The Lion King Reborn

The Lion King Reborn is an upcoming 2019 American-South Korean animated epic, adventure, musical, science-fantasy, and comedy-drama film directed by Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers from a screenplay by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, Linda Woolverton, and Jeff Nathanson. Based on the Lion King franchise, it will feature an ensemble voice cast that includes Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Eden Riegel, Khary Payton, Max Charles, Gabrielle Union, James Earl Jones, Diamond White, Nika Futterman, Jason Marsden, Rowan Atkinson, Alfre Woodard, Madison Pettis, Sarah Hyland, Joshua Rush, Lacey Chabert, and Andy Dick, with its score written by Hans Zimmer. In the film, Simba's pride and the Lion Guard attempt to stop Scar from amassing his mantle as King, and taking over the Pride Lands with an alliance of hyenas, jackals and crocodiles.

With the film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, Disney Television Animation and Mercury Filmworks, it is set to be released by Walt Disney Pictures, as well as being distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The Lion King Reborn also marks as one of the last films to be released by DisneyToon Studios after its defunct in June 2018. Animation began in January 2017 at Walt Disney Animation Studios with a large cast consisting mostly of voice actors and actresses reprising their roles from the original films and television series. The production lasted until February 2018. Additional production took place at DisneyToon Studios shortly before its defunct.

The film was released early on January 11th, 2019 in Ukraine, and it is set to be released on July 19th, 2019 in the United States on YouTube, celebrating the 1994 film's 25th anniversary.

Synopsis
An unprecedented cinematic journey twenty-five years in the making and spanning of The Lion King, Scar seeks to take the mantle as King after he murders his brother Mufasa, and Simba, Kovu, Timon, and Pumbaa must join forces with the Lion Guard and Rafiki to stop Scar in an ultimate showdown before his onslaught of destruction puts an end to the Pride Lands.

Plot
A meerkat named Timon, who is a social outcast of his colony outskirts "the Pit of Shame", dreams for more in life than his colony's bleak existence hiding from predators, but his daydreaming leads to the near-death of his Uncle Max by a trio of spotted hyenas named Shenzi, Banzai and Ed. Timon leaves to find a better life, and meets a pig named Pumbaa, who suffers from demophobia-triggered flatulence problems. Although the two quickly form a bond and Pumbaa accompanies Timon as his acquaintance, they start living in a small oasis behind the landmark while King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi's newborn son Simba is presented to the crowded animals at a majestic place named Pride Rock.

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 and selfish brother Scar covets the throne and plots to eliminate Mufasa and Simba so he may become king. He and his henchmen of hyenas set 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. Scar refuses to help Mufasa, instead sending him falling to his death, then convinces Simba that the tragedy was his own fault and advises him to flee the kingdom and never return. Scar tells the pride that Mufasa and Simba were killed in the stampede and steps forward as the new king. Meanwhile, Timon and Pumbaa finally settle in a huge luxurious green jungle with. Sooner enough, they rescue Simba on a desert floor before they raise him under their philosophy of "Hakuna Matata".

Years later, Simba rescues Timon and Pumbaa from a hungry lioness, who turns out to be his best friend Nala. She and Simba reunite and fall in love, and she argues with 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 away. He encounters Mufasa's adviser Rafiki, who says that Mufasa's spirit lives on in Simba, and he is visited by the ghost of his father 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.

As Scar taunts Simba over his role in Mufasa's death, who confronts him, he 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. After Timon proposes that they all help Simba by getting rid of the hyenas, he, Pumbaa, Nala, Sarabi, Zazu, Rafiki, and the other lionesses fend off the hyenas, alongside Timon's 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, the cave-in commences, and the hyenas are ejected through the tunnels. Scar begs for mercy and attempts to blame the hyenas for his actions, but Simba spares his life and 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, because Shenzi 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; Timon takes his entire meerkat colony to live in predator-free environment to complete his "Hakuna Matata"; and Nala gives birth to two newborn cubs, Kiara and Kion, with Kiara presented to the assembled animals. Rafiki paints an emblem of the cub on the trunk of his tree, but Mufasa's spirit ruffles the painting, making him discover another cub that's living in rogues known as the "Outlands" named Kovu.

A few weeks later, Kiara becomes annoyed with her father's overprotective parenting and enters the Outlands, where she meets Kovu. His mother Zira reminds Simba of how he exiled her and the other Outsiders, and reveals that Scar selected Kovu to be his successor despite not being his biological father. After returning to the Pride Lands, Simba lectures Kiara about the danger posed by the Outsiders, and reminds her they are part of each other.

When Kion discovers that he has the ability to channel the Roar of the Elders, giving him fierce power, he and his non-lion friends Bunga the honey badger, Ono the egret, Beshte the hippopotamus, and Fuli the cheetah respond to a distress call from Kiara that she is trapped by stampeding gazelles and defeat a hyena clan led by Janja and Mzingo the vulture, where Simba realizes that Kion has protected the Pride Lands and is indeed ready to lead his new Lion Guard.

As the Lion Guard accompany the Royal Family for independence to scare off Janja's clan, Mzingo's flock, a crocodile float led by Makuu, and a family of jackals led by their matriarch Reirei, they plan to foil their attacks with help a hyena ally named Jasiri, a drongo bird named Tamaa, a herd of zebras led by Muhimu, and a herd of gazelles led by Swala. The army arrives, revealing their plans to be necessary to ensure the survival of the Pride Lands threatened by taking over. The group subdues the hyenas, crocodiles, jackals and vultures until Jasiri deduces that the Outsiders have taken over her watering hole. They fought off the lionesses, and Kion roars the Outsiders away to termite mounds.

In a mid-credits scene, Rafiki takes in a young mandrill named Makini as an apprentice for the dry season.

In a post-credits scene, an Egyptian cobra named Ushari forms an alliance with Janja's clan, and they conspire to find a way to summon the spirit of Scar.

"Scar Will Return..."

Voice cast
The Lion King Reborn features most of the voice cast reprising their roles from the original films, spin-offs, and television series. Alfre Woodard also returns to voice Sarabi from the 2019 remake. Nala's mother Sarafina appears with Sarah Paulson replacing the late Zoe Leader.

A lion, son of Mufasa and Sarabi, who is the crown prince of the Pride Lands. Simba later becomes Nala's husband, and Kiara and Kion's overprotective father. Simba serves as the film's main protagonist. Mark Henn, Ruben A. Aquino, Bob Baxter, Ian Harrowell and Christian Larocque respectively served as the supervising animators for young and adult Simba. Mufasa's treacherous younger brother, Simba's uncle and Kiara and Kion's granduncle, who overtakes the throne and seeks to take the mantle of king. 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. Scar serves as the film's main antagonist. John Vickery, who previously portrayed as Scar in The Lion King Broadway performance, provided the character's singing voice in "Be Prepared" and "The Madness of King Scar". Andreas Deja and Christian Larocque served as the supervising animators for Scar. A comedic meerkat, 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. Timon also becomes Bunga's adoptive uncle. Timon serves as one of the film's secondary deuteragonists. Michael Surrey, Bob Baxter and Christian Larocque served as the supervising animators for Timon. A naïve, but hearten 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. Pumbaa also becomes Bunga's other adoptive uncle. Pumbaa serves as one of the film's secondary deuteragonists. Leslie Hedger, who voiced Pumbaa in Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure, provided the character's singing voice. Tony Bancroft, Bob Baxter and Christian Larocque served as the supervising animators for Pumbaa. A pre-teen lioness cub, the daughter of Simba and Nala and Kion's older sister, who grows up to become future Queen of the Pride Lands. Kiara serves as one of the film's secondary protagonists. Lianne Hughes and Christian Larocque served as the supervising animators for Kiara. A wise mandrill, 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 to present newborn cubs of the King and Queen to the animals of the Pride Lands, and is a Royal Mjuzi. Rafiki serves as one of the film's secondary deuteragonists. Lebo M. provided Rafiki's singing voice in "Rafiki Huomboleza", "He Lives in You" and "Beware the Zimwi". In early drafts of the film, Robert Guillaume was originally set to reprise his role as Rafiki from the previous Lion King films as well as The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa. However, he died on October 24th, 2017, and his representative confirmed that he had not recorded any lines for the film since his retirement in 2014. Bob Baxter, James Baxter, Alexs Stadermann and Christian Larocque served as the supervising animators for Rafiki. A grumpy aardvark, who is the husband of Muhanga. A pre-teen lion cub living in the Outlands, who is Zira's son, Nuka and Vitani's younger brother, and the chosen successor of Scar to become King of the Pride Lands instead of Simba. Kovu serves as the film's main anti-deuteragonist. Andrew Collins and Christian Larocque served as the supervising animators for Kovu. The leader of the Outsiders, Scar's most loyal follower and Nuka, Vitani, and Kovu's widowed mother. Zira serves as the film's secondary antagonist. Futterman replaces the late Suzanne Pleshette, who voiced the character back in 1998. Kevin Peaty and Christian Larocque served as the supervising animators for Zira. A hornbill, who serves as the lion king's majordomo and advisor (or "Mufasa's little stooge", as Shenzi calls him). Zazu serves as one of the film's secondary deuteragonists. Ellen Woodbury and Christian Larocque served as the supervising animators for Zazu. A cheetah, who is the fastest member of the Lion Guard, the only female member, Kion's friend and second-in-command. She also dislikes baboons and getting wet. Fuli serves as one of the film's secondary deuteragonists. She also replaces Kion as the Lion Guard's leader. Christian Larocque and José Zelaya served as the supervising animators for Fuli. A spunky, but friendly teenage hyena living in the Outlands, who is the leader of her clan and allies with Kion. Unlike Janja's clan, she and her clan respect the Circle of Life and scavenge for food. Jasiri serves as a minor anti-villain. Christian Larocque and José Zelaya served as the supervising animators for Jasiri. The sassy and short-tempered female leader of her hyena clan. Her full name "Shenzi Marie Predatora Veldetta Jacquelina Hyena" is revealed by Timon when he proposes to her. Shenzi serves as one of the film's secondary antagonists. Tracy Nicole Chapman, who portrayed Shenzi in the 1997 Broadway performance, provided the character's singing voice in "Chow Down", "Be Prepared", and "The Madness of King Scar". Bob Baxter, Alex Kupershmidt and David Burgess served as the supervising animators for Shenzi. Mufasa's devoted mate, Simba's mother, and the leader of the lioness hunting party. She is also the paternal grandmother of Kiara and Kion, and the Queen of Pride Rock as the film begins. Sarabi serves as the film's tritagonist. Woodard reprises her role from the 2019 live-action/CGI remake of the 1994 animated film. Angela Bassett was originally set to be the character's new voice actress after Minkoff and Favreau saw her performance as Queen Ramonda in the 2018 Marvel Studios film Black Panther. Sarabi was also originally voiced by Madge Sinclair back in 1994. Russ Edmonds served as the supervising animator for Sarabi. Zira's aggressive and spunky pre-teen daughter, and Nuka and Kovu's sister. Vitani serves as one of the film's secondary antagonists. Crysta Macalush Winton provided the character's singing voice. Kevin Peaty and Christian Larocque both served as the supervising animators for Vitani. Zira's son, Vitani and Kovu's older brother and the oldest male of Zira's family. Nuka serves as one of the film's secondary antagonists. Ian Harrowell and Christian Larocque served as the supervising animators for Nuka. A dimwitted 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. Bunga serves as one of the film's secondary deuteragonists. Christian Larocque and José Zelaya served as the supervising animators for Bunga. An aggressive and hot-headed Mexican-accent hyena prone to complaining and acting on impulse, who is Scar's henchman. Banzai serves as one of the film's secondary antagonists. Stanley Wayne Mathis, who portrayed Banzai in the 1997 Broadway performance, provided the character's singing voice in "Chow Down", "Be Prepared", and "The Madness of King Scar". Bob Baxter, Alex Kupershmidt and David Burgess served as the supervising animators for Banzai. An unhinged hysterical hyena, who laughs a lot and is Scar's henchman. Ed serves as one of the film's secondary antagonists. Kevin Cahoon, who portrayed Ed in the 1997 Broadway performance, provided the character's communicating vocals in "Chow Down", "Be Prepared", and "The Madness of King Scar". Bob Baxter, Alex Kupershmidt and David Burgess served as the supervising animators for Ed. A lioness cub friend of Kiara and a member of Simba's pride, who is somewhat more sensible than her constant companion Zuri. José Zelaya served as the supervising animator for Tiifu. Another lioness cub friend of Kiara and a member of Simba's pride, who rather hates grubs and getting dirty, but has a crush on Kion. Zuri serves as a minor tritagonist. José Zelaya served as the supervising animator for Zuri. Nala's mother, who is briefly seen talking to Sarabi. Paulson replaces the late Zoe Leader, who was a director of communications for the Feature Animation division for the Walt Disney Company and voiced the character back in 1994. Tony Fucile served as the supervising animator for Sarafina. A happy-go-lucky and enthusiastic hippopotamus, who is the strongest member of the Lion Guard and Kion's friend. Beshte serves as one of the film's secondary deuteragonists. Christian Larocque and José Zelaya served as the supervising animators for Beshte. A nerdy, but brainy egret, who is the keenest of sight of the Lion Guard and Kion's friend. Ono serves as one of the film's secondary deuteragonists. Christian Larocque and José Zelaya served as the supervising animators for Ono. Timon's caring mother and Uncle Max's sister-in-law. She is overly protective and attached to her son, often trying to get him accepted among the colony, but never succeeding. When asked by Kion how he knows about the Zimwi, Timon explains that his Ma's cousin's friend knows an ox who told him that he ran into the Zimwi and got eaten by it. When Kion questions him on how the ox could tell the tale if he was eaten, Timon tells Kion that he'd need to ask the ox. Timon's Ma serves as a minor tritagonist. Lianne Hughes served as the supervising animator for Timon's Ma. Timon's paranoid, eccentric, but deep down kind-hearted uncle and Ma's brother-in-law. He initially doubts Timon's ability, but warms up to him at the film's climax. Uncle Max serves as a minor tritagonist. This would be one of Stiller's final roles in his lifetime. Lianne Hughes served as the supervising animator for Max. An anti-heroic lion cub, who is Simba and Nala's 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. As leader of the Lion Guard, Kion possesses an intensely powerful ability known as the Roar of the Elders bestowed by the great lions of the past. Kion serves as one of the film's secondary protagonists. Christian Larocque and José Zelaya served as the supervising animators for Kion. A lioness, who is Simba's best friend and later his future love-interest. Nala serves as one of the film's secondary deuteragonists. Nala was originally voiced by Moira Kelly in the Lion King trilogy. Heather Headley, who previously portrayed Nala in the 1997 Broadway performance of The Lion King, provided Nala's singing voice in "Hakuna Matata", "The Madness of King Scar", "Shadowland", and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight". Aaron Blaise, Anthony de Rosa, Ian Harrowell and Christian Larocque respectively served as the supervising animators for young and adult Nala. 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. Mufasa serves as one of the film's secondary deuteragonists. Tony Fucile and Christian Larocque served as the supervising animators for Mufasa. A cunning and ruthless hyena, who is the leader of the clan. He hates Jasiri for respecting the Circle of Life and for being all nice and kind, unlike other hyenas. Janja serves as one of the film's secondary antagonists. José Zelaya served as the supervising animator for Janja. A villainous crocodile of Pua and Kion. Makuu serves as one of the film's secondary antagonists. José Zelaya served as the supervising animator for Makuu. A clever and manipulative jackal, who is the matriarch of her pack. She is also the mother of Dogo, and the mate of Goigoi. Reirei serves as the film's minor antagonist. José Zelaya served as the supervising animator for Reirei. Janja's excitable hyena. Janja's unintelligent hyena. A dimwitted jackal and Reirei's husband. Reirei and Goigoi's son. A plains zebra, who is the leader of her herd. A Thomson's gazelle, who is the leader of her herd. A drongo bird. Jasiri's skeptical sister. Beshte's father and the leader of his hippopotamus pod. Timon's deceased father, who was nicknamed "Fearless Buzz" by the colony due to his bravery against Shenzi's pack of hyenas. The former leader of the crocodile float.
 * Matthew Broderick as Simba
 * Jonathan Taylor Thomas as young Simba. Evan Saucedo and Jason Weaver provided the cub's singing voice, while Connor Funk provided his growls, although Funk was uncredited.
 * Jeremy Irons as Scar
 * Nathan Lane as Timon
 * Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa
 * Eden Riegel as Kiara
 * Michelle Horn as infant Kiara. Charity Sanoy provided her singing voice, while Ashley Edner provided her growls, although Edner was uncredited.
 * Khary Payton as:
 * Rafiki
 * Muhangus
 * Jason Marsden as Kovu
 * Ryan O'Donohue as infant Kovu
 * Nika Futterman as Zira
 * Rowan Atkinson as Zazu
 * Diamond White as Fuli
 * Maia Mitchell as Jasiri
 * Whoopi Goldberg as Shenzi
 * Alfre Woodard as Sarabi
 * Lacey Chabert as Vitani
 * Andy Dick as Nuka
 * Joshua Rush as Bunga
 * Cheech Marin as Banzai
 * Jim Cummings as:
 * Ed
 * Cummings also narrated the film's prologue.
 * Sarah Hyland as Tiifu
 * Madison Pettis as Zuri
 * Sarah Paulson as Sarafina
 * Dusan Brown as Beshte
 * Atticus Shaffer as Ono
 * Julie Kavner as Timon's Ma
 * Jerry Stiller as Uncle Max
 * Max Charles as Kion
 * Gabrielle Union as Nala
 * Niketa Calame-Harris as young Nala. Laura Williams provided the cub's singing voice.
 * James Earl Jones as Mufasa
 * Andrew Kishino as Janja
 * Blair Underwood as Makuu
 * Ana Gasteyer as Reieri
 * Vargus Mason as Cheezi
 * Kevin Schon as Chungu
 * Phil LaMarr as Goigoi
 * Jacob Guenther as Dogo
 * Kari Wahlgren as Muhimu
 * Tunisia Hardison as Swala
 * C.J. Byrnes as Tamaa
 * Maisie Klompus as Madoa
 * Kevin Michael Richardson as Basi
 * Bill Hader (uncredited) as Timon's Pa / Fearless Buzz
 * Gerald Rivers as Pua

Other voice acting personalities will reprise their roles from The Lion Guard including: Meghan Strange as Laini, a galago living in Ndefu Grove; Lynette DuPree as Ma Tembo, the leader of her elephant herd; Alex Cartañá as Twiga, the leader of her giraffe herd; Steve Blum as Makucha, a leopard from the Back Lands; Jack McBrayer as Badili, a friendly leopard from Mirihi Forest; Jorge Diaz as Badili's bully Mapigano; McKenna Grace as Kambuni, an ostrich chick; Justin Felbinger as Mtoto, a young elephant calf; the show's director Howy Parkins as Mbeya, an old black rhinoceros, who is the leader of his crash; and the show's songwriter Beau Black as Nne, Janja's sly and stout hyena. For the mid and post-credits scenes directed by Tom Derosier, Christian Slater and Landry Bender have cameos as Egyptian cobra Ushari, and Rafiki's new apprentice Makini.

Additionally, S. Scott Bullock reprises his voice role as Timon's prankster cousin Fred from The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa for a cameo appearance; archive recording of Jason Rudofsky as Flinchy from the 2004 film The Lion King 1½ was used for a flashback involving Timon's backstory; and it is rumored that Marvel Comics' late figurehead Stan Lee and Ross Marquand would voice an elephant at Aminifu's funeral and Janja's devious hyena Tano. Amy Sedaris and Michael Gough are cast in a undisclosed roles. YouTube personalities Dan Howell and Phil Lester also voice cameos.

Tress MacNeille and Jeff Bennett were set to reprise their voice roles as Tatiana, the princess of Timon's meerkat colony, and the Duke, Tatiana's father from The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa before their scenes were scrapped out.

Development
"I've read the script and I've been on set. I was on set for, like, three weeks back in November, and it is going to be magical."

- Jon Favreau on what The Lion King Reborn will be like

Shortly after the success of the 2016 live-action remake of The Jungle Book, the film's director Jon Favreau announced there would a special edition themed "director's cut" of the 1994 film. It was originally planned to be released in summer of 2017, known as The Lion King: The Special Edition Cut. Favreau, Rob Minkoff, Don Hahn and Ford Riley came on board to tie the original films and television series together on a computer program known as Movie Maker, later Filmora. However, in April 2018, the film's title would then be changed to The Lion King: The King Has Returned. On May, the film's title was changed again to its title The Lion King: Return of the King. On June 14th, the title was once changed again to its official title The Lion King Reborn. On July 5th, Minkoff stated that the film would be "darker" and more "serious" yet "epic" abd "down to Earth" in tone than from previous The Lion King adaptations.

The film includes The Lion King, its sequel The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, its midquel/prequel The Lion King 1½, as well as episodes of The Lion Guard: "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", "The Rise of Scar", and "Cave of Secrets".

Roger Allers, who previously directed the 1994 film, had a short time with Disney as this film's co-director, but then left due to him spending more time with his family.

Casting
In mid-February 2017, Matthew Broderick and James Earl Jones were cast as Simba and Mufasa, with the duo reprising their roles from the 1994 film.

In April 2017, Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella were in talks to reprising their roles as Timon and Pumbaa respectively. In July 2017, Rowan Atkinson was cast to return as Zazu. In August 2017, Julie Kavner was cast to reprise her role as Timon's Ma with Jerry Stiller in talks to return as Uncle Max.

In mid-February 2018, Jeremy Irons, Cheech Marin, Whoopi Goldberg, Jim Cummings, Jason Marsden, Andy Dick, and Lacey Chabert were all cast to reprise their roles as Scar, Banzai, Shenzi, Ed, Kovu, Nuka and Vitani from the 1994 film and Simba's Pride. Tress MacNeille was also confirmed to reprise her voice role as Tatiana from The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa.

Later in March, the directors confirmed that the Lion Guard would be involved for the film's synopsis, and Andrew Kishino had interest in reprising his role as Janja the hyena from the television series. In April, Sarah Hyland, Madison Pettis, Kevin Schon and Vargus Mason were cast to reprise their roles as Tiifu, Zuri, Chungu and Cheezi. In May, TLG stars Max Charles, Joshua Rush, Dusan Brown, Diamond White and Atticus Shaffer were scheduled to voice Kion, Bunga, Beshte, Fuli and Ono once again for this film. Charles has described his role like a brief cameo if Fuli, Bunga, Beshte and Ono are the film's supporting leads. Maia Mitchell, Blair Underwood and Ana Gasteyer are also set to reprise their roles as Jasiri, Makuu and Reirei.

Earlier in February 2017, it was announced that Moira Kelly was Minkoff's top choice for the role of Nala and that the director and studio would be willing to do whatever it took to accommodate her busy schedule on Girl in the Bunker. Later on June 2018, Kelly's role was unconfirmed in an official announcement, and Gabrielle Union came in to return from her time on The Lion Guard, which also confirmed that Eden Riegel, Nika Futterman and Khary Payton would all play the roles of Kiara, Zira and Rafiki, replacing Neve Campbell, the late Suzanne Pleshette and Robert Guillaume, respectively. Sarah Paulson will be the voice of Nala's mother Sarafina while archive recordings of Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Michelle Horn, Ryan O'Donohue and Niketa Calame-Harris as young Simba, young Kiara, young Kovu and young Nala will be included respectively.

In mid-October, Alfre Woodard was announced to be the voice of Sarabi, returning from her time on the 2019 live-action/CGI remake that would be released next Year. A month later, Amy Sedaris was also in talks to return as the unspecified elephant shrew from the 2019 remake.

In late December 2018 through January 2019, Favreau and Minkoff confirmed that the rest of the voice cast were confirmed (although most of them are currently in unspecified roles).

Early in June, it was also announced Bill Hader was cast in a undisclosed role. In January 2019, the directors leaked that Hader's "uncredited" character was Timon's Pa, nicknamed Fearless Buzz. It was also leaked that Landry Bender and Christian Slater would reprise their roles as Makini and Ushari from The Lion Guard in brief cameos for the mid and post-credits scenes.

Production
Production on the film commenced in the summer of 2017 in Los Angeles, California, using "a lot of virtual-reality tools" per Visual Effects Supervisor Rob Legato. Legato, Favreau and Riley confirmed that the film is expected to last at least 5-7 hours long as they are expected to term out several lines and scenes from the merchandise to make it as short as possible.

Post-production
The film dedicates to the memories of Pleshette and Guillaume. This also dedicates and marks one of the final credits for film editor Mark Livolsi, who died in September 23, 2018, and British actor W. Morgan Sheppard, who died in January 6th, 2019, and provided the voice of Captain Bloodbeard in The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa.

In early February 2019, new hired Disney animator Chris Ruiz will animate "The Madness of King Scar" and "Shadowland" segments.

Visual effects
The visual effects are provided by Moving Picture Company and Mercury Filmworks, supervised by The Lion Guard composer Christopher Willis, Elliot Newman, Robert Legato and Adam Valdez.

Music
On November 1, 2017, it was announced that Hans Zimmer would return to write the film's score, having previously scored the 1994 animated version. On November 28, 2017, it was reported that Elton John had signed onto the project to rework his musical compositions from the original film before his retirement. Later in June 2018, it was revealed that 40 songs from previous Lion King films and The Lion Guard would be included in the film: "Digga Tunnah", "That's All I Need (Meerkat Rhapsody)", "Circle of Life", "I Just Can't Wait to be King", "Be Prepared", "Hakuna Matata", "Can You Feel the Love Tonight", "Busa", "The Hula Song (Hawaiian War Chant)", "He Lives in You", "We Are One", "My Lullaby", "A Beautiful Day (Ni Siku Nzuri)", "Zuka Zama", "Tonight We Strike", "Kion's Lament", "We're the Same (Sisi ni Sawa)", "Please Don't Make a Stink", "Bunga the Wise", "Duties of the King", "Outta the Way", "Our Kupatana Community", "Jackal Style", "My Own Way", "Utamu", "All Hail the Vultures", "Hero Inside", "Bird of a Thousand Voices", "Panic and Run", "Life in the Pride Lands", "We'll Make You a Meal", "Find Your Roar", "Beware of the Zimwi", "Lions Over All", "Stand Up, Stand Out", "Kuishi Ni Kucheka", "Running with the King", and extended versions of "Trail to Hope" and "Baboons!" alongside a remastered and enchanced version of "Timon's Traveling Theme" from The Lion King 1½. It was reported that the film would include five songs from the Broadway version, which are "Chow Down", "Endless Night", "The Morning Report", "The Madness of King Scar" and "Shadowland". On November 2018, John reported that he, Tim Rice and Lebo M. would create a new song where Rafiki mourns, titled "Rafiki Huomboleza". The film will also feature songs "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen", "It's A Small World", "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts", and "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly".
 * See also: The Lion King Reborn/Soundtrack

Although Zimmer wrote the majority of the music, he did not conduct the orchestra. Instead, the orchestra was conducted by Nick Glennie-Smith, Don L. Harper and Christopher Willis, credited as Zimmer's "collaborations".

According to Zimmer, John, Rice and Beau Black, several scores and songs including "Circle of Life", "I Just Can't Wait to be King", "Kion's Lament", "We Are One", "Hakuna Matata", "Trial to Hope", "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly", "This Land", "The Rightful King", "The Legend of Scar", "Stampede", "Kings of the Past", and "This Is My Home" would be mixed with a special distinctive synthesized crescendo that glissandos from a relatively narrow frequency spread (about 200-400Hz) to a broader frequency spread (of about 3 octaves).

On January 24, 2019, Nathan Lane revealed that Matthew Broderick and Heather Headley will perform a duet version of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight". To accommodate with the Japanese release of the film, a Compilation Album of Japanese language Covers of the franchise's songs will be released.

Rejected ideas
Main article: The Lion King Reborn/Rejected Ideas In earlier concepts of the film, Tatiana from the television series The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa was meant to appear as one of the film's secondary deuteragonists. Tress MacNeille and Jeff Bennett came in to reprise their roles as her and the Duke Meerkat. However, the characters' scenes were deleted for the finalized release due to timing reasons. Also, Ushari had a bigger and speaking role in the original concept rather than his in the final cut for multiple silent cameos.

Tropes

 * Main article: The Lion King Reborn/Tropes

Release
The Lion King Reborn was originally going to be released in August 2017. One year later, the directors confirmed that the film's production would be moved up and was set to be released in June 15th, 2019 in honor to celebrate the 1994 film's 25th anniversary, and finally July 19th where the 2019 remake will be released on that day also. While released, it will open with a documentary short film entitled Exploring the Earth, featuring BBC narrator David Attenborough. It will be one of the first theatrical films to be released on Disney+ alongside 2019 remake, Toy Story 4, Frozen 2 and Captain Marvel.

On January 11th, 2019, the film premiered early in Ukraine.

Marketing
On September 3rd, the first short sneak peak was released. On September 9th, the second trailer was delayed as confirmed and that the film would premiere on November 2nd, the time where similar Disney film The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is set to be in IMAX theaters. However, it was pushed back to be released on November 21st due to some production coming further ahead. But then, on October 9th, it was pushed back again to be released on December 19th. However, two days later, it was confirmed to be released in 2019 to celebrate the franchise's 25th anniversary and to do some additional changes for the final cut.

On November 1st, the second sneak peek was released featuring the voice of Rafiki talking about the family tree of the Lion King.

On November 13th, Minkoff and Favreau have confirmed the first teaser trailer's release date, which is set at the end of that month after three weeks. This day also marked Broderick, Union, Jones, Lane, Sabella, Payton, White, Goldberg, Chabert, Atkinson, Woodard, Rush and Charles' final time of recording their characters' lines. However, shortly after the release of the trailer for the 2019 remake, that teaser was delayed and has been confirmed to premiere based on the 2019 trailer according to Favreau and Minkoff. On December 24th, a trailer tease was released, involving college students, families and filmmakers, alongside Raymond and Lane on what the film will be like. On December 25th, the official teaser trailer was released. On December 26th, a "trailer reaction" featuring Simba, Timon, Pumbaa and Bunga premiered alongside four new posters.

On January 1st, 2019, a promo wallpaper was released, honoring the last day of December and the year 2018. The "It Is Time" TV spot was released also.

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

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

Sequels
As an untitled sequel is in development, a third sequel and final installment entitled The Lion King Annihilation is scheduled for release on 2020. Matthew Broderick, Max Charles, and Gabrielle Union will reprise their voice roles as Simba, Kion, and Nala respectively and Jeffrey Tambor, Rhys Darby, Maurice LaMarche, Michael Dorn, Landry Bender, Sinbad, Carla Hall, Amber Hood, J. Elaine Marcos, Kimiko Glenn, Michael Luwoye, Christopher Jackson, Heather Headley, Common, Nolan North, Justin Hires, Rico Rodriguez, Raini Rodriguez, and Renée Elise Goldsberry joining the cast.
 * Main articles: Untitled The Lion King Reborn sequel and The Lion King Annihilation

Spin-offs
There is a spin-off television series titled Over the Pride Lands Wall. This retells of Cartoon Network's Emmy Award winning miniseries Over the Garden Wall, set in the world of The Lion King. As The Lion King Reborn celebrates the franchise's 25th anniversary, this television series will be airing on its 5th anniversary from November 3-7.
 * Main article: Over the Pride Lands Wall and Miraculous Lion King

Another spin-off series titled Miraculous Lion King will premiere in French on 2020 made by Disney Television Animation and Zagtoons to retell it in the world of The Lion King.

Attraction
The Lion King 4D Ride is an upcoming 4D dark ride at Disneyland Park.
 * See also: The Lion King 4D Ride 

Videos

 * Main article: The Lion King Reborn/Clips

Tests
In January 2018, a test video with adult Kiara if she was trying to be taught by Timon and Pumbaa with Ma and Uncle Max in Simba's Pride was released. The film's title was originally known as The Lion King: The Special Edition Cut.

Sneak Peeks
To be fixed

Trivia

 * During the wildebeest stampede, not just only having Simba be involved, but Timon and Pumbaa also show up in this event.
 * Timon's cracking rival Fred makes a brief cameo with S. Scott Bullock reprising his role from the television series, The Lion King's Timon and Pumbaa.
 * Throughout the whole film, Kion says "Kabisa!" instead as "Hevi kabisa!" as he does through in The Lion Guard.
 * Shenzi overhears Scar's betrayal instead of her clan.
 * Kovu says, "Look out!" to Kiara instead of her to him during their crocodile attack.
 * Fearless Buzz's personality was used for Timon's father's.
 * When Mjomba's pack try to scatter from the Lion Guard, they wail, "Panic and run! Panic and run!". Although uncredited, Vargus Mason, Kevin Schon and Kari Wahlgren provided the voices of the other aardwolves of Mjomba's pack.
 * With Sony's permission, some of Snowbell's lines from Columbia Pictures' Stuart Little and Stuart Little 2 were substituted with Timon's as both of those roles in films were voiced by Nathan Lane.
 * Kevin Schon, who voiced Chungu and Thurston, previously voiced Timon in several Lion King spin-offs, including the television series The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa.
 * When the "Hawaiian War Chant" song starts, it features a clip of Timon rehearsing his performance from " The Lion King 3D Bloopers & Outtakes".
 * Tamaa's song Bird of a Thousand Voices is most likely a reference to the late voice actor, Mel Blanc as he was nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Voices". At the end of his song, Tamaa's line of "Thank you very much" is a reference to the late Elvis Presley.
 * The film marks as the fourth film of the Lion King franchise.
 * As Simba's singing voice was provided by Joseph Williams (the son of composer John Williams) in The Lion King, Cam Clarke in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, and Rob Lowe in The Lion Guard, Matthew Broderick sang his character's voice for this film.
 * Leslie Hedger replaced Ernie Sabella for Pumbaa's singing voice only, aside from the fact Sabella performed Pumbaa's speaking role in the film.
 * John Vickery provided Scar's singing voice shortly after Jeremy Irons blew his voice in earlier tests.
 * Rowan Atkinson replaced Jeff Bennett for Zazu's singing voice.
 * Lebo M. replaced Khary Payton and the late Robert Guillaume for Rafiki's singing voice.
 * Tracy Nicole Chapman replaced Whoopi Goldberg for Shenzi's singing voice.
 * Stanley Wayne Mathis replaced Cheech Marin for Banzai's singing voice.
 * Heather Headley replaced Sally Dworsky for Nala's singing voice.
 * McKenna Grace, who voiced Kambuni, is currently playing a younger version of Carol Danners in Captain Marvel, the 21st film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
 * Alfre Woodard had MCU cameos as Miriam Sharpe in the 2016 film Captain America: Civil War and Mariah Dillard in the Netflix series Luke Cage.
 * Angela Bassett, who was originally set to voice Sarabi, portrayed Queen Ramonda in the 2018 film Black Panther.
 * Blair Underwood, who voiced Makuu, previously portrayed Andrew Garner in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D..
 * Gabrielle Union and Bill Hader previously appeared as themselves in The Late Late Show with James Corden.
 * Corden also auditioned a role for the film as "Mongofu" before scrapped out.
 * Cheech Marin previously voiced Ramone in the Cars franchise.
 * Jonathan Taylor Thomas previously appeared as Randy Taylor on the ABC sitcom, Home Improvement.
 * Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane previously worked together on Broadway play and 2005 film The Producers.
 * Ernie Sabella previously performed "Hakuna Matata" at the 1995 Oscars alongside comedian David Alan Grier.
 * Grier and Nathan Lane also voiced Red and Snowbell from the Stuart Little franchise.
 * Diamond White previously voiced Ruby in Sofia the First.
 * White, Jason Marsden, Lacey Chabert and Steve Blum previously voiced Francine Greene, Kade Burns, Salvage, Dani Burns and Heatwave in Transformers: Rescue Bots.
 * Blum also voiced Starscream in Transformers: Prime, Transformers: Robots in Disguise, and the Transformers: Dark of the Moon video game.
 * Charlie Adler voiced Starscream in the Transformers film series.
 * Kevin Michael Richardson also voiced Bulkhead in Transformers: Prime.
 * Khary Payton also voiced Grimlock in Transformers: Robots in Disguise.
 * James Earl Jones previously voiced Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise.
 * Jones and the late Robert Guillaume previously appeared in The Meteor Man.
 * Nika Futterman, Jim Cummings, Andrew Kishino, Phil LaMarr, and Kevin Michael Richardson previously voiced Asajj Ventress, Hondo Ohnaka, Saw Gerrera, Bail Organa, Kit Fisto, Orn Free Taa, and Jabba the Hutt in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
 * Jones and Cummings later reprised their roles as Vader and Ohnaka in Star Wars Rebels.
 * Cummings currently voices Pooh Bear and Tigger in the Winnie the Pooh franchise.
 * Richardson later voiced Ryker in Disney's Planes: Fire & Rescue.
 * Futterman currently voices Luna Loud in The Loud House.
 * Julie Kavner currently voices Marge Simpson in The Simpsons. Meanwhile, Jones reprised his roles as Mufasa, Darth Vader and himself in the episode Round Springfield.
 * Jerry Stiller previously voiced Harvey in Planes: Fire & Rescue alongside his late wife Anne Meara as Winnie.
 * Kari Wahlgren voiced Patch in the same film.
 * Stiller and Nathan Lane previously voiced Pretty Boy and Spot Helperman in the television series Teacher's Pet and its 2004 film.
 * Whoopi Goldberg previously portrayed Guinan in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
 * Goldberg also voiced Stretch in Toy Story 3 and hosts the show The View.

Transcript

 * See also: The Lion King Reborn/Transcript

Credits

 * Main article: The Lion King Reborn/Credits

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. What did you think of the film's test clip with Timon and Pumbaa searching for Kiara with Ma and Uncle Max added in (if they were involved in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride)? It was amazing! It was good! It was okay. It wasn't that good. It was awful. What do you think what will happen after you see "The Lion King Reborn"? Will you be crowded? (1/5) Will you be glad? (2/5) Will you be anxious? (3/5) Will you be saddened? (4/5) Will you be raged? (5/5) What did you think of "The Lion King Reborn Trailer Tease"? It was amazing! It was good! It was okay. It wasn't that good. It was awful. What did you think of "The Lion King Reborn Official Teaser Trailer"? It was amazing! It was good! It was okay. It wasn't that good. It was awful. What did you think of "The Lion King Reborn Teaser Trailer Reaction"? It was amazing! It was good! It was okay. It wasn't that good. It was awful. What did you think of "The Lion King Reborn - 'It Is Time' TV Spot"? It was amazing! It was good! It was okay. It wasn't that good. It was awful.

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