The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (2020 film)

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride is a 2023 American musical film directed and produced by Jon Favreau, written by Jeff Nathanson, and produced by Walt Disney Pictures. It is a photorealistic computer-animated remake of Disney's traditionally animated 1998 direct-to-video sequel of the same name and a sequel to Disney's 2019 computer-animated feature film, The Lion King. The film stars Donald Glover, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Billy Eichner, Seth Rogen, John Kani, John Oliver, Faithe Herman, Mariah Carey, Phoenix Nicholson, Case Woodard, Vanessa Lynn Williams, Will Smith, Aalyrah Caldwell, Rochelle Aytes, Keith David, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

From the director of: The Jungle Book, The Lion King and Tarzan.

The film is scheduled to be released on July 21, 2023.

Plot
As the sun rises, the animals arrive to witness Kiara's presentation. Kiara is the newborn daughter of Simba and Nala. The kingdom rejoices as Rafiki shows Kiara to the gathered animals(He Lives In You). Timon and Pumbaa talk about how to raise Kiara, thinking she’s a boy but Rafiki corrects them telling them that it's a girl. They get shocked and faint.

Later that day, Rafiki draws Kiara’s image on his tree. Mufasa’s spirit visits him and tells him about the birth of the son of Simba’s sworn enemy Zira, who lives in the Outlands, a termite-infested wasteland with her band of lionesses. Meanwhile, the lionesses who are loyal to Scar celebrate the birth of Zira’s cub Kovu. Zira looks at the cub and longs for their return to the Pride Lands after Kovu comes of age. Zira’s other two cubs, Nuka and Vitani also join in the celebration, but Nuka becomes envious of Kovu as he desires to be Scar’s heir. Later, Nala and Simba speak with each other at Pride Rock. They talk about how the kingdom must be governed and how to feed all the animals. As they do so, a few of Zira’s cronies attack and Simba and Nala fend them off.

In the Outlands, Zira teaches Kovu how to hunt. Kovu is learning to catch a mosquito. Zira tells him to kill it, but Kovu says that the mosquito has not hurt him so he sees no reason to kill it. Zira reminds Kovu of who he is and that their pride has no room for weakness.

Moving back to the Pride Lands, Simba and Kiara look at the savannah. Kiara notices a butterfly fluttering by and runs off to chase it, but Simba stops her and asks if she is paying attention. He reminds her of who she is and tells her to stay out of trouble. Nala comes in and tells Kiara to mind her father. Zazu comes by and tells him of the Outsiders in addition, and Simba tells Kiara to keep away from the Outlands. Kiara asks why, but Simba simply says that she’ll understand it one of these days. Kiara rushes off. Nala reminisces about her and Simba’s childhood, noticing how similar Kiara is to Simba when he was a cub. Nala assures Simba that Kiara will be all right, in spite of which Simba discreetly tells Timon and Pumbaa to follow Kiara as she plays. The duo do as Simba tells them.

Kiara chases the butterfly across the plains. She stumbles upon a rock while trying to catch the butterfly and sees the Outlands in the distance. Timon and Pumbaa frighten her and she falls into a pond nearby. Pumbaa jumps in the pond, looking for her. Timon and Pumbaa discuss babysitting as Kiara makes it out of the pond. They try to make certain she’s okay but she doesn’t like that they always keep following her. They try to get her to devour bugs but she finds them yucky, and runs off towards the Outlands as Timon and Pumbaa quarrel about slimy and crunchy bugs. Kiara bumps into Kovu but the cubs get off on a rough start. Kovu tells Kiara about how he lives on his own, but as he steps on a log they are confronted by some crocodiles. The crocodiles tried to devour the cubs, but they manage to outwit them and make it to safety. Kovu and Kiara bond and start playing together but Simba and Zira come in between the two of them. Simba and his lionesses, Pumbaa, Timon, Nala and Zira face off as Zira introduces Kovu to Simba. Simba tells them not to come to the Pride Lands again and sends them away. Simba and his pride head back to Pride Rock. On the way, Simba has a discussion with Kiara and reminds her of who she is and that they are one(We Are One).

Meanwhile, back in the Outlands, Nuka grouses with Vitani about Kovu being the 'Chosen One', saying he should’ve been given the role since he's older and Kovu is not even Scar's son. Vitani rebukes her erratic brother's complaints, implying he's too faint-hearted to make the claim to Zira herself. At that moment, Zira arrives with Kovu and rounds on Nuka for failing to look after him. Then, she turns to Kovu, reminding him that Simba is the reason for their banishment and Scar's demise. However, Kovu expresses the desire to be friends with Kiara. Zira cackles this off, until she hatches an inspirational idea: to use Kiara and Kovu's friendship against Simba. She brings Kovu home to a massive termite mound and announces that his training will henceforth intensify(My Lullaby).

When Rafiki tells him that it is what Mufasa would want, he becomes contemplative. Rafiki goes back to his tree and tells Mufasa whatever he plans to do, he can do it and that he trusts him.

Several years pass and Kovu grows up. Zira declares him ready to kill Simba and retake the throne. In the Pride Lands, Kiara goes for her first hunt. Simba tells Timon and Pumbaa to watch over her. They follow her secretly.

Kiara stalks a herd of antelope as Timon and Pumbaa follow her. However, Pumbaa grunts, frightening the antelope and Kiara discovers them. She runs away to hunt somewhere else which is away from the Pride Lands and realizes that Simba fibbed. Meanwhile, Nuka and Vitani set the dry grass on fire in the savannah. Zira and Kovu observe the action from atop a cliff and Kovu leaps off to rescue her. Back at Pride Rock, Simba, Zazu, and the lionesses see the fire in the distance and they rush off to rescue Kiara.

Kiara sees the fire rushing towards her and she tries to get away. She manages to climb up a cliff and Kovu searches for her, weary and unconscious. He takes her and manages to evade the fire. Zazu finds the two of them and he reports to Simba and the pride. Simba asks Kovu what he was doing but Rafiki tells Simba that it was Kovu who rescued Kiara from the fire. Simba reluctantly concurs to let Kovu stay with them.

As the pride retires for the night, Kovu tries to get inside the cavern with the rest of the lions but Simba curtly blocks his path. Kiara speaks to Kovu before she goes to bed and gets him to concur to train her the next morning onwards. The whole scene is observed by Zira and Nuka from a hidden corner, after which they depart.

The next morning, Kovu sees Simba outside the cavern, making ready to go on a stroll. He is about to move for the kill but Kiara surprises him and they go away to the plains to train.

Kovu tries to teach Kiara how to hunt by teaching her how to pay very close attention and be stealthier. Timon and Pumbaa walk in and surprise them, disturbing their lesson. Timon asks Kovu to scare away the birds that have infested their feeding ground, which turns the training session into a game. The four of them run across the plains until they come face to face with a bunch of rhinos. The rhinos give chase, but the group manages to get away from them. Kovu and Kiara choose to go someplace else to train as Timon and Pumbaa head back to their feeding ground.

Kiara and Kovu run through the plains and Kovu teaches her how to stalk some wildebeest. However, they are confronted by a leopard. The leopard tries to slaughter Kovu, but Kiara outwits the leopard, saving Kovu’s life. This act of hers makes an impression on Kovu. After their training session, Kovu and Kiara head back home as night falls.

Back at Pride Rock, Simba has a weird dream- he is taken back to the moment where his father passes on. Scar tells Simba to trust him as he slowly transforms into Kovu. Simba awakens suddenly and looks to the stars for guidance(Endless Night- reprise). Nala talks to Simba, who tells her that he fears for Kiara’s safety as Kovu is an Outsider, but Nala tells him that maybe Kovu does not necessarily want to hurt Kiara.

The next morning, Kiara and Kovu head out for another training session. Simba sees the two of them going away and tells Timon and Pumbaa to follow them, which they reluctantly agree to do so. They keep their distance as Kiara and Kovu train and grow closer. The pair manage to remain hidden but grow tired as Kiara and Kovu continue to train. Kovu becomes accustomed to enjoying himself and begins to disobey his mother’s orders, and Kiara begins to trust Kovu more. Nuka and Vitani see what’s happening and report back to Zira. She is overjoyed that their plan is working all too well.

Later that evening, Kovu and Kiara stargaze. They have a heartfelt conversation where Kovu almost tells the truth to Kiara but as he makes ready to leave Rafiki comes in and helps the two of them fall in love as he leads them in a musical show to “Upendi”(Upendi). Kovu and Kiara realize that they love one another and head back to Pride Rock where Simba allows Kovu to sleep in the cavern with the rest of the pride. Vitani watches from a corner nearby and is shocked when Kovu doesn’t make an attack on Simba. She heads back to the Outlands and tells everything to Zira. Zira is infuriated and chooses to secretly ambush Simba herself, suspecting Kovu of betrayal.

The next morning, Simba decides to speak to Kovu for a while before he goes to train Kiara. Kiara is pleased and the two lions have a chat as they walk through the plains. Simba tells Kovu the true story of Scar and Kovu starts to question everything he has learned about Simba and Scar from Zira. However, Zira and a few Outsiders creep up on Simba and he accuses Kovu of inviting them. Kovu denies any wrongdoing and he tries to fight them off but Vitani knocks him unconscious. The Outsiders chase Simba down the middle of the gorge, and Simba tries to climb up a pile of logs. As Simba has a hard time reaching the top, Nuka attempts to slaughter Simba but Simba makes logs fall on Nuka, crucifying him in the process. Kovu shows up to find Zira crying over Nuka's death. She accuses Kovu of Nuka’s demise by fiercely swiping him in the face with her claws in rage but Kovu denies any wrongdoing and defies his mother. Kovu runs off and Zira chooses to mount a final and fatal attack on Pride Rock before she continues to sob.

Meanwhile, Kiara, Timon and Pumbaa find a wounded Simba and take him back to Pride Rock. Zazu brings in the animals to Pride Rock as Simba gets ready to pronounce judgement on Kovu. Kiara tries to intercede on Kovu’s behalf but Simba silences her and banishes Kovu(Not One Of Us). Kiara tries to plead with Simba but he declines to let Kovu come back. Simba orders a strict watch on Kiara, which makes Mufasa disappointed with Simba over his defiance. Zazu tries to make peace between them all by reminding them that they mustn’t be divided over this matter. Kiara runs off sobbing to find Kovu.

Kiara runs through the plains sobbing in search of Kovu and finds him wandering in the desert. They confess their love for one another(Love Will Find A Way). Kovu tells Kiara the truth, and she finds it difficult to accept but decides to forgive him anyway and gives him a chance to prove himself by asking him to join her in reuniting their divided pride after hearing Mufasa's words about obligation to her pride. The couple run off to Pride Rock to talk things out with Simba.

As the sun sets, Zira, and the Outsiders head to the gorge to face Simba. Zazu alerts Simba of the impending attack and make it to the gorge to face the Outsiders. The Pridelanders and Outsiders fight hard. As the fight comes to a heat, Simba and Zira face off in a duel. Just as Zira is about to deliver the killing stroke to Simba, Kiara and Kovu rush in between the both of them. Kovu openly defies his mother and Kiara gets Simba to comprehend that they are one. Simba embraces his daughter. Zira orders Vitani to attack but she declines. She joins Simba’s pride. Zira threatens to have her slaughtered, which shocks and angers the Outsiders, and they join Simba’s pride as well. Zira goes insane at the loss of her son and pride and an angry Kiara knocks her into the rushing waters below with a swipe of her paw. Simba officially welcomes Kovu and the Outsiders back into their pride, and they all return to Pride Rock as Mufasa congratulates his son and Rafiki blesses the union of Kiara and Kovu(Finale- We Are One reprise).

Voice Cast

 * Donald Glover as Simba
 * Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala
 * Billy Eichner as Timon
 * Seth Rogen as Pumbaa
 * John Kani as Rafiki
 * John Oliver as Zazu
 * Faithe Herman as Young Kiara
 * Mariah Carey as Kiara
 * Phoenix Nicholson as Young Kovu
 * Case Woodard as Kovu
 * Vanessa Lynn Williams as Zira
 * Will Smith as Nuka
 * Aalyrah Caldwell as Young Vitani
 * Rochelle Aytes as Vitani
 * Keith David as Mufasa's Ghost
 * Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar in Simba's Nightmare

Songs

 * "He Lives in You" (Sung by Lebo M)
 * "We Are One" (Sung by Donald Glover and Faithe Herman)
 * "My Lullaby" (Sung by Vanessa Lynn Williams, Will Smith, Michele Knotz, and Aalyrah Caldwell)
 * "Upendi" (Sung by John Kani, Mariah Carey and Case Woodard)
 * "One of Us" (Sung by the Chorus)
 * "Love Will Find A Way" (Sung by Mariah Carey and Case Woodard)