The Lion King (Live-action Remake)

The Lion King is a remake of the famous 1994 Disney film.

Walt Disney scored another big blockbuster last weekend with  The Jungle Book. Jon Favreau’s $175 million (give-or-take) “live action” remake of the 1967 Disney animated feature opened well above expectations with a $103m debut haul, good for the second-biggest live-action PG-rated movie of all time and the second biggest April debut ever. It is the latest in a swiftly growing line-up of “live action” adaptations of Disney animated classics. But this one may be something of a game-changer by showing just what is possible and available concerning future adaptations of this nature.

Alice in Wonderland  (a sequel to the 1951 animated film),  Oz: The Great and Powerful  (yes, I know  The Wizard of Oz  wasn’t a Disney film, but humor me),  Maleficent  (a prequel/reimagining to/of  Sleeping Beauty ), and  Cinderella  (a straight-up retelling of the story) were films that featured human characters as the prime attractions. But  The Jungle Book  is almost entirely populated by animal characters, dazzlingly rendered and seamlessly integrated into what is supposed to be a “live action” narrative that takes place in a wholly artificial environment. And for the record, I am aware that  The Jungle Book  is basically an animated film, but it’s being treated as a live-action movie.

With this entry in Disney’s newest sub-genre, they have now proven that they can offer the same “live-action” adaptation treatment (live action in terms of using animation to create the illusion of a flesh-and-blood, non-animated drama) to every single one of their 55 animated features if they so chose. And that means they can make a live-action adaptation of Dumbo (coming soon from Tim Burton), a live-action adaptation of  Beauty and the Beast  (coming soon from Bill Condon), a live-action take on  Winnie the Pooh  (coming soon from Alex Ross), as well as the planned adaptation of  Mulan  and the upcoming  Pete’s Dragon  and  Peter Pan  movies.

That brings us to the 1,600 lbs gorilla in the offering. They can use the technology that helped create  The Jungle Book  to craft a live-action version of  The Lion King. There is little reason why audiences who suspended their disbelief during the 105-minutes of  The Jungle Book  won’t do the same for a live-action variation on their 1994 “Bambi in Africa” blockbuster. When Disney makes the call, and it’s a matter of “when” rather than “if,” it will be a genuine box office monster.

The Lion King  was arguably the pinnacle of the Jeffrey Katzenberg/Michael Eisner  Waking Sleeping Beauty  era while also working as a bizarro metaphor for the behind-the-scenes turmoil that eventually led to Katzenberg leaving and teaming up with Steven Spielberg and David Geffen to create DreamWorks SKG. It opened with $42 million back when that was one of the biggest opening weekends ever and earned $312m domestic–the fourth movie ever to do so at that time.

Adjusted for inflation, it remains the third-biggest Disney release ever behind  Snow White,   101 Dalmatians, and  Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Oh, and it sold 32 million copies during its initial VHS run, which is still a record. Of course, you don’t need me to tell you how popular  The Lion King  remains or how big of a deal a live-action version would be. But what Favreau and friends pulled off this weekend shows that such a thing is artistically possible.

A live-action version presumably wouldn’t have the same voice-over actors (although it could), but that would be an added value element. Fans would get to see new actors play around in these iconic parts. Be it Morgan Freeman as Mufasa or Benedict Cumberbatch as Scar, these new vocals for a new version would only increase the curiosity factor. That applies to eventual Walt Disney adaptations of  The Little Mermaid,   The Fox and the Hound. Tarzan , Bambi, and finally getting  The Black Cauldron  right.

No, I don’t think they are going to spend the time or money on newfangled versions of  The Great Mouse Detective ,  Oliver and Company, or  Home on the Range , but you get the idea. This means they aren’t just limited to human-centric animated features like  Frozen  (which, and this isn’t a criticism, felt produced and staged for an eventual live-action Broadway version), but pretty much anything in the Disney animation library.

They may sound like grim news to purists, and I am not necessarily discussing the artistic wisdom of embarking on such a path. The good news is that the continuing success of these live-action Disney adaptations is as potent a carrot as anything for Walt Disney to continue to crank out high quality original (or at least non-sequel) animated features for the foreseeable future.

Just as the emerging priced-to-buy VHS market helped spur Disney to up their animated feature game in the early 1980′s, the possibility of having a never-ending franchise stream will continue to keep the Mouse House in peak form. After all, if you don’t make  Zootopia  into a modern animated classic, you can’t cash in on generational nostalgia in 25 years with a live action version.

Plot
As the sun rises, Rafiki the baboon calls the animals to Pride Rock with two antelopes. He greets King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi before presenting their cub to the gathered animals who bow and cheer when their newborn prince ("Circle of Life"). Meanwhile, elsewhere, Mufasa's very angry, wicked and evil brother, Scar, laments on his lost chance at becoming king of the Pride Lands. Back at his baobab tree, Rafiki asks the spirits to conjure the new prince's name: Simba.

Time passes and Simba grows into a lively young cub. Mufasa shows Simba the Pride Lands from the top of Pride Rock and explains that everything exists in a delicate balance known as the Circle of Life. Mufasa warns Simba not to stray beyond the boundaries of the Pride Lands, pointing out a shadowy area in the distance. Zazu, a hornbill who acts as Mufasa's adviser, arrives and delivers his daily report on the state of affairs in the King's domain, ("The Morning Report") while Simba takes this opportunity to practice his pouncing. Zazu reports that hyenas have been sighted in the Pride Lands and Mufasa leaves to deal with them. Simba goes to see his uncle Scar. The scheming lion piques the cub's curiosity by mentioning the Elephant Graveyard, a place where Simba is forbidden to go.

Simba arrives and asks his best friend, a female cub named Nala, to come with him to the elephant graveyard, although he does not mention their intended location to his mother - he lies that they intend to go to the waterhole. Sarafina (Nala's mother) and Sarabi allow the cubs to go when Zazu accompanies them. Simba and Nala formulate a plan and manage to lose Zazu, while Simba brags about his future position ("I Just Can't Wait to be King").

The cubs journey to the graveyard and begin to explore until Zazu stops them. They are about to leave when they are confronted by the three hyenas Banzai, Shenzi and Ed. The Hyenas intend to have all three of the unfortunates for lunch, and gloat over them eagerly.

Mufasa arrives none to soon to rescue the cubs and frightens off the hyenas.

Mufasa is upset and angry that Simba disobeyed him. Simba says that he was only trying to be brave like his father. Mufasa explains that he is only brave when he has to be, and that bravery does not mean recklessly seeking out danger. Simba asks whether he and his father will always be together, causing Mufasa to look up to the night sky and tell Simba about the Great Kings of the Past and how they guide and watch over everything ("They Live in You"). Mufasa tells Simba that he will always be there for him.

Back at the Elephant Graveyard, Scar tells the hyenas that he will soon be king if the hyenas assist him, and that they will never be hungry again if they agree ("Be Prepared"). At Pride Rock, Zazu apologizes to Mufasa for Simba's bad behavior. Mufasa accepts the apology but admits that he is worried about Simba. Zazu tells Mufasa that Simba resembles the King of the Pride Lands when he was a cub.

Later, Scar takes Simba to a gorge and tells him to wait there. Scar leaves and signals the hyenas, who start a wildebeest stampede down into the gorge. Scar tells Mufasa that Simba is trapped in the gorge, and Mufasa races to his son's aid. Mufasa leaps into the stampede and manages to save his son, but as he climbs a cliff, Scar betrays him and throws him from the cliff, killing him. Scar convinces Simba that his father's death was his fault, as Mufasa died trying to save him, and that he should flee the Pride Lands and never return. As Simba runs, Scar orders the hyenas to make Scar believe that Simba is dead. Back at Pride Rock the lionesses and Rafiki mourn the death of Mufasa and Simba (Scar tells them that Simba also died). Scar climbs to the promontory of Pride Rock, claims the throne for himself, and allows the hyenas into the Pride Lands as his executive staff. Rafiki returns to his tree and smears the drawing of Simba, while Sarabi and Nala mourn for the ones whom they have loved and lost forever.

Out in the desert, Simba collapses from heat exhaustion. Vultures begin to circle, but are scared away by Timon, the meerkat, and Pumbaa, the warthog. The duo take the cub back to their jungle home and show him their relaxed way of life ("Hakuna Matata"). They tell Simba that they are outcasts as well and later introduce him to their diet of bugs and insects called grubs. Simba is captivated by the carefree existence, and stays. Simba stays in the jungle with his new friends for a long time- just before the end of Act I, we see the cub transform into an adult lion. Simba sings his solo and Timon and Pumbaa join in while the curtain close for 15 minute intermission.

The chorus and Lebo M, dressed in colorful clothes with ornate bird puppets and kites, begin the act ("One by One"). As the song ends, however, the beautiful birds are replaced by vultures and gazelle skeletons. (In some cities, such as in Pittsburgh, some of the Ensemble would come out, and use the birds on flags, to twirl over the audience.) A drought has hit the Pride Lands under Scar's tyrannical rule.

Zazu, now a prisoner of Scar, listens to the king's woes. Nala arrives to inform Scar that there is no food and no water, just as the hyenas reported the same thing a few minutes ago; Scar attempts to flirt with her. Nala escapes. Utterly frustrated and upset by the current events, Nala decides to leave the Pride Lands and find help, vowing that she will never forget her pride. The lionesses and Rafiki offer a blessing. Back in the jungle, Simba leads Timon and Pumbaa to find a resting place while they sing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." Timon and Pumbaa want to sleep, but the restless Simba is unable to sleep. Annoyed by Timon and Pumbaa, Simba disappears into the night. Timon and Pumbaa lose their courage and follow Simba through the dark jungle. Simba leaps across a fast-moving river and challenges Timon to do the same. Timon falls into the water and is swept downstream by the current until he reaches a waterfall, where he grabs onto a branch. Simba wants to save Timon but is sent into a flashback of Mufasa's death. Timon falls from the branch and Simba snaps out of the flashback, rescuing his friend. Simba is ashamed that Timon nearly died because of his recklessness.

That night the three friends look up at the stars, wondering what they are. Simba recalls Mufasa's words regarding the great kings of the past, but Timon and Pumbaa dismiss it and laugh at the notion. Simba leaves, looking up at the sky and bitterly remembering his father's promise that he would always be there for Simba. At Rafiki's Tree, Rafiki hears Simba's Endless Nightmare on the wind and comes to the joyous conclusion that Simba is alive. He draws a mane onto the drawing of Simba on his tree and he says, "It Is Time."

In the jungle, Pumbaa is being hunted and chased by a lioness. Simba confronts the lioness and saves his friend. The lioness flips Simba, causing Simba to recognize that the lioness is his childhood friend, Nala. Nala is amazed to find Simba alive, knowing that he is the rightful king. Timon and Pumbaa are confused by this, and Simba tells the two to leave so that he and Nala can be alone. Timon realizes what is happening and laments that he and Pumbaa's Hakuna Matata lifestyle has come to an end ("Can You Feel the Love Tonight"). Nala tells Simba about the state of the devastated Pride Lands, trying to encourage him to return and take his rightful place as king. Simba is still guilty about his father's death and leaves.

On his own, Simba meets Rafiki, who explains that his father is still alive. As Simba looks toward the sky, his father appears as a heavenly vision. Mufasa reminds Simba that he is the rightful king and must return to the Pride Lands. Simba is persuaded and heads for Pride Rock.

Meanwhile, Nala wakes Timon and Pumbaa to ask where Simba is. Rafiki appears on the vine and tells them that Simba has returned to the Pride Lands to take his rightful place as king.

Simba returns to Pride Rock with Nala, Timon and Pumbaa, where he witnesses the ruin that his home has fallen into. Timon and Pumbaa lure some hyenas out of their path by providing a diversion. Timon dresses in drag and does the Hula Dance while Pumbaa plays as the stuffed pig. Simba tells Nala to go find his mother while he goes look for Scar.

Scar calls for Sarabi and demands to know why the lionesses are not hunting. Sarabi tells him that there is no food or water, the herds have moved on and that they need is to leave Pride Rock to survive. Scar refuses and when Sarabi snaps at him about not being half the king Mufasa was, Scar strikes his sister-in-law saying that he was ten times the king Mufasa was. At this, an enraged Simba leaps down, startling Scar, who believes his nephew to be dead. Scar forces a confession of murder from Simba and attacks him, forcing him over the edge of Pride Rock. Believing that he has won, Scar whispers to Simba that he was the one who killed Mufasa. Simba, infuriated, leaps up and grabs Scar by the throat, causing Scar to reveal the truth. A fierce battle rages between the lionesses, Timon, Pumbaa, Nala, Zazu, Rafiki and the hyenas.

Simba corners Scar on the top of Pride Rock, where Scar begs for his life and blames everything on the hyenas. In a repetition of Scar's words to cub Simba, Simba tells Scar to run away and never return. Scar, with the thought of Simba killing him, appears to follow this request, but turns quickly and attacks Simba again. Simba is able to block the attack, making Scar trip and fall over the cliff where the hyenas are waiting below. They surround their former leader and kill him.

The battle having finally come to an end, Simba's friends come forward and acknowledge Simba as the new and rightful king. Rafiki arrives and places the king's mantle on Simba. Simba climbs to the top of Pride Rock, hears Mufasa's voice saying "Remember!" and roars throughout the whole kingdom. The herds of animals gather at the call of their new king Simba and celebrate. Rafiki, Nala and Simba ascend Pride Rock where Rafiki lifts Simba and Nala's 3 newborn cubs high into the air, and they called them Kopa, Kiara & Kion, thus continuing the Circle of Life and ushering in a new golden age. ("Circle of Life (Reprise)").

Cast

 * Nat Wolff as Simba (voice)
 * Max Charles as Young Simba (voice)
 * Selena Gomez as Nala (voice)
 * Bailee Madison as Young Nala (voice)
 * Jason Issacs as Scar (voice)
 * Laurence Fishburne as Mufasa (voice)
 * Jennifer Lopez as Sarabi   (voice)
 * John Cleese as Zazu   (voice)
 * John Kani as Rafiki (voice)
 * Will Ferrell as Timon (voice)
 * John C. Reilly as Pumbaa (voice)
 * Meagan Good as Shenzi (voice)
 * Cheech Marin as Banzai (voice)
 * Jim Cummings as Ed (voice)

Songs

 * Circle of Life (Sung by Carmen Twilie and Lebo M)
 * Morning Report (Sung by John Cleese, Laurence Fishburne and Max Charles)
 * I Just Can't Wait To Be King (Sung by Max Charles, Bailee Madison and John Cleese)
 * They Live in You (Sung by Laurence Fishburne)
 * Be Prepared (Sung by Jason Issacs)
 * Hakuna Matata (Sung by Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Max Charles, Nat Wolff and Ensemble)
 * Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Sung by Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Nat Wolff and Selena Gomez)
 * He Lives in You (Reprise) (Sung by John Kani, Nat Wolff and Ensemble)
 * Luau Song (Sung by Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly)

Rating
Rated PG for Mild thematic elements, some peril and action.

Trivia

 * In the movie the characters are animals.
 * The movie will be directed by Jon Favreau, Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff
 * The movie will be produced by Don Hahn, Jon Favreau and Brigham Taylo
 * The movie will be screenplay by Justin Marks, Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts and Linda Woolverton
 * The movie will be music by Hans Zimmer and John Debney
 * The movie will be  Cinematography by Bill Pope
 * The movie will be edited by Mark Livolsi and Ivan Bilancio
 * The movie will be Production company by Walt Disney Pictures and Fairview Entertainment
 * The movie will be Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
 * The movie running time will be 108 minutes