The Lion King (2019 remake)

The Lion King is a 2019 American animated musical film directed and co-produced by Jon Favreau, produced by Walt Disney Pictures, and written by Jeff Nathanson. It is a photorealistic computer-animated remake of Disney's 1994 traditionally animated film of the same name. The film stars the voices of Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, Billy Eichner, John Kani, John Oliver, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, as well as James Earl Jones reprising his role from the original film. The film's plot follows Simba, a lion prince who must embrace his role as king following the death of his father Mufasa at the hands of his evil uncle Scar. The film was released theatrically in the United States on July 19, 2019. It has grossed over $1.6 billion worldwide. Despite not being advertised as an animated movie, it surpassed Frozen as the highest-grossing animated film. It also became the second highest-grossing film of 2019, the highest-grossing PG-rated film, and the seventh-highest of all time. It received mixed reviews from critics with praise for the visuals, music score, and vocal performances (particularly Rogen and Eichner) but criticism for the lack of originality and facial emotion on the characters. A sequel, titled The Lion King: Return of Simba, was released in 2028.

Synopsis
Following the death of his father Mufasa at the hands of his evil uncle Scar, Simba, who is destined to become king of the Pride Lands, runs away from home, and lives in a jungle paradise with Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog. However after encountering his best friend Nala and the wise mandrill Rafiki, he decides to return home and challenge his uncle to reclaim the throne.

Voice cast
Main article: List of The Lion King characters A lion who is the crown prince of the Pride Lands. JD McCrary voices Simba as a cub. A slow-witted common warthog who befriends and adopts a young Simba after he runs away from home. The treacherous uncle of Simba, brother-in-law of Sarabi, and brother of Mufasa who seeks to take the mantle of the king of the Pride Lands. The Queen of the Pride Lands, Mufasa's wife, and Simba's mother. A wisecracking meerkat who befriends and adopts a young Simba after he runs away from home. A wise old mandrill who serves as the shaman to the King and Queen of the Pride Lands. A red-billed hornbill who serves as the majordomo to the King and Queen of the Pride Lands. Simba's best friend and future love-interest. Shahadi Wright Joseph voices Nala as a cub. The King of the Pride Lands, husband of Sarabi, and father of Simba. Jones reprises his role from the original 1994 classic. Additionally, Penny Johnson Jerald voices Sarafina, Nala's mother. Amy Sedaris, Chance the Rapper, Josh McCrary, and Phil LaMarr voice a guinea fowl, bushbaby, elephant shrew, and topi (miscredited as an impala), respectively, Timon and Pumbaa's neighbors in their jungle oasis. J. Lee voices a hyena that chases after Timon and Pumbaa.
 * Donald Glover as Simba:
 * Seth Rogen as Pumbaa:
 * Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar:
 * Alfre Woodard as Sarabi:
 * Billy Eichner as Timon:
 * John Kani as Rafiki:
 * John Oliver as Zazu:
 * Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala:
 * James Earl Jones as Mufasa:
 * Florence Kasumba, Keegan-Michael Key, and Eric Andre as Shenzi, Kamari, and Azizi: Three spotted hyenas who are Scar's henchmen. While Shenzi is a character featured in the original 1994 animated film, Kamari and Azizi are respectively the new names of characters based on Banzai and Ed from the original 1994 film.