobo camp together for a long clock time before they find Simba , and bothserve as surrogate parent , raising Simba to maturity . Billy Eichner was cast at the same prison term as Rogen , and the span have actually go together before onNeighbors 2 : Sorority mount . Eichner also appear in theAmerican Horror Storyanthology series andParks and Recreationand is the host ofBilly on the Street . He also wrote and star in the rom - comBros .
Like Rogen , Eichner was give a lot of complimentary rein when it come to his dialogue inThe Lion King2019 . This go to a lot of back and forth and conversation that were n’t in the original film . Timon and Pumbaa live severally from high society , whereas in the remaking , Timon and Pumbaa basically reside in a small animal refinement . Their commutation take more adult humour than the quicken original , which is perhaps not surprising give Eichner and Rogen ’s past comedic work .
John Oliver As Zazu
Played By Rowan Atkinson In The Lion King (1994)
Zazu isa hornbill who serves as Mufasa ’s majordomo . Part of his persona also ask him reluctantly give birth to babysit the unseasoned Simba and Nala . He ’s begrudgingly tender of them , though , and overjoyed when Simba returns . Zazu is voiced byJohn Oliver , formerly ofCommunityandThe Daily Showbut best sleep with for his news program satire show , Last Week Tonight with John Oliver , which he has host since 2014 .
John Oliver still give birth that case A personality , but also includes his own signature panache of comedy through the various animal puns that Zazu uses in his morning report card . He also mentions that he has a cousin who thinks he ’s a woodpecker , something not included in the master copy . In the animated picture show , Scar pink Zazu out during the stampede scenery , whereas he sends Zazu to look for avail inThe Lion King2019 . Zazu also helps Nala escape in the 2019 version , intend he ’s a bit braver than his original loop .
John Kani As Rafiki
Played By Robert Guillaume In The Lion King (1994)
Rafiki is a wise Mandril and not , as it is said in the original version ofThe Lion King , a baboon . John Kani is a South African actor , dramatist , and director , well known for his leg work and for playing T’Chaka inBlack Pantheras well as inCaptain America : Civil WarandMarvel ’s What If … ? . He also appeared inMurder Mysteryand its subsequence as Colonel Ulenga and vocalise Brick inSeal Team . He will reprise the function of Rafiki inMufasa : The Lion King .
In the liven version of the movie , Rafiki has a nates , while Mandrills do not . Rafiki is Mufasa ’s advisorand is the one to present the newborn Simba . Audiences will discover one big thing missing from the new and improved Rafiki : his magical staff . Rafiki is much less thaumaturgy - focused inThe Lion King2019 and his first appearance when he distinguish Simba ’s nous with berries rather than the fruit from his faculty shows that this version will play out other than . The journeying from Simba to Rafiki ’s is much long inThe Lion King2019 , and Rafiki uses bugs instead of fruit and dust to make his iconic Simba drawing off .
Keegan Michael-Key As Kamari
Played By Cheech Marin In The Lion King (1994)
Of the many hyenas who follow Scar inThe Lion King , only Shenzi is a part from the original movie ; Kamari and Azizi are newer version of Banzai and Ed , with an entirely different comedy dynamic . Keegan Michael - Key is best known as one - one-half of the comedy cartoon duoKey and Peele . Key has provided his voice and comedic skill for a number of famed projects , most recently appearing inThe Super Mario Bros. Movieas Toad . He star inWendell & Wildas Wendell and Honest John in Disney ’s live - actionPinocchio . Key also appeared inWonkaand will shortly bestow his voice to the fibre of Bumblebee inTransformers One .
While the originalLion Kingmovie saw Shenzi , Banzai , and Ed as the three titular hyenas , The Lion King2019 scrapped Banzai and Ed for Kamari and Azizi . Kamari is very similar to Banzaias he ’s the voguish of the two male hyenas .
Eric Andre As Azizi
Played By Jim Cummings In The Lion King (1994)
Eric Andre plays the hyena Azizi , a unlike version of the original Ed . Eric Andre is principally hump for his part to late - night surrealist comedy , hostingThe Eric Andretalk show . However , he ’s starred in batch of movie and tv task as well , recently appear as the tainted pastor Lyle Lissons inThe Righteous Gemstonesseason 2 . He ’s also utilise his voice acting talent to play Darius inSing 2and Pendergast inDisenchantment . He can before long be control inShould’ve Been RomeoandTrolls Band Together .
Like his animate counterpart Ed , Azizi is the dumb one of the hyena threesome . He constantly has to be maintain up to speed with Shenzi ’s plans and has a hard clock time not botching any job he ’s yield . The original Ed was only devote a few speaking lines , but his dialogue was mostly maniac laughter . Azizi has a second more silver screen time and dialogue than Ed , and rather than his signature tune laugh , he seems to have a problem with personal infinite .
Florence Kasumba As Shenzi
Played By Whoopi Goldberg In The Lion King (1994)
Shenzi is the only original hyena to make it into the remaking , and she ’s vocalise by Florence Kasumba . Kasumba is most placeable for playing Ayo in theBlack Pantherfranchise , and has reprised this role forAvengers : Infinity WarandThe Falcon and the Winter Soldierwhile playing a security system chief inCaptain America : Civil War . The Ugandan - German actress has had a variety of roles in German motion picture and television but has also appear inA Midsummer Night ’s Dream , Wonder Woman , andEmerald City .
Shenzi is still the brains of the hyaena groupinThe Lion King2019 , though she is much more calculated , ruthless , and cunning in the remake . Between the hyenas getting more projection screen time and even more freedom than the original , Shenzi is a far more unnerving force inThe Lion King2019 and can be considered a secondary antagonist to Chiwetel Ejiofor ’s Scar .
Some Of The Lion King Cast Are Returning for Mufasa
The Prequel Continues The Lion King Franchise
The huge financial success of the live - activity TheLion Kingspurred Disney to put a trace - up picture show into yield , and some ofThe Lion King2019 cast is return . At the 2022 D23 Expo , it was let on that the prequel to 2019’sThe Lion Kingwill beMufasa : Lion King . The film will be manoeuvre by acclaimedMoonlighthelmer Barry Jenkinsand severalise the story of how Mufasa rose from humble beginnings to become King . Aaron Pierre , a British actor who play Caesar in Jenkins ' seriesThe Underground Railroad , will voice Mufasa whileElvisandThe Trial of the Chicago 7cast member Kelvin Harrison will maltreat into the role of Scar .
return fromThe Lion King2019 mould will be Seth Rogen as Pumbaa , Billy Eichner as Timon , and John Kani as Rafiki , with Eichner even voicing a humourous away in the D23 trailer . More plaster bandage member forMufasawill likely be announced in the lead - up to the plastic film ’s July 5 , 2024 release date . Already though , the announced generate cast penis have been induce a lot of excitement — the 2019The Lion Kingcan be justifiably critiqued for many reasons , but there ’s an almost - world-wide understanding that the cast was one look Favreau get correct for the alive - activity remake .
Some Of The Original Lion King Cast Would Have Loved To Return
Jeremy Irons And Nathan Lane Expressed A Desire To Reprise Their Roles
Unlike other Disney live - action remakes , The Lion King2019 hurl could have bring back just about every original role player from the animated movie . WhileAladdinhad to happen actors to bring the likes of Genie and Jafar to life on the full-grown CRT screen , The Lion Kingonly feature the voices of these actors which allow them to bring back James Earl Jones to reprise his iconic role as Mufasa . With that precedent set , the remaking could have done the same with other cast members , some of whom expressed a desire to return to the office they helped create .
Jeremy Irons confirmed ( via : Digital Spy ) that he was not ask to render as Scar in the remake and seemed to be unhappy with the decision . When original Timon voice actor Nathan Lane was onThe Late Show With Stephen Colbert , he detail a sort email he received from Billy Eichner when it was announced he would take over the persona . Lane responded with a interrogation if Eichner and Ryan Gosling were going to redo Lane ’s other hit movieThe Birdcage . iron and Lane are among the actors who helped make the originalThe Lion Kinga classic , and not having them return for the remaking might have been a misstep .
