Disney’s The Lion King Live-Action Movie Remake Set for 2019 [All-Star Cast Revealed] Thursday 02 November, 2017
Stop everything you are doing! Have you heard the awesome news that Disney is doing a live action remake of their 90s classic cartoon The Lion King? I am squealing. The 90s kid in me is so excited. I can’t even contain myself. They are personalifying the movie. I know they have been doing the Broadway play for years, but to remake it as a movie this is going to epic!
The all-star lineup for director Jon Favreau’s new take on Disney’s 1994 classic animated film “The Lion King” includes stars from the film, TV, theater and music arenas. Featuring pioneering filmmaking techniques, the film welcomes back to the big screen iconic characters that audiences have long treasured—but in a whole new way.
CAST REVEALED
Lions rule the African savanna in “The Lion King,” which welcomes Donald Glover (“Atlanta,” “Solo: A Star Wars Story”) as future king Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter (“Dreamgirls,” “Lemonade” visual album) as Simba’s friend-turned-love interest Nala, and James Earl Jones (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” “Field of Dreams”) as Simba’s wise and loving father, Mufasa, reprising his iconic performance from Disney’s 1994 animated classic. Chiwetel Ejiofor(“Twelve Years a Slave,” Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange”) was called on to portray Simba’s villainous uncle Scar, and Alfre Woodard (“Juanita,” Marvel’s “Luke Cage”) portrays Simba’s no-nonsense mother, Sarabi. JD McCrary(OWN’s “Tyler Perry’s The Paynes,” Apple’s “Vital Signs”) fills the shoes of Young Simba, a confident cub who can’t wait to be king, and Shahadi Wright Joseph (NBC’s “Hairspray Live,” Broadway’s “The Lion King”) brings tough cub Young Nala to life.
Every kingdom comes with a trustworthy advisor or two. John Kani (“Coriolanus,” Marvel Studios’ “Captain America: Civil War”) was cast as the wise baboon Rafiki, and John Oliver (HBO’s “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”) was tapped as hornbill Zazu, Mufasa’s loyal confidant. When Simba goes into exile, he relies on two newfound friends—Seth Rogen (“Sausage Party,” “Neighbors”) lends his comedic chops to naïve warthog Pumbaa, and Billy Eichner (“Billy on the Street,” FX’s “American Horror Story”) joins the cast as know-it-all meerkat Timon.
While most of the animals in the kingdom respect the king, the hyenas have other plans. Florence Kasumba (NBC’s “Emerald City,” Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther”) portrays Shenzi, Eric André (Adult Swim’s “The Eric André Show,” FXX’s “Man Seeking Woman”) is Azizi, and Keegan-Michael Key (“Predator,” Netflix’s “Friends from College”) plays Kamari.
From Disney Live Action, “The Lion King” is slated for U.S. theaters on July 19, 2019.
Oh my gosh! They have the best cast. I love who they have playing for Timon & Pumbaa. They’re the perfect people.
I can’t wait to see this. I am iffy on Beyonce but the cast overall is phenomenal.
Oh I’m loving the cast so far! Jon Favreau is a good director too. It’s going to be awesome seeing this story in a whole new way!
I was just reading about this earlier today. I know my daughter, who loves Disney, is excited.
I’m so excited for this! The cast is amazing and I can’t wait to see what magic Disney created with this remake.
I hadn’t heard, but this is exciting news! The Lion King is one of my top 10 all time favorite Disney movies so a live action version sounds incredible to me!
They have a ton of amazing actors and actresses listed! I can’t wait to see this!
This is awesome! Love the casts and I can’t wait to see the movie!
Oh my, I have to wait that long! That’s like 2 and a half years from now. Anyway, I know it takes so much time to make quality movie, so I know this is going to be good. With that cast? WOW.
That’s a start studded cast! I can’t wait to see how this all goes. I’m sure it will turn out amazing!
How exciting is this reveal! I’m sure the actors will do justice to the roles of this movie that we all love. Congrats to them for getting the roles!
The cast looks great. I am glad that Bey is a part of the cast and that Nala didn’t talk much in the last movie.
This is at the top of my radar. This melanin explosion of incredible talent has me excited. This is going to be one for the history books.
This cast is everything! I can’t wait to see the remake!
Omg so exciting! I watched this movie as a child and rewatched it over and over! I can’t wait for the live action remake in 2019!
I’m look Big forward to this movie! What a great cast!
A little part of me doesn’t want there to be a remake as the original was so perfect. I just don’t want something new to come along and spoil it !
This is awesome.. My 25 year old used to love this movie when she was younger.. This is a great cast. Can’t wait for it!
This is amazing! Love the Lion King, can’t wait to see the remake, the cast seem great!
I am not a huge Bey fan for her singing but that girl is a performer!! I am so excited to have John Oliver in the cast, he is hilarious and will make a great addition to the live action Lion King production.
I had no idea this remake was coming! I loved the Lion King in its animated version and now I am looking forward to the live action version. Thank you for sharing.
So freakin excited!!! I always sing the circle of life when I was a kid starting with “Haaaaalapenyaaa chibabi chibaba!!”
Oh wow, I’m looking forward to this. I enjoyed the live musical more than the animated movie. I think it will be a box office hit.
I can’t wait for this it will definitely be fabulous,loving this cast.
I have seen all the tweets and posts about the cast. This movie is going to be fantastic! I can’t wait!
I had no idea that Disney was doing a live action remake of The Lion King. I’m pretty stoked to see it though! It looks like they picked some pretty great people for the roles.
I am absolutely dying! Why does 2019 need to be so far away! How are they doing this to us? How do we wait that long I dont understand. Excited is an understatement right now! I just want to cry my heart out at the Mufasa scene RIGHT NOW!
I can’t wait to see this action movie. They have superb actors and actresses listed! really waiting for this action movie.
Yes! I cant wait to see this! Wish it was coming out sooner than 2019 but I think it will def be worth the wait!
This cast is HUGE. Donald Glover has been casted to a lot of big-time films recently, and Beyonce’ will sure to set this on fire. I am more than excited to see this.
This is so exciting! I always loved the Lion King growing up! Can’t wait to check this out!
Very excited to see it…but a bit unsure! I wasn’t a massive fan of the stage show….so I HOPE that’s not what they’re planning!
This should be interesting. I’m not keen on the whole Beyonce thing, but everyone else seems awesome. I love the cartoon version!
This is an great cast. I can’t wait to see it.
WHAT?! YES! This was one of the defining movies of my childhood. I still tear up when Mufasa dies. The cast looks fantastic, I can’t wait to see this!
It will be really interesting to see how they bring the Lion King into a live action movie as one of my favourite films I am definitely interested in seeing how it progresses.
I think I am the only person not super stoked that Beyonce is Nala lol I’ve never liked her acting so hopefully this will be different.
I am anticipating seeing this movie. I will be highly disappointed if I don’t feel the same as I did when watching the cartoon.
I remember when this movie first came out. It quickly became one of my favorites. This sounds so awesome for a Lion King fan like myself.
I can’t wait for this release. I loved the original lion king and this cast if awesome!
I was so excited when I heard they were making this movie. I think they have done a great job with the cast.
I am screaming! Omg finally a live action of our family’s favorite movie.
More hakuna matata!
This looks amazing. I want to watch this remake asap. Thanks for sharing.
power cast! quite surprise to see Eric Andre but that will surely be interesting
I seriously cannot wait for this. I’m going to be in the front row early. This is one of my favorite Disney stories and I know they’re going to knock this film out of the park. I’m so excited.
Oh my! It’s happening, woohoo! And the casting that I’ve been seeing online is totally legit. Can’t wait, I would love to see the movie. 😀
Yes! I saw this and I am too excited about it. It is going to be amazing! Cannot wait!!!
Aah, omg! This is so exciting! I didn’t know about it. The cast is amazing. I’m really thrilled to have Beyonce and Chiwetel Ejiofor in it 🙂 I don’t really see him as a ‘natural’ Scar as he is just way too nice but it makes it more interesting to watch!
The Lion King is actually my favorite Disney movie, so I am actually a little nervous about the remake. So much could go wrong from the classic film. I do think they picked a great cast though!
I am excited to see it! And also take my children, I remember my first time seeing it and I can’t wait to experience that with my children.
Considering that The Lion King is my favourite musical I am beyond excited that they are doing a remake of the Lion King and I love that my Queen BEYONCE IS NALA! OMG YES!
This is going to be an epic show if the cast is any indication.
I’m excited to see this. I love the original movie and the stage play.
I am super excited for the cast. Especially James Earl Jones, as no one else can do Mufasa any better justice.
I’m loving the casting – so many people of color! I can’t wait to hear them belt out the circle of life in the live version!
I heard about this and looking forward to seeing it. Lion King fan over here. I have also seen it on Broadway.
What a great line up of actors. I can’t wait to hear more about this.
Absolutely! I can’t wait to see it!
That is a killer cast! I love The Lion King most of all Disney cartoons.
Oh yes! This sounds so exciting. I can’t wait to watch the remake. It’s one of my family disney movie.
Whaaaaaaat!? How have I not heard about this?? I know most of the people on this list!
I CAN’T WAIT! I think the first time I view will be alone just because I want to focus. I’ll take the kids the next day
Looking forward to seeing this. Should be cool to see this classic transformed.
this is exciting. I’m really looking forward to it. It should be a lot of fun. Love that james earl jones is a part. Such a legend. I’ve seen him live in 2 plays in my lifetime.