The Lion King Reborn

The Lion King Reborn (known as The Lion King Adventure Pt. 1: Reborn outside of North America) is an upcoming 2018 American animated epic, adventure, musical, comedy-drama film released by Walt Disney Pictures, with under production by Walt Disney Animation Studios, as well as being distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It serves as "part one" of a remaster of Disney's well-known 1994 animated film The Lion King, conjoining it with its 1998 sequel The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, its 2004 midquel The Lion King 1½: Hakuna Matata and several episodes of its 2015 television sequel series The Lion Guard. It also features references from the 1995 PC game Timon and Pumbaa's Jungle Games and television series The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa, as well as having some deleted scenes from the franchise and songs taken from the Broadway version of The Lion King in animation. The Lion King Reborn also marks as the last film to be distributed by DisneyToon Studios after its defunct in June 2018, and it is scheduled to be released in November 21st, 2018 on YouTube. The film was directed by Christian Myers, Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers, produced by Emman V. Cortez, Don Hahn, Tony Craig and Roberts Gannaway, executive produced by John Lasseter, Jeannie Roussel, Ford Riley, Rob LaDuca, Darrell Rooney, Jon Favreau and George A. Mendoza, and score composed by Don L. Harper, Hans Zimmer, Nick Glennie-Smith and Christopher Willis.

In the film's ensemble voice cast, it stars Matthew Broderick, Eden Riegel, Jason Marsden, Gabrielle Union, James Earl Jones, Nika Futterman, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Khary Payton, Andy Dick, Lacey Chabert, Rowan Atkinson, Angela Bassett, Sarah Hyland, Madison Pettis, Joshua Rush, Diamond White, Jeremy Irons, and Max Charles. The film dedicates to the memories of actress Suzanne Pleshette and actor Robert Guillaume, the original voices of Zira and Rafiki, who both died in January 19th, 2008 and October 24, 2017 respectively.

Filming began in January 2017 at Stevens Point, Wisconsin, with a large cast consisting mostly of actors reprising their roles from the original films and television series. The production lasted until February 2018, shooting back-to-back with a sequel titled The Lion King Returns. Additional filming mostly took place in Kenya, Africa. With an estimated budget in the range of $316–400 million, it is one of the most expensive films ever made.

The film received universal praise for the film's screenwriting, humor, the cast (particularly Iron's role), visual effects, emotional dark weight of the story, Pleshette and Guillaume's dedications, musical scores by Silvestri, original musical songs, and action scenes, although the runtime and some newcomers for the voices of characters taken from The Lion Guard received some criticism. The Lion King Returns will be released with Myers returning to direct, Hahn returning to produce, Silvestri returning to compose the score, and much of the cast reprising their roles.

Premise
The Lion King Reborn retells the story of a young lion named Simba, who is to succeed his father, Mufasa, as King of the Pride Lands when his brother Scar murders him in a wildebeest stampede. While following a subplot involving a meerkat and warthog duo named Timon and Pumbaa, who search a place as their dream home with no predators via the word "Hakuna Matata" ( a meaning to "No Worries" in Swahili ), the film later retells how Simba's second-born son Kion forms his new Lion Guard with best friends Bunga the honey badger, Fuli the cheetah, Ono the egret and Beshte the hippopotamus to stop Scar's resurrected form when he was brought back by Janja the hyena and Ushari the Eygptian cobra.

Plot
As a framing device, a wise mandrill named Rafiki, who is the lion king's shaman, starts to retell the story of The Lion King. One day came to be an important day; Simba, who is the newborn son of Queen Sarabi and King Mufasa, is being presented to a crowd of animals, who came from the Four Winds to celebrate Simba's birth at Pride Rock in the great Pride Lands of Africa. Rafiki suddenly realizes the audience has heard of the story before. He then hand-draws a picture of a meerkat named Timon before reminding the audience that they have never known the half of the story.

Timon is a social outcast in his meerkat colony on the outskirts of Pride Rock known as the "Pit of Shame". Timon is also the son of his late Pa, who was the colony's greatest meerkat, nicknamed "Fearless Buzz" when he was awed for his bravery until he got ambushed by spotted hyenas Shenzi, Banzai and Ed. Though he is unconditionally supported by his mother Ma, who is also Pa's widow, Timon dreams for more in life than his colony's bleak existence hiding from predators. One day, he is assigned as a Sentry, but his daydreaming nearly leads to the death of his Uncle Max by Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed. This marks the last straw for the colony before Ma tries to convince his son to be back in, prompting Timon to leave and finding a better life.

On the way, however, Timon breaks into a hysterical sob, to which Rafiki helps, then teaches Timon about "Hakuna Matata", meaning "No Worries" in Swahili, and advises him to look beyond what he sees. Timon takes the advice unknowingly and observes Pride Rock in the distance, calling it as a "big, pointy rock". Believing Pride Rock to be his paradise home, Timon ventures there, but then bumps into a common warthog named Pumbaa, who suffers from flatulence problems. The two quickly form a bond and Pumbaa accompanies Timon as his acquaintance. The adventure starts to where Simba is being presented. The pair arrive at Pride Rock, but as they make their way through the crowd of onlookers, Pumbaa explosively passes a massive fart, causing nearby animals to faint but prompting animals further away to bow to Mufasa. Following this, Timon and Pumbaa start to live in a small den behind Pride Rock as Rafiki holds up Simba for the animals to bow.

Mufasa shows young Simba the Pride Lands and explains to him the responsibilities of kingship and the Circle of Life which connects all living things. Meanwhile, Mufasa's younger brother Scar covets the throne and plots to eliminate Mufasa and Simba so he may become king. He later tricks Simba and his best friend Nala — to whom Simba is betrothed — into exploring a forbidden elephants' graveyard, where they are attacked by Shenzi, Banzai and Ed, who are now in league with Scar. Timon and Pumbaa, who are searching for their new home, to which their den got smashed by a pyramid of animals during "I Just Can't Wait to be King", soon witness Mufasa saving the cubs and Zazu, who is a hornbill and the king's majordomo. Though angry with Simba, Mufasa forgives him and 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 sets a trap for his brother and nephew, luring Simba into a gorge and having the hyenas drive a large herd of wildebeest into a stampede that will trample him. He informs Mufasa of Simba's peril, knowing the king will rush to save him. Mufasa saves Simba but ends up hanging perilously from the gorge's edge. Scar refuses to help Mufasa, instead sending him falling to his death. Scar then convinces Simba that the tragedy was Simba's own fault and advises him to flee the kingdom. He orders the hyenas to kill Simba, but he escapes. Scar tells the pride that Mufasa and Simba were killed in the stampede and steps forward as the new king, allowing a large pack of hyenas to live in the Pride Lands. With Timon and Pumbaa exhausted, since they were unknowingly caught in the stampede and fell off a waterfall, Timon decides to give up, until Pumbaa discovers a luxurious green jungle. The pair finally settle there with the philosophy of "Hakuna Matata", named Hakuna Matata Falls.

Back at the Pit of Shame, Rafiki is talking to Ma about Hakuna Matata and that her son must look beyond what he sees to find the motto. However, after an anguished Ma mistakes it for a metaphor and explains that her son takes things literally, she decides to search for Timon, much to Max's shock. After Rafiki reminds Ma, "The journey of the a thousand miles begins with the first step.", she shows her first step, and she lands squarely on Rafiki's foot.

Back at Hakuna Matata Falls, Timon and Pumbaa notice a flock of vultures in a nearby desert about to feed on their prey. The two then charge at the vultures, scattering them away while playing "bowling for buzzards". The pair notice Simba, who collapsed nearly dead from the escape of Pride Rock and they decide to rescue, then raise him under their philosophy. For now, Simba and the duo turned their backs against the world.

Meanwhile, King Scar worries about not being favored among the Pride Landers while dealing with the problems mentioned by the hyenas and Nala. On top of that, Scar is driven mad by the delusions he has of Mufasa's ghost. To calm his mental illness, Zazu suggests Scar gets a queen, which leads Scar to choose a young adult Nala so they can produce cubs. However, she scratches him across the face as an act of refusal. Nala then sets out on a journey to find help against Scar's tyrannical reign.

When Timon and Pumbaa search for a dung beetle in order to play "Bug Rugby" with Simba, he rescues them from a hungry lioness, who turns out to be Nala. She and Simba reunite and fall in love, and she urges him to return home, telling him the Pride Lands have become a drought-stricken wasteland under Scar's reign. Feeling guilty over his father's death, Simba refuses and storms off. He encounters Rafiki, who has been searching for him (since Simba got homesick and some milkweed flew around Rafiki, knowing he's ready). Rafiki tells him that Mufasa's spirit lives on in Simba, and is visited by the ghost of Mufasa in the night sky, who tells him he must take his rightful place as king. Realizing he can no longer run from his past, Simba decides to return home. Too much for Timon's horror, Nala explains that Simba had run off to challenge Scar, and that they need their help. Hurt that Simba left them, Timon unsuccessfully tries to persuade Pumbaa to stay, but Pumbaa follows after Simba and Nala. Timon indulges in the jungle's luxuries by himself, but loneliness starts to overcome him. Rafiki appears again and helps Timon realize that his true Hakuna Matata is with the ones he loves, prompting Timon to take off after Simba, Nala and Pumbaa.

Timon catches up and reconciles with Pumbaa, before they journey onward to Pride Rock. Aided by his friends, Simba sneaks past the hyenas at Pride Rock and confronts Scar. Scar taunts him over his role in Mufasa's death and backs him to the edge of the rock, where he reveals to Simba that HE murdered Mufasa. Enraged, Simba pins Scar to the ground and forces him to reveal the truth to the rest of the pride. As Timon and Pumbaa run into Ma and Max, who came looking for him, Timon proposes that they all help Simba by getting rid of the hyenas. Timon, Pumbaa, Nala, Sarabi, Zazu, Rafiki, and the lionesses fend off the hyenas, alongside Ma and Max, who are directed to construct a series of tunnels beneath the hyenas. When the tunnels are finished, Max knocks down the sticks, breaking the ground under the hyenas. However, the last few get stuck, prompting Timon willing to sacrifice by diving underground and break them himself. The cave-in commences, and the hyenas are ejected through the tunnels. Scar, attempting to escape, is then cornered by Simba at the top of Pride Rock. Scar begs for mercy and attempts to blame the hyenas for his actions; Simba spares his life but orders him to leave the Pride Lands forever. Scar suddenly attacks his nephew, but Simba manages to toss him from the top of Pride Rock. Scar survives the fall, but then gets eaten by his former henchmen of hyenas, who overheard him betray them to Simba.

With his enemies gone, Simba takes over the kingship as the rains begin to fall, restoring life to the land as he looks up to the star of Leo, a previous King of Pride Rock. During that time though, he banished lioness, who were loyal to Scar, including their leader Zira and an infant red cub. As Simba thanked Timon and Pumbaa for helping him, the duo knew it was time to show Timon's colony what life was like without predators. A couple of days later, Timon, Pumbaa and Simba take Ma, Max, Timon's rival Fred, and the entire colony to live in Hakuna Matata Falls to complete his "Hakuna Matata"; and Timon is praised as their hero.

King Simba and Queen Nala's newborn cub is presented to the assembled animals by Rafiki as Mufasa proudly watches over the ceremony from the heavens above. Later that night, Rafiki paints an emblem of the cub on the trunk of his tree, happily commenting on the security of the pride's future. Mufasa's spirit ruffles Rafiki's mane, stopping by to visit, and through this, Rafiki discovers another cub that's living in rogues known as the "Outlands", while in his tree with help from Mufasa's spirit. First, he accuses Mufasa of breaking the circle, and then he sees the new cub as trouble. In the Outlands, Nuka and Vitani, who are the oldest siblings of Scar, rush back to report the news of Kiara to Zira, who is their mother and the leader of her banished group of lions named the "Outsiders". Nuka later requests that as the oldest, he should be king, but Zira snaps at him, reminding him that her youngest son Kovu (Ryan O'Donohue) is the Chosen One to become the next king and to fulfill Scar's dying wish, in which she speaks to Scar's spirit that soon, they will reclaim his kingdom.

A few weeks later, Kiara becomes annoyed with her father's overprotective parenting. Simba assigns Timon and Pumbaa, who come to visit him, to follow her. Kiara ignores her father's warning and the duo's attention and enters the Outlands, where she meets Kovu, and they escape from a float of snapping crocodiles while befriending each other. When Kovu retaliates to Kiara's playing, Simba confronts the young cub just as he is confronted by Zira. Zira reminds Simba of how he exiled her and the other Outsiders, and she reveals that Scar selected Kovu to be his successor despite not being his biological father. After returning to the Pride Lands, Nala and the rest of the pride head back to Pride Rock while Simba lectures Kiara about the danger posed by the Outsiders; he then tells her that they are a part of each other. In the Outlands, Zira reminds Kovu that Simba killed Scar and exiled the lionesses, who respected him. Kovu explains that he does not think it is so bad to have Kiara as a friend, but Zira realizes she can use Kovu's friendship with Kiara to seek revenge on Simba.

Kion, the second-born cub of Simba and Nala, discovers that he has the ability to channel the roars of the Great Lions of the Past, giving him fierce power just like Scar, who had the same power before him, but, who tragically misused it for evil and lost it forever. At the instructions of Simba and Rafiki, Kion forms a team called the Lion Guard. As Kion goes against tradition and chooses his non-lion friends Bunga the honey badger, Ono the egret, Beshte the hippopotamus, and Fuli the cheetah to populate it, Simba scolds him for not taking his new responsibilities seriously. When they save Kiara from a herd of stampeding gazelle and defeat a hyena clan led by Janja and Mzingo the vulture, Simba realizes that Kion has protected the Pride Lands and is indeed ready to lead his new Lion Guard.

When Makuu wins a Mashidano duel against Pua and becomes the local leader of the crocodile float and invades hippo territory, chaos ensues for the Pride Lands. Kion is torn between fighting and surrendering and struggles to find a middle path to stand his ground to resolve the situation. Meanwhile, Ono tries to find a way to free Bunga from his stinky smell. When Kion winds up in the Outlands after falling in a river, he meets Jasiri, a friendly female hyena, who guides him to Flat Ridge Rock to regroup with the rest of the Lion Guard and explains how she and her clan respect the Circle of Life. When Jasiri gets cornered by Janja and his clan, Kion helps her fight them off. Meanwhile, the rest of the Guard struggle to find directions to a outskirt from Pride Rock known as "Flat Ridge Rock".

Due to a misunderstanding with Rafiki about the wisdom of honey badger's following Bunga averting a flood, the animals of the Pride Lands begin to think that Bunga is the wisest animal there is, but when his advice begins to cause more harm than good, Kion and the others must find some way to stop Bunga before it's too late. Simba leaves Kiara in charge of the Pride Lands while he and Nala go to Kilio Valley to attend a funeral for an old elephant friend named Amanifu, who has just died. Upon learning of this from Mzingo, Janja decides to take advantage of Kiara's inexperience and comes up with a plan to take over the Pride Lands. Meanwhile, Simba is nervous about performing his eulogy in front of the elephants, including Amanifu's daughter, Ma Tembo (Lynette DuPree). While helping the Lion Guard drive away Janja's clan following their attempted attack on a wildebeest herd, Ono temporarily loses his vision in his left eye when he gets dirt in it. When Janja overhears the news from Mzingo and the vultures, he plans to take advantage of this by trapping the Lion Guard between two rockslides in a narrow ravine with help from Cheezi and Chungu. Meanwhile, Rafiki tries to work on his paintings of the Lion Guard.

During the celebrated holiday of Kupatana in the Pride Lands, Kion and his friends rescue a jackal pup named Dogo from Janja's clan, but they soon discover that he is in a whole family of jackals and the matriarch, Reirei, and her husband Goigoi, manage to fool the Lion Guard into letting them stay. The Lion Guard feels as though that Fuli has no family and invite her to join their individual activities, oblivious to the fact that she enjoys being alone. Meanwhile, Bunga lets immunity go to his head after being told that he is immune to venom from Ushari the Egyptian cobra, and goes to the Outlands to play in a volcano, where he is targeted by Janja and his clan.

Bunga, Kion, Ono and Beshte search for Utamu grubs. On the way, Bunga tells the story of how he met Timon and Pumbaa when he was a baby cub. Meanwhile, Fuli goes on a mission alone and overexerts herself, leaving her vulnerable to an attack by Mzingo's flock of vultures. A young elephant named Mtoto looks up to Beshte as his hero and soon sees him in action when both of them are attacked by Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu. Tamaa, who is a drongo bird, uses his talent to imitate the voice of any animal to gain food from others, which annoys the Lion Guard for false alarms, but soon finds himself forced by Janja's clan to help them trap a herd of impalas in the Outlands. During a rainstorm, Bunga thinks that Rafiki's paintings can predict the future and believes that Kion will fall from a high tree. Soon, he and the rest of the Lion Guard desperately try to keep Kion from climbing trees. Meanwhile, Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu plan an attack on a zebra herd led by Thurston.

Under the suggestion of Simba, the Lion Guard leads a herd of zebras led by Muhimu and a herd of gazelles led by Swala to a new grazing ground located at the edge of the Pride Lands in Mbali Fields, which was very difficult. One of their obstacles to get to Mbali Fields is the Outlands as the Lion Guard works to keep both herds safe from Janja's clan, even when Muhimu starts to have a infant foal, who turns out to be a boy. When Simba and Bunga get trapped in a sinkhole, the Lion Guard struggles to find a way to rescue them. While in the hole, Simba and Bunga find a tunnel that leads to Nandembo Caverns, and the Lion Guard heads to the cavern entrance along with Timon and Pumbaa in the hopes of meeting them inside. Meanwhile, Simba and Bunga realize that being raised by Timon and Pumbaa is something that they have in common.

Beshte makes friends with a timid okapi named Ajabu, who has traveled to the Pride Lands to get away from Makucha the leopard, but the other members of the Lion Guard think that Ajabu is imaginary due to his tendency to hide from others. When Makucha shows up in the Pride Lands, however, the Guard soon realizes that Beshte's new friend is real and rushes off to help Ajabu. While the Lion Guard is on night patrol, they mistake a pack of shy scavengers named "aardwolves" for hyenas. Kion roars at them which sends them flying into the Outlands and causes a massive termite infestation in the Pride Lands. The Lion Guard soon realizes their mistake and travel to the Outlands to bring the aardwolves back, including their leader Mjomba, alongside members Haya and Ogopa. However, Reirei and Goigoi have their sights on the aardwolves as well. The Lion Guard discovers from Laini and her group of cute galagos that a leopard has moved into their tree. They find out that the leopard named Badili has been driven out of his home by the mean leopard Mapigano, who has taken over his territory in Mirihi Forest in the Back Lands. The Lion Guard teaches Badili to stand up to Mapigano and reclaim his territory.

After a failed attack on a wildebeest herd, Janja kicks Cheezi and Chungu out of the Outlands and promotes members Nne and Tano to be his new seconds-in-command. While the Lion Guard makes sure that the Pride Lands' trails are safe after the big rainstorm during the Mbali Fields migration, they find Cheezi and Chungu and reluctantly let them stay. Meanwhile, Nne and Tano plan an attack on an oryx herd and ditch Janja. The Lion Guard rescues a baby baboon, and Fuli is tasked with returning the baboon to its mother on Mapango Cliffs. Along the way, she has to avoid Mzingo's flock of vultures. Meanwhile, Kiara, Tiifu, and Zuri get trapped on an island after a flood. The Lion Guard helps rescue them in time for Kiara to preside over the cape buffalo herd's Royal Buffalo Wallow led by Vuruga Vuruga.

Rafiki tells a story to the Lion Guard and some young animals, including Mtoto, about a terrifying beast called the "Zimwi". Kion doesn't believe that such a creature exists, but when Mtoto and his friends claim to have seen it, the Guard searches the Pride Lands to find out the truth. Soon, even Kion has to admit that the Zimwi may really exist.

Jasiri asks for Kion's help in dealing with a pride of lions, who are keeping her family away from their watering hole, including her sister Madoa and two cubs Tunu and Wema. When he goes to help them out, he encounters the Outsider lions, Vitani, Nuka, Kovu, and Zira, who tries to get Kion to join her side by stating that she knows about more about the Roar than he does, such as its ability to bring a brief rain shower by roaring at a cloud. Zira eventually reveals to Kion that she knew Scar. When Kion refuses to join Zira, she and her lionesses trap him. Meanwhile, the rest of the guard head to the Outlands to rescue Kion after Rafiki informs them of who the Outsider lions are.

Kion uses the Roar of the Elders in anger when Janja's clan attack Nala. As a result, Kion loses control of the Roar and its power almost harms her. Worried that he nearly hurt his mother, Kion feels that he should never use the Roar again. Meanwhile, Ono feels self–conscious after the Roar blows off his head feathers. Overhearing Kion's plans to never use the Roar again, Makuu and his float of crocodiles take advantage of the opportunity and take over the Flood Plains. With some convincing from Mufasa and Nala, Kion gains the confidence to use the Roar when he confronts Makuu.

The Lion Guard encounters two gorilla princes named Majinuni and Hafifu, who have a message for Simba on behalf of their father King Sokwe of the Theluji mountains. However, the gorilla brothers have forgotten the message. Simba explains to Kion that every wet season, Sokwe gives Simba a message to let him know if their peace treaty still stands. The Guard goes back to the mountain to get the message with the gorilla brothers, who are reluctant to face their father. On the way, Kion, Bunga, Fuli, Ono, and Beshte experience snow for the first time.

Nala takes Kion and Kiara on a special trip to find Udugu. With Kion away, Simba leads the Lion Guard to help both an ostrich flock led by Mbuni and Swala's gazelle herd. When Simba orders the guard to follow his command, they make matters worse. Meanwhile, Nala disappears and Kion and Kiara have to work together to find her. Afterwards, Nala reveals that Udugu is not a place but a word that means "kinship" or the bond between siblings, and Simba learns that the Lion Guard works best not when they do exactly what he does but doing what they each do best. When a legendary eagle named Hadithi comes to the Pride Lands, Ono discovers that his hero is not what he seems when it turned out that he made up some of his adventures. While the Lion Guard search for leaves from the top of the tallest tree in the Pride Lands for Hadithi's Royal Mud Print ceremony, Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu target a group of klipspringers.

When Beshte's father Basi gets injured by a frightened young rhino while creating hippo lanes in the flood plains after a big rainstorm, Beshte must step up and make the hippo lanes instead. Meanwhile, Kion, Bunga, Ono, and Fuli lead a herd of stubborn sable antelope led by Bupu to higher ground, and Makuu and his float of crocodiles return and try to get rid of Basi so that there will be no rules to stop them. Ono acts as a replacement for a white rhino named Kifaru as his tickbird Mwenzi to guide him to Tamasha, a sparring event at Lake Matope, after Kifaru and Mwenzi have a falling-out. Meanwhile, the other members of the Lion Guard track down the tickbird and convince him to work out his differences with Kifaru. During a confrontation at a lake, Kifaru and Mwenzi must put aside their differences in order to help the Lion Guard fight off Makuu's float.

Muhimu asks Bunga to watch over her son Hamu while she takes some time to relax. Before long, other animals ask Bunga to watch their kids as well, including Twiga's daughter Juhudi. While watching over the young animals, Bunga works to keep them safe from Reirei's pack, including Dogo and his siter Kijana. Meanwhile, Goigoi tries to keep the Lion Guard from going to Hakuna Matata Falls to see how Bunga is getting on.

Simba gathers key leaders of the Pride Lands' different animal communities for the Savannah Summit in order to make arrangements for the upcoming dry season, including their leaders Big Baboon, Mbeya the rhino, Bupu, Twiga, Ma Tembo, Vuruga Vuruga, and Makuu. The Lion Guard get suspicious when Makuu is one of the attendees and suspect that he might ruin the summit. Meanwhile, Makuu headbutts Bupu when he wants to have his float sleep near his herd's watering hole during the dry season. Eventually, Kion realizes that Makuu wants to change from his trouble-making ways in order to become a better leader for his float and the Pride Lands.

When the Traveling Baboon Show led by Uroho arrives in the Pride Lands to perform their show, they end up stealing the other animals' food. After chasing the baboons to the Outlands, the Lion Guard has to come to their rescue when they are cornered by Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu. Ono becomes the protector of the egg that belongs to the hamerkop Kulinda when a harrier hawk named Mpishi leaves her hunting territory and comes to the Pride Lands to look for new food to try. When the egg hatches, Ono and the Lion Guard must keep the hamerkop chick safe from Mpishi, who teams up with Mzingo's second-in-command Mwoga.

As the dry season begins, Ma Tembo works to find a new water source, and Rafiki takes in a young mandrill named Makini as an apprentice. While fed up with always getting trampled and disturbed when the Lion Guard is near, Ushari inadvertently finds out that Kion talks to the spirit of Mufasa. When ambushed by Janja and his clan, Ushari forms an alliance with them and his friend Shupavu, who is the leader of her group of skinks including her second-in-command blue tongued rainbow skink Njano, her stealthy spy black western skink Nyeusi, and her seekers mullet skink Nyata and broadhead skink Waza, and they conspire to find a way to summon the spirit of Scar. While overhearing Rafiki, Ushari learns that the Evil Lions of the Past appear in fire, and once they are summoned by the Roar of the Elders, a bakora staff can be used to talk to them. With this knowledge, Janja's clan steals Makini's bakora staff and kidnap Kiara to lure Kion and the Guard to the Outlands, with the intent on tricking Kion to Roar with enough power to make the hyenas' volcano erupt in flames. After the Guard manages to save Kiara, Janja taunts Kion until he roars in anger and unknowingly summons Scar when the volcano erupts. Ushari and the hyenas are then able to speak with Scar's spirit in the volcano after dropping the bakora staff into it. Meanwhile, the Lion Guard and Kiara return to the Pride Lands safely, but are unaware that Scar has returned.

After the Lion Guard accidentally awakens Makuu and his float from their sleep during the dry season upon unknowingly sending a stampede near their sleeping cave, the Lion Guard and Simba work to find a new place for Makuu's float to endure the dry season. During this time, a crocodile named Kiburi conspires against Makuu which leads to them getting into a Mashidano as Ushari, under Scar's orders, persuades Kiburi to have his followers Tamka and Nduli attack Simba. After he and his followers are kicked out of Makuu's float upon Kiburi losing the Mashidano, and banished from the Pride Lands upon the attack on Simba being thwarted by the Lion Guard, Kiburi joins Janja's clan and Ushari in working for Scar, who plans to unite all the animals of the Outlands and get them under his leadership as part of his plot to take over the Pride Lands.

While working to free Thurston's zebra herd from the dry river before the mud hardens, Kion has no choice but to use the Roar on a dark cloud to make it rain. The rain from the cloud not only frees Thurston's herd, it also causes a flash flood that sends Beshte into the Outlands. After Njano informs Ushari of Beshte's presence, Scar enlists Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu to assist Shupavu's group of skinks in laying a trap to get rid of Beshte at Rocky Plato. Meanwhile, the rest of the Lion Guard head to the Outlands to search for Beshte.

As Rafiki gets Makini ready to paint for Simba's family, he gets disturbed by the antics of three young animals; elephant Chama, who was formerly a part of Ma Tembo's herd, sable antelope Mzaha, who was formerly a part of Bupu's herd, and monkey Furaha, who was formerly a part of Tumbili's troop. Meanwhile, the Lion Guard works to keep the animals of the Pride Lands safe from the threat of dry lightning. When fire from the dry lightning threatens Rafiki's tree, Chama, Mzaha, and Furaha save Rafiki and Makini and work with the Lion Guard to put out the fire.

The tsetse flies have been causing problems in the Pride Lands. Due to the Tsetse flies' dislike of zebra stripes, the Lion Guard escorts Thurston's herd and Mbeya to a source of water. Meanwhile, Scar instructs Janja's clan to get rid of Jasiri, as she is an ally of the Lion Guard and interfering in the plans to get Reirei's pack on their side. Janja's clan end up trapping Jasiri, Tunu and Wema in a steam vent. This causes her sister Madoa to enlist the Lion Guard to help rescue Jasiri with the unlikely help of Thurston.

The Ukumbusho, a performance that celebrates the friendship between the elephants and lions of the Pride Lands is being held in Mizimu Grove, and Makini is tasked with painting sunbursts on the elephants. The Lion Guard plays the original Guard which was led by a lion named Askari. As Ma Tembo states that the Guard was made up of lions at the last Ukumbusho, Makini paints Bunga, Fuli, Beshte, and Ono to look like lions while Timon and Pumbaa help them in practicing their performance. Due to Makini using yellow flowers for the elephants' sunburst paint, a swarm of bees start swarming Ma Tembo and the other elephants causing them to go on a rampage. The Lion Guard then rushes after the elephants to calm them down and save them from the bees.

When Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu target the Tikiti melons which hold water that the elephants need during the dry season, Scar orders Ushari to enlist his ferocious rock monitor acquaintance named Kenge to deal with the Lion Guard. His venomous bite temporarily paralyzes Kion, Fuli, and Beshte, causing Ono to enlist Makini to find a remedy to heal them faster while Rafiki is away. While Makini gets Ponya flowers for the remedy, Ono and Bunga are left to defend the Tikiti melons from Kenge and Janja's clan.

Under Scar's orders, Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu kidnap Zazu while he is compiling the Pride Lands' Morning Report, and take him to the Outlands to get him to reveal royal secrets about Simba. After Kion reminisces about how Zazu once saved him and Bunga from Makuu and Pua's crocodile float when he was a little cub, the Lion Guard finds out that Zazu has been kidnapped by Janja's clan and head to the Outlands to save him.

When there is a water shortage in the Pride Lands, Simba instructs the Lion Guard to travel to the Back Lands to find the zebra leader Dhahabu and ask her if she is willing to share her herd's watering hole with the Pride Lands' animals. When they find Dhahabu and her herd they discover that she is a rare golden zebra. Along the way, they have to face Makucha, who he and his leap of leopards are preventing the zebras from getting their water source.

A gecko named Hodari wants to be in a crocodile float, but Makuu doesn't want Hodari in his float due to his size. Witnessing this happening, Shupavu and Njano get Hodari to be part of Kiburi's float. Kiburi then comes up with a plan to use Hodari to find out all of Makuu's fighting moves and to get past the Lion Guard.

After Scar obtains the alliance with Reirei's pack, they work with Janja's clan to cause two different attacks in the Pride Lands at the same time, forcing the Lion Guard to split up to chase them down. In order to be in two places at once and to fool both Reirei and Janja's groups, Kion enlists the help of Tamaa to imitate the Guard's voices. Meanwhile, Scar orders Janja's clan to take down Rafiki while Reirei's pack causes a distraction elsewhere. The Guard realizes that Janja's clan are heading towards Rafiki and send Tamaa to confuse Reirei's pack while they go to assist Rafiki in fighting the hyenas. However, the jackals soon find out that Tamaa is tricking them and rush off to help the hyenas. During the battle, Scar appears in the flames of a nearby fire and speaks with Janja. Kion briefly witnesses Scar's spirit before it vanishes, but is unsure of what to make of it. With the help of Tamaa and Rafiki, the Guard wins the battle and Janja and Reirei retreat with their groups. In the area where Scar appeared, a scorch mark with a strange symbol remains. Rafiki recognizes it from paintings of the past as a sign of terrible evil, and goes off to consult the paintings to be sure.

On the next day, Scar gathers his army's fiction leaders Janja, Reirei, Kiburi, Ushari, and Mzingo, to which he announces that they will be taking down Simba and the Lion Guard. Scar then introduces them to a dangerous Tanzanian red clawed scorpion ( pandinus cavimanus ) named Sumu, who is the newest member of his army. While Ushari has confirmed that Sumu's poisonous venom is reserved for a more Royal target, Sumu departs to take down Simba while Scar declares that the day will be known as the day he returns, and defeats both Simba and the Lion Guard once and for all.

At Pride Rock, many Pride Landers, including the Lion Guard, Timon, Pumbaa, Ma Tembo's herd, Bupu's herd, Thurston's herd, Twiga's herd, Laini's group, and Mbeya's crash, have gathered for the Kumbuka ceremony, to which honors the day Simba defeated Scar. During the mist of it all, however, Sumu sneaks to the top of Pride Rock, and injects his venom on Simba's tail, to which his body reacts almost immediately to the poison. Simba suddenly collapses while Sumu sneaks away unseen and the celebration ends prematurely. When Rafiki inspects the bloated sting mark of a scorpion, the Lion Guard chase after Sumu; but he enters a hole which leads to the Outlands. Having made sure that the scorpion has left the Pride Lands, the Guard return to Pride Rock where they find a conscious Simba resting. Suddenly, Rafiki remembers the cure — volcanic ash. However, he warns them that it must be recovered by sundown. With the closest volcano being the one in the Outlands, the Lion Guard offer to retrieve it. Rafiki decides to send Makini out with the Guard, and she attaches a gourd to her bakora staff. With everyone set, they head out. In the Outlands, Scar congratulates Sumu that the plan was a success, and knows that the Guard would be on their way. He then orders Ushari to get the other Outlanders ready.

Proceeding with the plan, Kiburi, Reirei, Janja, and their respective gangs start to slow down the Lion Guard's progress through the Outlands. At last, they make their way up the volcano, where Makini swiftly pours a handful into her gourd, sealing it shut and re-attaching it to her staff. When they were just about to leave, Scar reveals himself and that he was behind the attack, leading the Lion Guard to work out that the crocodile, jackal and hyena attacks were planned as well. Scar commands for Ushari, Shupavu's group, Kiburi's float, Janja's clan, Reirei's pack, Kenge, and Mzingo's flock to surround the Guard and Makini. Trapped on a ledge near the boiling lava, Kion resorts to the final option. Scar warns Kion that using the Roar will simply cause the volcano to erupt, but Kion responds by telling Scar that he doesn't know as much about the Roar as he does, before using it in a similar manner to how he saved his mother from Makuu's float, aiming the Roar at the reptiles, Reirei's pack, and finally, Janja's clan, just before escaping.

During their escape, Scar sends Mzingo and his flock to retrieve the ash from Makini; Ono, Fuli and Bunga race back to help her, but Mwoga manages to knock the staff away from Makini, and the staff falls bottom-first into the lava. Seeing her having difficulty removing the gourd, Ono swoops in and severes the vines holding it. Kion then uses his Roar once again to send the vultures away, and they hurry back home as the Sun slowly sets. Fuli informs Kion that she can reach Pride Rock in time, but that she cannot carry the gourd herself. Bunga then volunteers to ride Fuli and carry the gourd himself, and the two race ahead to Pride Rock. When Fuli trips slightly, Bunga is propelled forward. Pumbaa manages to grab Bunga on his back, and Rafiki is able to catch the gourd before it breaks. Later, Kion and the rest of the team arrive at Pride Rock, where Simba is weak, but recovering. Rafiki orders everyone to leave Simba to his recovery, but Kion insists that he must talk to his father. He then explains to Rafiki that Scar has returned, and Rafiki worriedly agrees that Kion must speak to Simba once the king has recovered. Meanwhile, in the Outlands, Scar proclaims that the war has just begun.

In a series of mid and post-credits scenes, Simba and Rafiki send Makini and Fuli to Urembo River in the Back Lands to escort Kongwe, who is a wise tortoise; Kinyonga, who is a veiled chameleon, gets caught and sneaks away while the skinks chase after her; and Kion, Bunga, Kiara, Tiifu and Zuri escape into a network of underground tunnels from a wildfire to meet a sweet singing blind golden mole named Kuchimba, while a lioness forms her group of lionesses, although to sneak away the fire first.

Scar will Return...

Cast

 * Main article: Cast and crew of The Lion King Reborn and The Lion King Returns

The film features most of the voice cast reprising their roles from the original films and television series. It also features newcomers like Angela Bassett as Sarabi, Sarah Paulson as Sarafina, Sterling K. Brown as Pa, Ving Rhames as Pua, Jeffrey Tambor as Hadithi, Seth Green as Mapigano, Mindy Kaling as Kulinda, and Natalie Coughlin as Mtoto. Son of Mufasa and Sarabi, who grows up to become King of the Pride Lands. Simba later becomes Nala's mate, and Kiara and Kion's overprotective father. Broderick also re-voiced Simba's dialogues that were originally provided by Rob Lowe when he recurred in The Lion Guard. The daughter of Simba and Nala, who grows up to become future Queen of the Pride Lands. Neve Campbell was originally going to reprise her role as Kiara from The Lion King II: Simba's Pride. Zira's son and Nuka and Vitani's younger brother, who was "hand-chosen" by Scar to become King of the Pride Lands instead of Simba. Simba's best friend and later his mate as Queen of the Pride Lands. Moira Kelly was originally set to reprise her role before Union came in to re-dub the character's lines from the original films recorded by Kelly. Simba's father, King of the Pride Lands as the film begins. Since his death after being killed into a wildebeest stampede orchestrated by Scar, Mufasa lives on as a spirit that gives his grandson Kion advice on how to get through any tough plight. The leader of the Outsiders, Scar's most loyal follower and the mother of Nuka, Vitani, and Kovu. A meerkat and the son of Ma and his late Pa, who becomes Pumbaa's best friend and one of Simba's adoptive parents. Though somewhat selfish, arrogant, and withdrawn, Timon shows courageous loyalty towards his friends. When he and Pumbaa found utamu grubs, they met Bunga as a cub and adopted him as their nephew. With Columbia Pictures' permission, some of Snowbell's dialogues that were recorded by Lane from the 1999 film Stuart Little and its 2002 sequel Stuart Little 2 were used for some of Timon's lines. Timon's similar voice actors Quinton Flynn and Kevin Schon, who voiced Thurston and Chungu, share the character's lines alongside Lane, although they were uncredited. A common warthog, who becomes Timon's "bestest best friend" and one of Simba's adoptive parents. Though slow-witted, Pumbaa is very empathetic and willing to trust and befriend anyone. He is also claustrophobic and passes gas in crowds. When he and Timon found utamu grubs, they met Bunga as a cub and adopted him as their nephew. A wise mandrill (or "silly blue-bottomed baboon", as Zazu calls him), who teaches Timon Hakuna Matata, as well as giving him faith in himself to do what he dreams of doing. Rafiki also serves as shaman of the lion king and presents newborn cubs of the King and Queen to the animals of the Pride Lands. The late Robert Guillaume taught Payton how to record his previous dialogues in the films shortly before his death. An aardvark, who is Muhanga's mate. Terry Crews was originally set to voice Muhangus. Zira's son, Vitani and Kovu's older brother and the oldest male of Zira's family. Zira's daughter and Nuka and Kovu's sister. A hornbill, who serves as the lion king's majordomo (or "Mufasa's little stooge", as Shenzi calls him). Mufasa's mate, Simba's mother, and the leader of the lioness hunting party. She is also the grandmother of Kiara and Kion. Bassett was taught to speak how the late Madge Sinclair did when she voiced the character back in 1994. The sassy and short-tempered female leader of her clan of hyenas. An aggressive and hot-headed Mexican-accent hyena prone to complaining and acting on impulse. A dim-witted hyena, who does not talk, only communicating through laughter. A mole that talks with Zazu. Nala's mother, who is shown briefly talking to Sarabi. Sarafina was previously voiced by the late Zoe Leader in the original 1994 film. A young mandrill, who becomes Rafiki's apprentice. A spotted hyena living in the Outlands, who is the leader of her friendly clan and allies with Kion. A honey badger, who is the bravest member of the Lion Guard. He is also Timon and Pumbaa's adoptive nephew and Kion's best friend. A cheetah, who is the fastest member of the Lion Guard, the only female member, Kion's friend and second-in-command. A cattle egret, who is the keenest of sight of the Lion Guard and Kion's friend. A hippopotamus, who is the strongest member of the Lion Guard and Kion's friend. Timon's caring mother and Pa's widow. She is overly protective and attached to her son, often trying to get him accepted among the colony, but never succeeding. Timon's paranoid, eccentric but deep down kind-hearted uncle. He initially doubts Timon's ability, but warms up to him at the film's climax. Jeff Bennett modulated the rest of the character's new lines due to Stiller's health. Mufasa's younger brother, Simba's uncle and Kiara and Kion's granduncle, who overtakes the throne. Scar was also once the leader of a Lion Guard, but the power went to his head and he began to believe that he should be king instead of Mufasa. He lost the Roar after he used it to destroy his fellow Lion Guard members when they refused to help him overthrow Mufasa. Irons re-voiced some dialogues originally recorded from English actor David Oyelowo, who voiced Scar in The Lion Guard. A lion cub, who is Simba and Nala's second-born son, Mufasa's grandson, Kiara's younger brother, the Prince of the Pride Lands, and the leader of the Lion Guard, as well as its fiercest member. Gilbert Gottfried was originally set to voice Kion as a young adult before Myers confirmed that Kion would only appear as a cub. A lioness cub friend of Kiara and a member of Simba's Pride, who is somewhat more sensible than her constant companion Zuri. A lioness cub friend of Kiara and a member of Simba's Pride, who is somewhat vain and hates getting dirty. A Nile crocodile, who is the leader of his float after he defeated Pua in a "mashindano". He and his float antagonized the Lion Guard and caused trouble before he works to become a better leader for his float and the Pride Lands. Timon's late father and Ma's late husband, who was renowned for his bravery in facing the hyenas, nicknamed "Fearless Buzz". Brown was originally chosen to voice Mufasa and Scar's father Ahadi before that character was removed from the film's original script. A yellow baboon, who is the leader of the Traveling Baboon Show. A fork-tailed drongo, who can imitate the voice of any animal. A young African bush elephant calf, who is part of Ma Tembo's herd. He also looks up to Beshte as his personal hero. Mtoto was previously voiced by Justin Felbinger in The Lion Guard. An Egyptian cobra, who often conflicted with Bunga and would get disturbed whenever the Lion Guard was near him. Upon Scar's spirit being unleashed, Ushari becomes a second-in-command to him in Scar's plot to unite all the animals of the Outlands in a plot to get revenge on the Pride Lands. A cunning and ruthless spotted hyena, who is the leader of the clan. An African bush elephant with a broken right tusk, who is the leader of the herd and the daughter of the late Amanifu, an old friend of Simba's, who was also the former leader of the elephant herd. Queen Latifah was originally cast as Ma Tembo. A hippopotamus, who is Beshte's father and leader of his pod. A galago, who is the leader of her group in Ndefu Grove. Grey DeLisle-Griffin was originally cast to voice Laini. A sneaky fire skink, who is the leader of her group. She dislikes being close to Pride Rock. Kristin Chenoweth was originally set to voice Shupavu. A cream-colored African leopard from the Back Lands, who tracked Ajabu to the Pride Lands since okapis are rare creatures. Makucha is later revealed to be the leader of his leap which is first shown when the Lion Guard was looking for water in the Back Lands during a water shortage in the Pride Lands. A stubborn sable antelope, who is the leader of the herd and values polite behavior. The former leader of the local Nile crocodile float. Pua was originally voiced by Gerald C. Rivers in The Lion Guard. A clever and manipulative black-backed jackal, who is the leader of the pack. An arrogant Nile crocodile, who was part of Makuu's float. He and his followers defied Makuu's orders which led to them working with Ushari. A calculative white-backed vulture, who is the leader of his parliament. He sometimes serves as Janja's spy and scout. An excitable spotted hyena, who is one of Janja's right-hand henchmen. An unintelligent spotted hyena with a slightly heavier build than the other hyenas, who is the other of Janja's right-hand henchmen. Mark Hamill was originally cast as Chungu. A handsome yet dimwitted plains zebra, who is the leader of the herd. Schon revealed that his name is Thurston, making him one of the few characters without a Swahili name. His name is a tribute to Jim Backus, who played Thurston Howell in Gilligan's Island. Brendan Fraser was originally set to voice Thurston. A sly and stout but smart spotted hyena. Black also provided lead locals in "A Beautiful Day (Ni Siku Nzuri)", "Find Your Roar" and "Fujo". An old black rhinoceros who is the leader of his crash. Cheech Marin's partner Tommy Chong was originally set to voice Mbeya. A Masai giraffe, who is the leader of the herd. Cartañá also performed as lead vocals in the songs "A Trail To Hope" and "Kupatana Community". A devious and sloping but smart spotted hyena. An olive baboon, who is the leader of his troop. Rob Lowe was originally set to voice Big Baboon, renamed as "Nyani". A yellow baboon, who is part of the Traveling Baboon Show. A yellow baboon, who is part of the Traveling Baboon Show. A playful and excitable baboon, who gets taken back to his mother at Mapango Cliffs by Fuli. An African buffalo, who is the leader of her herd. Kiara once presided over their Royal Buffalo Wallow. An African bush elephant, who is part of Ma Tembo's herd. An olive baboon, who is part of Big Baboon's troop. A plains zebra, who is the leader of the herd. Emma Burton voiced the character in the UK release of the film. A young black rhinoceros calf. An impatient and grouchy African bush elephant, who is part of Ma Tembo's herd. A foolish and clumsy white-backed vulture, who is a member of the parliament. A legendary African hawk-eagle, who faked having invented the Hadithi Spin. Hadithi was previously voiced by John O'Hurley in The Lion Guard. An African harrier-hawk, who leaves her hunting grounds from an unknown land and travels to the Pride Lands looking for a rare meal. A hamerkop, who leaves her egg in Ono's nest, while she builds a new nest that is safe from predators. She later names her baby Ona, in honor of Ono. Kulinda was previously voiced by The Lion Guard writer Elise Allen in the television series while Allen written some of the film's synopsis. A plains zebra with golden stripes, who is the leader of the herd. Bunga admires her greatly. Dhahabu was modeled after the late Zoe the Golden Zebra, who resided in Hawaii's Three Ring Ranch. A greedy and dimwitted black-backed jackal, who is Reirei's mate. Albert Brooks was originally cast to voice Goigoi. A Masai giraffe, who is part of Twiga's herd. Rob Paulsen was originally set to voice Shingo. An aardvark, who is Muhangus' wife. Estelle Harris, who voiced Timon's mother in The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa, was originally set to voice Muhanga. A cheerful ostrich, who is the leader of her flock. A mountain gorilla and friend of Simba, who is Majinuni and Hafifu's father. A Thomson's gazelle, who is the leader of her herd. She is also a friend of Muhimu. An electric blue gecko, who dreamed of being in a crocodile float. Makuu made him an honorary member of his float due to his bravery when confronting Kiburi. An okapi, who traveled to the Pride Lands to get away from Makucha. A friendly cream-colored African leopard from Mirihi Forest in the Back Lands, who was driven out of his territory by his bully Mapigano. A spotted hyena, who is Jasiri's sister and is part of her clan. A mountain gorilla prince, brother of Majinuni, and son of King Sokwe, who came to the Pride Lands to deliver a message to Simba. A mountain gorilla prince, brother of Hafifu, and son of King Sokwe, who came to the Pride Lands to deliver a message to Simba. A poor-sighted white rhinoceros. A red-billed oxpecker, who is Kifaru's tickbird and best friend. A yellow wagtail. An overconfident and unintelligent Nile crocodile, who is one of Kiburi's followers. A young banded mongoose pup. Shauku is also a best friend of Mtoto and Young Rhino. A black-backed jackal pup, who is one of Reirei and Goigoi's sons. He has blue eyes compared to the other pups, who have brown eyes. A black-backed jackal pup, who is Reirei and Goigoi's daughter and Dogo's sister. A young olive baboon, who is a part of Big Baboon's troop. Gumba is also a friend of Mtoto. A Zanzibar red colobus, who is the leader of his troop. He grew tired of Furaha's antics and sent him away. An African bush elephant, who is part of Ma Tembo's herd. A former stubborn sable antelope, who is part of Bupu's herd. A young Masai giraffe calf, who is Twiga's daughter. A plains zebra, who is Starehe's brother and part of Dhahabu's herd. A plains zebra, who is Raha's sister and part of Dhahabu's herd. A worried common genet, who is the leader of her group. A sable antelope, who is part of Bupu's herd. An Outsider lioness, who is part of Zira's pride. A nervous and shy aardwolf. A grumpy and impatient aardwolf, who is the leader of the pack. A bright and bubbly aardwolf. An African bush elephant, who is part of Ma Tembo's herd. A teenage fun-loving African bush elephant, who used to be part of Ma Tembo's herd. He, Mzaha, and Furaha are best friends and share a tree together near Big Springs. A teenage fun-loving sable antelope, who used to be part of Bupu's herd. A teenage fun-loving Zanzibar red colobus, who used to be part of Tumbili's troop. A cream-colored African leopard, who bullied Badili upon invading his territory in Mirihi Forest in the Back Lands. Mapigano was previously voiced by Jorge Diaz (who voiced Nduli) in The Lion Guard. A Nile crocodile, who is one of Kiburi's followers. An enormous and ferocious rock monitor, and acquaintance of Ushari, who dislikes being called "little" or else it will drive him berserk. His venomous bite induces temporary paralysis. A spotted hyena cub and brother of Wema, who is part of Jasiri's clan. A spotted hyena cub and sister of Tunu, who is part of Jasiri's clan. A young plains zebra foal, who is Muhimu's son. A young plains zebra foal, who is part of Thurston's herd. Kwato is also a best friend of Mtoto. A young ostrich chick, who is a friend of Mtoto. A meerkat, who is Timon's other best friend back at the meerkat colony, who can sometimes be a practical joker. Bullock reprises his role from The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa for a special cameo appearance. A very paranoid meerkat formerly on Sentry duty before Timon took his place. A blue tongued rainbow skink, who is part of Shupavu's group and works as her second-in-command. A Tanzanian red claw scorpion and Scar's assassin, who was sent by him to sting Simba. Adam Driver was originally set to voice Sumu.
 * Matthew Broderick as Simba
 * Joseph Williams as Simba's singing voice ( archive recordings )
 * Jonathan Taylor Thomas as young Simba ( archive recordings ). Archive recordings of Matt Weinberg were originally set to be mixed with Thomas' dialogues from the 2004 prequel before they were taken out.
 * Jason Weaver as young Simba's singing voice ( archive recordings )
 * Eden Riegel as:
 * Kiara
 * Michelle Horn as infant Kiara ( archive recordings )
 * Charity Sanoy as infant Kiara's singing voice ( archive recordings )
 * Additional Voice
 * Jason Marsden as Kovu
 * Ryan O'Donohue as infant Kovu ( archive recordings )
 * Gabrielle Union as Nala
 * Heather Headley as Nala's singing voice ( archive recordings from the Broadway version of The Lion King )
 * Niketa Calame as young Nala ( archive recordings )
 * Laura Williams as young Nala's singing voice ( archive recordings )
 * James Earl Jones as Mufasa
 * Nika Futterman as Zira
 * Nathan Lane as Timon
 * Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa
 * Khary Payton as:
 * Rafiki
 * Muhangus
 * Additional Voice
 * Andy Dick as Nuka
 * Lacey Chabert as Vitani
 * Rowan Atkinson as Zazu
 * Angela Bassett as Sarabi
 * Whoopi Goldberg as Shenzi
 * Cheech Marin as Banzai
 * Jim Cummings as:
 * Ed
 * Marmot
 * Sarah Paulson as Sarafina
 * Landry Bender as Makini
 * Maia Mitchell as Jasiri
 * Joshua Rush as Bunga
 * Pierce Gagnon as infant Bunga ( illusion )
 * Diamond White as Fuli
 * Ariana Greenblatt as infant Fuli ( illusion ). Quvenzhané Wallis was originally set to voice infant Fuli.
 * Atticus Shaffer as Ono
 * Dusan Brown as Beshte
 * Julie Kavner as Ma
 * Jerry Stiller as Uncle Max
 * Jeremy Irons as Scar
 * Max Charles as Kion
 * Sarah Hyland as Tiifu
 * Madison Pettis as Zuri
 * Blair Underwood as Makuu
 * Sterling K. Brown as Pa
 * Sinbad as Uroho
 * C. J. Byrnes as Tamaa
 * Natalie Coughlin as Mtoto
 * Christian Slater as Ushari
 * Andrew Kishino as Janja
 * Lynette DuPree as Ma Tembo
 * Kevin Michael Richardson as Basi
 * Meghan Strange as:
 * Laini
 * Shupavu
 * Additional Voice
 * Steven Blum as Makucha
 * Michael Dorn as Bupu
 * Ving Rhames as Pua
 * Ana Gasteyer as Reieri
 * Common as Kiburi
 * Greg Ellis as Mzingo
 * Vargus Mason as Cheezi
 * Kevin Schon as:
 * Chungu
 * Thurston
 * Beau Black as Nne
 * Howy Parkins as Mbeya
 * Alex Cartañá as:
 * Twiga
 * Additional Voice
 * Dee Bradley Baker as:
 * Tano
 * Big Baboon
 * Mwevi
 * Mwizi
 * Baby Baboon
 * Virginia Watson as:
 * Vuruga Vuruga
 * Mtoto's Mother
 * Baby Baboon's Mother
 * Kari Wahlgren as:
 * Muhimu
 * Young Rhino
 * Additional Voice
 * Nick Watt as Zito
 * Cam Clarke as Mwoga
 * Jeffrey Tambor as Hadithi
 * Carla Hall as Mpishi
 * Mindy Kaling as Kulinda
 * Renée Elise Goldsberry as Dhahabu
 * Phil LaMarr as:
 * Goigoi
 * Shingo
 * Russi Taylor as:
 * Muhanga
 * Mbuni
 * Additional Voice
 * John Rhys-Davies as King Sokwe
 * Tunisia Hardison as Swala
 * Justin Hires as Hodari
 * Ron Funches as Ajabu
 * Jack McBrayer as Badili
 * Maisie Klompus as Madoa
 * Dan Howell as Majinuni
 * Phil Lester as Hafifu
 * Maurice LaMarche as Kifaru
 * Rhys Darby as Mwenzi
 * Nolan North as:
 * Nyuni
 * Tamka
 * Jacob Guenther as:
 * Shauku
 * Dogo
 * Additional Voice
 * Amber Hood as Kijana
 * Jacquez Swanigan as Gumba
 * Ace Gibson as:
 * Tumbili
 * Johari
 * Sable Antelope #1
 * Ivy Bishop as Juhudi
 * Rico Rodriguez as Raha
 * Raini Rodriguez as Starehe
 * Jessica DiCicco as:
 * Genet
 * Additional Voice
 * Erica Luttrell as:
 * Boboka
 * Lioness
 * Additional Voice
 * Ogie Banks as Haya
 * Charlie Adler as Mjomba
 * Marieve Herington as:
 * Ogopa
 * Zigo
 * Jacob Bertrand as Chama
 * Cade Sutton as Mzaha
 * Mekai Curtis as Furaha
 * Seth Green as Mapigano
 * Jorge Diaz as Nduli
 * Kristofer Hivju as Kenge
 * Crimson Hart as Tunu
 * Fiona Hart as Wema
 * Lyons Luke Mathias as:
 * Hamu
 * Kwato
 * A young hippo
 * McKenna Grace as:
 * Kambuni
 * A young hippo
 * Sam Lavagnino as a young hippo
 * Carter Hastings as a young hippo
 * S. Scott Bullock as Fred
 * Jeff Bennett as Iron Joe
 * Ford Riley as:
 * Njano
 * Sumu
 * Gerald C. Rivers as Male Crocodile
 * Dana Davis as Young Hare, Porcupine Brothers, Female Skink
 * ViviAnn Yee as Young Serval
 * Matthew Yang King as Male Buffalo

In order to tradition, Frank Welker voiced Leo the Lion, although Welker was credited as an "Additional Voice". Leo appears as a deceased King of Pride Rock, who appears as a bright and big star in the night sky and in the clouds with the previous Kings of the Past when Kion uses the Roar of the Elders in a brief cameo. C. C. H. Pounder, Amy Poehler, and AJ McLean make uncredited voice performances as Kongwe, Kinyonga, and Kuchimba in the mid and post-credits scenes.

Robert Guillaume was originally set to reprise his role as Rafiki from the previous The Lion King films as well as the television series The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa. However, he passed away in October 24th, 2017, and his representative confirmed that he had not recorded any lines for the film since his retirement in 2014. Khary Payton (who voices Rafiki in The Lion Guard) later came in to re-dub the character's lines from the original films. The film is dedicated to Guillaume's memory alongside Suzanne Pleshette's, who was the original voice of Zira; Nika Futterman re-dubbed the character's lines from the 1998 film The Lion King II: Simba's Pride.

In an earlier script of the The Lion King Reborn, it was confirmed that Tatiana, The Duke Meerkat, Toucan Dan, Uncle Boaris, Pumbaa Jr., Jumbo Jumbo, Ned the Elephant, and Uncle Ernie would appear, to which Tress MacNeille, Jeff Bennett, Jim Cummings, Nancy Cartwright, Patrick Fraley, and Frank Welker would reprise their voice roles from The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa. However, the characters' scenes didn't make it in time for the theatrical cut of the film. Boaris and Ernie are however briefly mentioned by Pumbaa only in the theatrical release of the film while archive recordings of Jason Rudofsky as Flinchy taken from the 2004 prequel were taken out and re-used in the director's cut of the film.

Appearances
To be continued

Production

 * See also: Production of The Lion King Reborn and The Lion King Returns

"Since November 2016, I have become a huge fan of The Lion King and started to come up with a extended version of the original movie. I would use its sequel Simba's Pride and it's midquel Hakuna Matata for a point-of-view with Timon Berkowitz and Pumbaa Smith, not just having to storytell Simba. After a few months on figuring out, this film will soon be released onto Ideas Wikia published from YouTube for fans loving my favorite choice of well-known actors, including Tony Award winner Matthew Broderick, Black Reel Award winner Gabrielle Union, Golden Globe Award winner Angela Bassett, Laurence Olivier Award winner Nathan Lane, Daytime Emmy Award winner Ernie Sabella, and Drama League Award winner Jeremy Irons, as well as co-starring Eden Riegel, Max Charles, Joshua Rush, Diamond White, Nika Futterman, Jason Marsden, Andy Dick, Lacey Chabert, Rowan Atkinson and Khary Payton. Even though for a director, I'm also the narrator when you see this interesting. For fans liking the films and the Lion Guard, they will adore this upcoming ultimate film of the year: The Lion King Reborn."

- Christian Myers

It was originally planned to be released in summer of 2017, known as The Lion King: The Special Edition Cut. It is to be rated PG for mild rude humor, action and peril. Christan Myers came on board to tie the original films and television series on Movie Maker and to direct The Lion King Reborn. However, in April 2018, the film's title would then be changed to The Lion King: The King Has Returned with the Lion Guard confirmed. On May, the film's title was changed again to its title: The Lion King: Return of the King. A teaser trailer will be released soon. On June 14th, the title was once changed again to its official title The Lion King Reborn. On July 5th, Myers has stated that the film would be "darker" and more "serious" in tone than from previous The Lion King adaptations.

The film includes the film The Lion King, its sequel The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, its midquel The Lion King 1½: Hakuna Matata, as well as episodes of The Lion Guard from Season 1 and 2, including "Return of the Roar", "Never Judge A Hyena By Its Spots", "The Rise of Makuu", "Bunga the Wise", "Can't Wait to be Queen", "Eye of the Beholder", "The Kupatana Celebration", "Fuli's New Family", "The Search for Utamu", "Follow That Hippo!", "The Call of the Drongo", "Paintings and Predictions", "The Mbali Fields Migration", "Bunga and the King", "The Imaginary Okapi", "Too Many Termites", "The Trouble with Galagos", "Janja's New Crew", "Baboons!", "Beware the Zimwi", "Lions of the Outlands", "Never Roar Again", "The Lost Gorillas", "The Trail to Udugu", "Ono's Idol", "Beshte and the Hippo Lanes", "Ono the Tickbird", "Babysitter Bunga", "The Savannah Summit", "The Traveling Baboon Show", "Ono and the Egg", "The Rise of Scar", "Let Sleeping Crocs Lie", "Swept Away", "Rafiki's New Neighbors", "Rescue in the Outlands", "The Ukumbusho Tradition", "The Bite of Kenge", "The Morning Report", "The Golden Zebra", "The Little Guy", "Divide and Conquer", "The Scorpion's Sting", "The Widsom of Kongwe", "Undercover Kinyonga", and "The Underground Adventure". Director Myers confirmed that he will not include the episode "Timon and Pumbaa's Christmas".

The film is most likely based on Tailikuu1's recreation of The Lion King on Kingdom Hearts Forums Fanfiction as a novelization.

This will also be the first The Lion King film to be shot in the 1.43:1 aspect ratio.

Deleted scenes

 * "The Kidnapping of Tatiana" — While Max makes a brief escape from Shenzi, Banzai and Ed, a giant black cobra bursts in and kidnaps the meerkat colony's princess Tatiana, leaving her crown left with paint over it, mistaking it as blood.
 * "Timon Meets Pumbaa V1" — When Rafiki gives advice to Timon by heading to Pride Rock, he gets lost and alone, and finds himself inside the mouth of one of the hyenas. He runs out of the hyena's mouth and runs into a warthog named Pumbaa, who was captured by the hyenas. The hyenas gang up on them, saying that they'll have a little "kat"-nip, and then that they'll "pig" out. Timon and Pumbaa make a run for it, away from the hyenas, and they say their goodbyes and go their separate ways.
 * "Timon Meets Pumbaa V2" — When departing from the hyena chase, Timon runs into Pumbaa again, with the latter asking the former if he was going to the colony, but they quickly form a bond and Pumbaa accompanies Timon to live in Pride Rock.
 * "The Morning Report" — Zazu sings a song about his Morning Report to Mufasa while Simba tries to catch the marmot, who is Zazu's assistant, with his paws.
 * "Chow Down" — Banzai, Ed, and Shenzi sing a rock-n-roll song as they attempt to eat Simba and Nala after they enter the Elephant Graveyard with Zazu. It is sung primarily as a duet between Shenzi and Banzai, with Ed occasionally vocalizing and laughing in time with the music.
 * "Be Prepared" — Scar vocally sings a treacherous song to his henchmen of hyenas to be ready for the murder of Mufasa.
 * "The Rescue of Tatiana" — When Timon and Pumbaa finally found their paradise at Hakuna Matata Falls, the silence of the jungle is broken when they hears Tatiana about becoming a meal for the cobra. Pumbaa feels that once Timon saves her, the warthog would be alone again, but Timon disagrees, saying that once he rescues Tatiana, Pumbaa would join the colony, and that he would no longer be an outcast. Pumbaa is overjoyed by this, and the two of them rescue Tatiana and welcome her into their paradise.
 * "Everglades" — When Pumbaa accidentally lays an egg, to which a baby crocodile is hatched, Pumbaa thinks he's his son while Timon believes that birds only lay eggs and that he should not trust Pumbaa to be Pumbaa Jr.'s "mommy" and also calling Pumbaa Jr. an "ugly chicken".
 * "Jungle Arcade" — Timon and Pumbaa attempt Simba as a cub to try out their games like "Slingshot", "Hippo Hop", "Burper", "Bug Drop", and "Jungle Pinball".
 * "Parenthood" — Scenes are shown of Simba's chaotic upbringing as a hyperactive and affectionate young cub.
 * "Simba's Endless Night" — Simba sings grieves of the late Mufasa. The song includes accompanying vocals from Rafiki and a chorus.
 * "Timon's Fission" — After seeing that Tatiana is saved by Timon, the colony begins celebrate, as Tatiana offers her hand to him in marriage. After Pumbaa reminds him, Timon asks the Duke to declare Pumbaa an official member of the colony; but the Duke says that only meerkats are allowed to live in the colony, and gives Timon a choice between anything he could ever want; power, riches and love, or being Pumbaa's friend. Timon finally decides to both have Tatiana for marriage and Pumbaa for being his friend.
 * "My Lullaby (Original Concept)" — TBA.
 * "Zuka Zama (Original Concept)" — TBA.
 * "Baboons! (Original Concept)" — TBA.
 * "Outta Be a Stubborn Elephant" — TBA.

Critical reception
The Lion King Reborn was released to critical acclaim from audiences, critics and even fans, who liked the entire The Lion King franchise. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a "Certified Fresh" rating of 83%, based on 588 reviews, with an average rating of 7.5 out of 10. On Metacritic, the film has a score of 66 out of 100, based on 87 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". IGN holds a score of 9.9/10, and IMDb holds a score of 8.6/10 based on 336,967 votes.

Audience reception
Fans and critics praised the film for it's excellent animation, voice acting (mostly Irons' role as Scar) and while retaining the spirit of the franchise, it included newer elements. Audience reception measured by scientific polling methods was highly positive. Audiences randomly polled by CinemaScore on opening day gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale. Surveys from SurveyMonkey and comScore's PostTrak found that 89% of audience members graded the film positively, including a rare five-star rating.

Difference argument between The Lion King Reborn and Finding Marlin
When Christian Myers began to take several thoughts from FreezingTNT's Finding Marlin, the two got into a little argument with their ideas typed in the same way, including how their pages are supposed to be famous. After TNT had a talk with Myers and Christopher Haye, Myers thought some of his "problems" to solve and promised not to sadden TNT again.

Box office
W.I.P.

TvTropes page

 * Main article: The Lion King Reborn/Tropes

Release
The Lion King Reborn is scheduled to be release in November 21st, 2018, to which similar Disney film Ralph Breaks the Internet will be released in theaters in the same day. It was originally going to be released in August 2017.

Marketing
It is scheduled to be released on Digital HD, DVD and Blu-ray. On Disc 1 of the DVD, it features the film in widescreen format, a behind-the-scene documentary, footage of the voice actors, DVD Rom, a set-up menu, and a sneak peak for Disc 2. On Disc 2, it features the film in fullscreen format, music videos, sneak peaks, "Behind the Legend: Timon" with Peter Graves, "Who Wants to be King of the Jungle?" with Meredith Vieira, and a set-up menu. On both discs, it includes a Mystery Science Theater 3000-style commentary featuring Timon and Pumbaa and all of the "It's UnBungalievable" shorts are featured as hidden Easter eggs. It will also be released on VHS, dating as one the rarest video tapes to ever be made and to be found and it marked the first Hollywood produced film to be on that format as well as the first Disney release on it since Bambi II. However, the VHS release had even more demand (particularly from fans) than any tapes in history and this would lead into manufacturers producing VHS tapes again, but this time with more innovations such as them having better, enchanted resolutions for the HD remastered tapes.
 * Main article: Marketing of The Lion King Reborn and The Lion King Returns

Timon & Pumbaa's Ultimate Virtual Safari Breakdown
A short film named Timon & Pumbaa's Ultimate Virtual Safari Breakdown will be released, featuring Timon and Pumbaa taking Ma and Uncle Max on a virtual ride they have built with parodies of various Disneyland attractions including "It's a Small World", "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride", "Matterhorn Bobsleds", "Pirates of the Caribbean", "Jungle Cruise", "The Haunted Mansion", and "Splash Mountain".
 * See also: Timon & Pumbaa's Ultimate Virtual Safari Breakdown

It features Lane, Sabella, Kavner and Stiller reprising their voice roles from this film.

Video game
A video game for The Lion King Reborn will be released after the film's release. The game will include a story mode, a playable mode, and will have most of the cast returning from the film with a few exceptions: Cam Clarke as Simba; Vanessa Marshall as Nala; Tara Strong as Kiara; Tress MacNeille as Shenzi and Ma; and Jeff Bennett as Uncle Max and Zazu, replacing Matthew Broderick, Gabrielle Union, Eden Riegel, Whoopi Goldberg, Julie Kavner, Jerry Stiller, and Rowan Atkinson respectively.
 * See also: The Lion King Reborn (video game)

Soundtrack
The film has most of the songs from all three films including "Digga Tunnah", "That's All I Need", "Circle of Life", "I Just Can't Wait to be King", "Hakuna Matata", "Can You Feel the Love Tonight", "He Lives in You", "We Are One", and "My Lullaby". It also includes most of the songs from The Lion Guard like "A Beautiful Day (Ni Siku Nzuri)", "Kion's Lament", "We're The Same (Sisi Ni Sawa)", "Duties of the King", "Zuka Zama", "Jackal Style", "Utamu", "All Hail the Vultures", "Don't Make a Stink", "Bird of a Thousand Voices", "Baboons!", "She's The Worst Hyena We Know", "Panic And Run", "A Trail To Hope", "Teke Ruka Teleza", "My Own Way", "Bunga the Wise", "Beware of the Zimwi", "Outta The Way", "Life in the Pride Lands", "Live With a Laugh and Smile (Kuishi ni Kucheka)", "Find Your Roar", "Stand Up, Stand Out", "Lions Over All", "Let's Bring Back A Legend", "May There Be Peace", "Makin' Hippo Lanes", "Running With The King", "I Do Have a Great Deal to Say", "Tickbirds and Rhinos", "Big Bad Kenge", "Fujo", "Gotta Look On The Bright Side", "Welcome To The Summit", "Hero Inside", "Fabulous Dhahabu", "We're The Smartest", "Give The Little Guy A Chance", "I Have A Plan", "Good King Simba", "Today Is My Way", and "The Path of Honor". It was reported that the film would include two songs from the Broadway version, which are "The Madness of King Scar" and "Shadowland".
 * See also: The Lion King Reborn/Soundtrack

In a earlier script of The Lion King Reborn, four songs were originally set to appear in the film; "Be Prepared", "Chow Down", "Endless Night", and "The Morning Report". However, those songs were then taken out since the 2019 live-action remake isn't including "Be Prepared".

With Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures' premission, the theme from the 2014 film Interstellar original composed by Zimmer is used during the film's credits.

Sequel
On July 27th, the film was followed with a direct sequel and "part two" of the remaster of The Lion King titled The Lion King Returns (known as The Lion King Adventure Pt. 2: Returns outside of North America) was confirmed by director Myers, to which he will return to direct, Hahn will return to produce, Silvestri will return to compose the score, and much of the cast will reprise their roles from the previous film.
 * Main article: The Lion King Returns

The Lion King Returns will take place within the ending of The Lion King Reborn when Simba, Nala, Makini, Jasiri and the Lion Guard must figure out a way to defeat Scar's resurrected form and his army of Outlanders with advice from Simba's spiritual father Mufasa and a very strong gorilla named Shujaa, as well as Azaad and Rani, the leader of the Night Pride. It later retells the story of Kiara and Kovu in their friendship as mates.

Rating
The Lion King Reborn was originally going to be rated G by the MPAA, and it would have been a family-friendly analysis G-rated film in a long time. However, the film was later re-rated PG due to a serious violent tone and mild crude humor, including Pumbaa and Bunga's flatulence problems.

Novelization
A canon novel named The Lion King Reborn: Crucible will be released soon.
 * Main article: The Lion King Reborn: Crucible

Trivia

 * Main article: Trivia of The Lion King Reborn and The Lion King Returns

Transcript

 * See also: The Lion King Reborn/Transcript

Credits

 * Main article: The Lion King Reborn/Credits

Rejected ideas

 * Main article: Rejected ideas of The Lion King Reborn and The Lion King Returns

Gallery

 * Main article: The Lion King Reborn/Gallery

Polls
Do You Think The Lion King Reborn is a great idea? Yes No Are you interested in seeing The Lion King Reborn when it comes on this page? YES! I Am Very Excited! No. I'm Not That Interested.