The Lion King Reborn

The Lion King Reborn is an upcoming 2019 American-South Korean animated epic, adventure, musical, and comedy-drama film released by Walt Disney Pictures, with under production by Mercury Filmworks, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disney Television Animation, 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/prequel The Lion King 1½ and several episodes of its 2015 television sequel series The Lion Guard. It is the first feature film in the Disney Reborn Multiverse while featuring 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 Lion Guard, the original films, and the Broadway version of The Lion King in animation. The Lion King Reborn also marks as the last film to be released by DisneyToon Studios after its defunct in June 2018, and it is scheduled to be released in June 15th, 2019 on YouTube in honor to celebrate the 1994 film's 25th anniversary.

The film was directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, produced by Don Hahn, executive produced by Karen Gilchrist, Sarah McArthur, Thomas Schumacher, Jon Favreau, Jeffrey Silver and Disney chief creative officer Jennifer Lee alongside former chief creative officer John Lasseter, and score composed by Hans Zimmer. Most of the film's story plots are influenced by William Shakesphere's Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet, Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and the lives of Joseph and Moses, from the Bible, and features an all-star voice cast lead by Matthew Broderick, Eden Riegel, Jason Marsden, James Earl Jones, Gabrielle Union, Nathan Lane, Nika Futterman, Ernie Sabella, Khary Payton, Andy Dick, Lacey Chabert, Rowan Atkinson, Alfre Woodard, 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, while also dedicating the memory of editor Mark Livolsi, who died on September 23, 2018 shortly before the film's release.

Animation began in January 2017 at Walt Disney Animation Studios with a large cast consisting mostly of actors reprising their roles from the original films and television series. The production lasted until February 2018, animating back-to-back with a sequel titled The Lion King Annihilation. Additional production mostly took place at DisneyToon Studios shortly before its defunct. The film received universal praise for the film's screenwriting, humor, the cast (particularly Irons' role as Scar), visual effects, emotional dark weight of the story, Pleshette, Guillaume and Livolsi's dedications, musical scores by Zimmer, original musical songs by Elton John and Tim Rice, and action scenes, although the runtime and some newcomers for the voices of characters received some criticism. The Lion King Annihilation will be released with much of the voice cast reprising their roles.

Synopsis
In The Lion King Reborn, unlike the original 1994 film, it focuses on four storylines: a young lion named Simba, who is to succeed his father, Mufasa, as King of the Pride Lands when his evil younger brother Scar murders him in a wildebeest stampede; 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); Simba and Nala's daughter Kiara falling in love with Kovu, a male rogue lion from a banished pride that was once loyal to Scar; and Simba's second-born son Kion forming his new Lion Guard with best friends Fuli the cheetah, Bunga the honey badger, Ono the egret and Beshte the hippopotamus in order to defend the Pride Lands from attacks led by Janja's clan of hyenas, Reirei's matriarch of jackals, Mzingo's flock of vultures and Makuu's float of crocodiles, and to protect the circle of life.

Plot
As a framing device, Timon is a social outcast in his meerkat colony on the outskirts of the Pride Lands of Africa 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 the hyena trio. This marks the last straw for the colony before Timon leaves to find a better life.

On the way, however, Timon breaks into a hysterical sob, to which a wise mandrill named 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 a majestic place called Pride Rock in the distance, mistaking 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 demophobia-triggered flatulence problems. The two quickly form a bond and Pumbaa accompanies Timon as his acquaintance. Their adventure starts to where Simba is being presented and Rafiki serves as Mufasa's adviser to hold Simba high in his hands. The pair arrive at Pride Rock, but as they make their way through the crowd of onlookers, Timon accidentally pulls Pumbaa's tail to explosively pass a massive fart, causing nearby animals to faint. Following this, Timon and Pumbaa start to live in a small den behind 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 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. Mufasa soon saves 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, especially him.

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. While looking for a dream home, Timon and Pumbaa accidentally encounter the stampede. They try to escape, but fall into a river below. Scar then convinces Simba that the tragedy was his own fault and advises him to flee the kingdom. He orders the hyenas to kill Simba, but he escapes.

During nighttime at Pride Rock, 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, Timon decides to give up, until the next morning, Pumbaa gasps to see a huge luxurious green jungle. The pair finally settle there with the philosophy of "Hakuna Matata". Sooner enough, they notice Simba lying nearly dead on the desert floor before they raise him under their philosophy.

Years later, 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 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 Rafiki, who says that Mufasa's spirit lives on in Simba, and he 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 in the gorge 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 other 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 let out an unwilling sacrifice by diving underground and break them himself. The cave-in commences, and the hyenas are ejected through the tunnels. Immediately afterwards, 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, 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 after banishing lionesses that were only loyal to Scar from the Pride Lands. A couple of days later, Timon, Pumbaa and Simba take Ma, Max, and the entire meerkat colony to live in predator-free environment to complete his "Hakuna Matata"; and Timon is praised as their hero.

A couple of months later, Simba brings Timon and Pumbaa back to Pride Rock as Nala gives birth to a newborn cub, which 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, Zira reminds her children Nuka and Vitani that her youngest son Kovu is the Chosen One to become the next king by fulfilling 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 to follow her not to run off away from Pride Rock. Kiara ignores her father's warning; she dismisses 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, Zira confronts Simba just as Kovu shivers with fear to see himself growling at Simba's leg. 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 and will understand someday. 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 Roar of the Elders, giving him fierce power just like his granduncle Scar, who had the same power before him, but, who tragically misused it for evil and lost it forever after using the Roar against his fellow members. 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.

On the next day, when Kion winds up in the Outlands after falling in a river, he meets Jasiri, a teenage 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 an outskirt from Pride Rock known as "Flat Ridge Rock". 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.

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. 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 scheming 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 dim-witted plains zebra 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 large sinkhole, the Lion Guard struggle to find a way to rescue them so that the Royal Family can go to Ma Tembo's elephant concert. 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 a big rainstorm, 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 baby 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 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 eastern lowland gorilla princes named Majinuni and Hafifu, who have a message for Simba on behalf of their father Sokwe, King 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. But with Beshte's quick-thinking combined with Fuli convincing the antelopes by being polite, the crocodiles end up defeated. 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 sister 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 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 from an unknown land 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.

In the Pride Lands, the dry season has started, and the Lion Guard is busier than ever, much to the annoyance of Ushari, who they keep running over. During their patrol, Ono informs his friends that Janja's clan is attacking Ma Tembo's herd. The Lion Guard arrives at the scene, and, sure enough, Janja and his crew are attacking the elephants, with Mtoto as their main target. The Lion Guard is shocked that the hyenas would hunt elephants because of how dangerous it is.

The team drives the hyenas away, and Ma Tembo explains that the hyenas had been desperate because of the dry season. She also tells them that she is trying to find a new water source for her herd. Concerned at how quickly the start of the dry season has caused things to get out of hand, Kion tells Ono to stay with the herd and goes off to consult with his grandfather, Mufasa. Mufasa tells his grandson that the dry season is difficult because there is less food and water, which causes animals to make poor decisions. He also warns Kion to be careful to not lose control of the Roar.

Unbeknownst to Kion, his conversation is being overheard by a young mandrill. After Kion's conversation is over, she introduces herself as Makini and tells him she's Rafiki's new apprentice. Makini gushes over what she had heard, but Kion tells her not to go talking too much about it. Unbeknownst to the pair, Ushari has heard everything and is contemplating how to use what he's learned against the Lion Guard for his benefit.

Suddenly, Ono flies onto the scene and tells Kion that Janja and his crew are at it again. This time, they're attacking the baboons who have started following Ma Tembo's herd. The Lion Guard arrives and have the elephants go into a rocky gorge. Kion then blasts the hyenas away with the Roar of the Elders, not to lose control briefly.

With the hyenas gone, the baboons reveal that they are following Ma Tembo to a new water source. Ma Tembo resumes her search for a new water source while a concerned Kion decides to talk to his father.

Meanwhile, Makini begins her training with Rafiki, but her impatience keeps her from making any progress. Seeing this, Rafiki tells her that the hardest part of listening is finding the quiet to hear, and sends her out to find her bakora staff.

Elsewhere, Kion talks to his father about his concerns, but Simba assures his son that life is full of responsibilities and that one must face them head-on.

Meanwhile, Janja and his crew have returned to the Outlands. Suddenly, they see Ushari and decide to eat him. Ushari asks Janja if he would like something meatier. Janja tells him that he would but can't because the Lion Guard keeps driving his clan off, to which Ushari reveals that that's because Kion's been getting advice from Mufasa. He adds that if the hyenas want to stop the Guard, they should find a way to talk to one of the Great Lions of the Past. Janja retorts that no Great Lion would help the hyenas, but Ushari reminds him that there was one Great Lion who always helped hyenas: Scar. He also reminds Janja that if Kion can talk to Mufasa, there must be a way for them to talk to Scar.

Back in the Pride Lands, Makini has found her bakora staff. Ushari appears and convinces her to get Rafiki to reveal if there's a way to talk to Scar. Ushari then summons his skink friends to spy on Makini and reveal what Rafiki tells her about Scar.

At the Lair of the Lion Guard, Makini asks Rafiki if there is a way to talk to Scar, and Rafiki explains that it depends on if the Great Lion is good or bad. The Great Lions of the Past are in the sky and their voices are in the wind, and they are the lions that appear when Kion uses the Roar. However, the Evil Lions of the Past like Scar appear in fire if they are unleashed by the Roar and the bakora staff. Fire skink Shupavu and her black stealthy spy Nyeusi go off to tell Ushari and Janja what they've learned.

In the meantime, Rafiki introduces the royal family to Makini, who goes with Kiara to help Ma Tembo find a new water source. Back in the Outlands, Ushari and Janja decide to use what they have learned to summon Scar. They decide to get Makini's bakora staff, since she's too inexperienced to be a threat, and to attack one of Kion's loved ones and bring them there, since Kion's Roars are at their most powerful when he's angry.

The hyenas kidnap Kiara and take Makini's bakora staff. While the rest of the Guard rescues her, Janja tricks, then mockingly taunts Kion by getting him to use the Roar out of anger, causing the volcano to erupt. When Janja throws Makini's staff into the volcano, Scar is successfully summoned, giving the Lion Guard's enemies their own spirit guide.

Back in the Pride Lands, Ma Tembo finally finds a new water source. All is fine in the Pride Lands, but the Lion Guard is unaware that a new foe is lurking within the volcano.

To be finished

"Scar will Return..."

Voice cast

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

The Lion King Reborn features most of the voice cast reprising their roles from the original films and television series, including Broderick, Riegel, Marsden, Jones, Union, Lane, Futterman, Sabella, Payton, Dick, Chabert, Atkinson, Hyland, Pettis, Rush, White, Irons, Charles, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, Jim Cummings, Landry Bender, Maia Mitchell, Dusan Brown, Atticus Shaffer, Julie Kavner, Jerry Stiller, and Dan Howell and Phil Lester, alongside a brief cameo done by S. Scott Bullock. Woodard reprises her role as the voice of Sarabi from the 2019 remake of the 1994 film.

Sarah Paulson replaces the late Zoe Leader as Sarafina; Leader voiced the character back in 1994 before her death from cancer on March 3rd, 2015. Before her death, she served as Paulson's "Sarafina consultant" just in time during pre-production. Jeffrey Tambor replaces John O'Hurley as the voice of Hadithi the legendary eagle from The Lion Guard. Simba, his pride, and his friends from the previous films serve as this movie's main protagonists; the Lion Guard serve as the film's supporting protagonists.

An east African lion, son of Mufasa and Sarabi, who is the crown prince of the Pride Lands. Simba later becomes Nala's mate, and Kiara and Kion's overprotective father. As Nala takes Kiara and Kion to udugu, Simba briefly leads the Lion Guard on their patrol. In early versions of the film, Simba loses his tail in an attempt to escape from the hyenas after Scar takes the throne. Rob Minkoff described as, "Matthew was able to humanize the hero character for us with his performance and give Simba a lot of depth. Sometimes heroes end up becoming 2-dimensional because they are very difficult roles to approach. Matthew brought a great deal of sensitivity and thoughtfulness to the role along with sincerity and a sense of humor." Rock singer Joseph Williams, Cam Clarke, who previously voiced Simba in The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa, and Rob Lowe, who previously voiced Simba in The Lion Guard, provided Simba's singing voice mixed with archive recordings of the late Jason Raize, who previously portrayed as Simba in the 1997 Broadway performance of The Lion King. Lowe and director Roger Allers both served as Broderick's "Simba consultants" while Lowe provided the rest of Simba's lines. Mark Henn, Ruben A. Aquino, Bob Baxter, Ian Harrowell and Christian Larocque respectively served as the supervising animators for young and adult Simba. A lioness, who is Simba's best friend and later his future love-interest. Sometime during his childhood, Nala's father, who is the maternal grandfather of Kion and Kiara, fell down from a tree branch, but was rescued by the Lion Guard of his time. According to the stage musical producer and one of the film's executive producers named Thomas Schumacher, Nala is turned out to be ten years old when she finds Simba in the jungle. While Union sung in "Hakuna Matata", Heather Headley, who previously portrayed Nala in the 1997 Broadway performance of The Lion King, and Sally Dworsky both provided Nala's singing voice in songs like "The Madness of King Scar", "Shadowland", and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight". Moira Kelly, who previously voiced the character in the franchise, served as Union's "Nala consultant" as she provided Nala's dialogues at half-way of the film. Aaron Blaise, Anthony de Rosa, Ian Harrowell and Christian Larocque respectively served as the supervising animators for young and adult Nala. A comedic meerkat and son of Ma and 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. Timon also becomes Bunga's adoptive uncle. A real meerkat at the Fellow Earthlings Wildlife Center near Palm Springs, California, was the inspiration for the movie version of Timon and was his namesake. Timon's design and personality for this film was inspired by Shackelford the ferret's from Warner Bros. Pictures and Scholastic's Clifford's Really Big Movie with Lane needing help from Shackelford's voice actor Wayne Brady. When Pumbaa farts at the hyenas, fleeing them away, Timon poses like the late General George S. Patton as "Ride of the Valkyries" by Richard Wagner echoes in the film climax's score. With Sony's permission, some of Timon's dialogues were substituted with some of Snowbell's dialogues from Columbia Pictures films Stuart Little and Stuart Little 2. Due to Lane's scheduling conflict with upcoming performances in two-part play Angels in America, Kevin Schon, who voiced the character in The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa, provided the rest of Timon's dialogues and singing voice during the film's further songs after the "Digga Tunnah / That's All I Need" reprise, credited as his "Timon consultant", alongside director Rob Minkoff. Michael Surrey, Bob Baxter and Christian Larocque served as the supervising animators for Timon. A comedic 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. Pumbaa also becomes Bunga's other adoptive uncle. One of Pumbaa’s defining characteristics was the way he rubbed his belly. The inspiration for the tick: animator Tony Bancroft’s then-pregnant wife, who would often rub her own protruding belly. Bancroft thought that the action would make Pumbaa more “human and relatable.” During the battle of Pride Rock, Pumbaa's war cry to Banzai, "They call me Mister Pig!", is a reference to the scene in the 1967 film In the Heat of the Night where Sidney Pointier says, "They call me Mister Tibbs!". Pumbaa's original name was Harold. Director Allers and Leslie Hedger, who voiced the character in Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure, both served as Sabella's "Pumbaa consultants". Tony Bancroft, Bob Baxter and Christian Larocque served as the supervising animators for Pumbaa. A lioness cub and daughter of Simba and Nala, who grows up to become future Queen of the Pride Lands. In early developments, Kiara had light brown fur, green eyes, and a hair tuft. Jennifer Aniston, Neve Campbell, who previously voiced adult Kiara in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, and Sarah Jessica Parker, the wife of Matthew Broderick, were considered for the role of Kiara. Lianne Hughes and Christian Larocque served as the supervising animators for Kiara. A 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. He was originally scripted as Scar's son, but after realizing the incest this would have created in his romance with Kiara (as that would make him Simba's cousin and therefore Kiara's first cousin once removed), it was scrapped and clarified that he had no relation to Scar. The Lion King II: Simba's Pride director Darrell Rooney later made a statement on Facebook about Kovu, describing him as an orphan, in which case, Zira would only be his adopted mother. According to Variety, Kovu, then named Nunka, was going to be voiced by Andy Dick, who ended up voicing Nuka. Andrew Collins and Christian Larocque served as the supervising animators for Kovu. 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. Samuel E. Wright, who previously portrayed Mufasa in the 1997 Broadway show, provided Mufasa's singing voice. Due to Jones having type 2 diabetes, Gary Anthony Williams was credited as his "Mufasa consultant" as he provided the rest of Mufasa's dialogues. Tony Fucile and Christian Larocque served as the supervising animators for Mufasa. The leader of the Outsiders, Scar's most loyal follower and the mother of Nuka, Vitani, and Kovu. The late Suzanne Pleshette served as Futterman's "Zira consultant" with unused archive recordings used during Zira's introduction. In the original press release for the film, Pleshette was listed as voicing Zira, despite having passed away in 2008. This was changed a few days later, with no mention of who voices Zira until it was reveal that she was now voiced by Futterman. Kevin Peaty and Christian Larocque served as the supervising animators for Zira. 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 (a Pride Lands word for knowledge keeper and advisory). In early drafts of the film, Robert Guillaume was originally set to reprise his role as Rafiki from the previous The 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. The late Guillaume and Jim Cummings were both credited as Payton's "Rafiki consultants" while unused archive recordings of Guillaume were used during the Rafiki's introduction. Bob Baxter, James Baxter, Alexs Stadermann and Christian Larocque served as the supervising animators for Rafiki. A grumpy and irritable aardvark with short temper, who is Muhanga's mate. An east African 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. Christian Larocque and José Zelaya served as the supervising animators for Fuli. A spunky, but friendly teenage spotted 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 mostly scavenge for food. The character and role mirror those of deleted character Asante, a female hyena, who befriends Kopa, Simba and Nala's non-fanon son, in Friends for Life. Christian Larocque and José Zelaya served as the supervising animators for Jasiri. The sassy and short-tempered female leader of her clan of hyenas. Tracy Nicole Chapman, who portrayed Shenzi in the 1997 Broadway performance, provided the character's singing voice in "Chow Down" and "The Madness of King Scar" after Goldberg blew her voice during "Be Prepared". Bob Baxter, Alex Kupershmidt and David Burgess served as the supervising animators for Shenzi. Zira's son, Vitani and Kovu's older brother and the oldest male of Zira's family. Flip Kobler, a writer of The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, has stated that Nuka is Scar's biological son. However, director Darrell Rooney has stated that Zira and Scar were not mates, which would make Nuka unrelated to Scar. Ian Harrowell and Christian Larocque served as the supervising animators for Nuka. Zira's aggressive and spunky daughter, and Nuka and Kovu's sister. Crysta Macalush provided the cub's singing voice. Kevin Peaty and Christian Larocque both served as the supervising animators for Vitani. A hornbill, who serves as the lion king's majordomo and advisor (or "Mufasa's little stooge", as Shenzi calls him). At one point during production, Zazu was going to have black wings with red tips. Jeff Bennett and Geoff Hoyle, who portrayed Zazu in the 1997 Broadway performance, both provided the character's singing voice. Literary agent Edward Hibbert, who voiced the character in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride and The Lion King 1½, was credited as Atkinson's "Zazu consultant" alongside Bennett. Ellen Woodbury and Christian Larocque served as the supervising animators for Zazu. 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 former Queen of Pride Rock. During early production, before Woodard was set to voice Sarabi (as she did in the upcoming 2019 live-action remake), she was originally chosen to play Uru, Ahadi's mate as seen in The Lion King: Six New Adventures comic series. The late Madge Sinclair, who voiced the character back in 1994, served as Woodard's "Sarabi consultant" with unused archive recordings of Sinclair for Sarabi's scenes, including Simba's bath time. Russ Edmonds served as the supervising animator for Sarabi. An aggressive and hot-headed Mexican-accent hyena prone to complaining and acting on impulse. During the song "Chow Down", Shenzi tells Banzai that Nala's mom (Sarafina) ate Banzai's dad. Stanley Wayne Mathis, who portrayed Banzai in the 1997 Broadway performance, provided the character's singing voice in "Chow Down" and "The Madness of King Scar" after Marin blew his voice during "Be Prepared". Bob Baxter, Alex Kupershmidt and David Burgess served as the supervising animators for Banzai. An east African lioness cub friend of Kiara and a member of Simba's pride, who is somewhat more sensible than her constant companion Zuri. Christian Larocque and José Zelaya served as the supervising animators for Tiifu. Nala's mother, who is shown briefly talking to Sarabi. In 1987, there was a musical titled Sarafina!, which was adapted into a film, starring Shenzi's voice actress Whoopi Goldberg in 1992. The late Zoe Leader was credited as Paulson's "Sarafina consultant" during pre-production shortly before her death on March 3rd, 2015. Russ Edmonds served as the supervising animator for Sarafina. A dim-witted hyena, who does not talk, only communicating through laughter. However, before Scar gets eaten by his former hyena henchmen, Ed actually says only one dialogue, which is "Yeah!". Kevin Cahoon, who portrayed Ed in the 1997 Broadway performance, provided the character's communicating vocals in "Chow Down" and "The Madness of King Scar" after Cummings blew his voice during "Be Prepared". Bob Baxter, Alex Kupershmidt and David Burgess served as the supervising animators for Ed. A excitable young mandrill, who trains to become Rafiki's apprentice and a Royal Mjuzi. Christian Larocque and José Zelaya served as the supervising animators for Makini. A dimwitted Kenyan 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. Christian Larocque and José Zelaya served as the supervising animators for Bunga. A happy-go-lucky and enthusiastic hippopotamus, who is the strongest member of the Lion Guard and Kion's friend. Brown was not new to The Lion King, having played young Simba in the Broadway show's North American Tour. Christian Larocque and José Zelaya served as the supervising animators for Beshte. A brainy, but nerdy cattle egret, who is the keenest of sight of the Lion Guard and Kion's friend. Christian Larocque and José Zelaya served as the supervising animators for Ono. Timon's caring mother, Uncle Max's sister-in-law, and Pa's mate. She is overly protective and attached to her son, often trying to get him accepted among the colony, but never succeeding. According to Timon, when asked by Kion how he knows about the Zimwi, he claims that her cousin's friend knew an ox that was eaten by the Zimwi. Lianne Hughes served as the supervising animator for 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. Lianne Hughes served as the supervising animator for Max. Mufasa's 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. According to Rob Minkoff, Scar's name is a "really mean nickname" and that he believes that Mufasa was the one who gave Scar his scar when they were cubs. They never gave Scar an original name. According to some of the screenwriters, Scar being in the shadow of Pride Rock while Mufasa and Simba are in the sunlight is symbolic of Scar being evil. Scar was initially conceived as a rogue lion with no familial relation to either Mufasa or Simba. The connection between Scar and the latter two was changed because the story writers felt that having a threat inside the royal family would make the film more interesting. This explains why Scar looks very different from his brother and his nephew. In the original version of "Circle of Life", Scar was supposed to watch the presentation from a rock in hatred. He was originally had his own special territory, dubbed "Scar-land" and also a little bigger than Mufasa by the concepts. Before Scar gets back-kicked by Simba and eaten by his former hyena henchmen, he parodies a famous line that Claudius says in William Shakespeare's Hamlet, which is "Now, cracks a noble heart. Goodnight, sweet prince: And may the Kings of the Past sing thee to thy rest!". English actor David Oyelowo, who voiced Scar in The Lion Guard, stood in for Scar's last lines of the film, "Yes. I am...Scar.", due to a scheduling conflict with Irons, credited as his "Scar consultant". Oyelowo described Scar as a "malevolent, menacing" character. Jim Cummings and John Vickery, who previously portrayed as Scar in The Lion King Broadway performance, both provided the character's singing voice in songs like "Be Prepared" and "The Madness of King Scar" after Irons blew his voice. Andreas Deja and Christian Larocque served as the supervising animators for Scar. An anti-heroic east African 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 Guard, Kion possesses an intensely powerful ability known as the Roar of the Elders bestowed by the great lions of the past. Minkoff described the character's role in the film as "a cameo... you get to be a little more vibrant; a little more irreverent; a little bit more colorful if you want it to be." Christian Larocque and José Zelaya served as the supervising animators for Kion. An unintelligent spotted hyena with a slightly heavier build than the other hyenas, who is one of Janja's right-hand henchmen. Christian Larocque served as the supervising animator for Chungu. A timid okapi, who makes friends with Beshte. Ajabu has traveled to the Pride Lands in order to get away from Makucha the leopard. Christian Larocque served as the supervising animator for Ajabu. Another east African lioness cub friend of Kiara and a member of Simba's pride, who is somewhat vain, likes having her claws stay shiny, and hates grubs and getting dirty. Christian Larocque served as the supervising animator for Zuri. A cunning and ruthless spotted 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. According to one news article, Janja was originally going to be son of Shenzi, Banzai and Ed as seen in "Bitesized" by Kitchiki on DeviantArt. Christian Larocque and José Zelaya served as the supervising animators for Janja. An excitable spotted hyena, who is the other of Janja's right-hand henchmen. Christian Larocque served as the supervising animator for Cheezi. A calculative white-backed vulture, who is the leader of his parliament. He sometimes serves as Janja's spy and scout. Christian Larocque served as the supervising animator for Mzingo. An Egyptian cobra, who often conflicted with Bunga and would get disturbed whenever the Lion Guard are 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. Christian Larocque and José Zelaya served as the supervising animators for Ushari. A hippopotamus, who is Beshte's father and leader of his pod. Christian Larocque and José Zelaya served as the supervising animators for Basi. The former leader of the local Nile crocodile float. He was challenged by Makuu to a mashindano, and upon being defeated by Makuu, he left the float. Christian Larocque served as the supervising animator for Pua. A Nile crocodile, who is the leader of his float after he defeated Pua in a "mashindano" (a fight for dominance in which the winner becomes the new leader of the float and the loser has to leave). 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. Christian Larocque served as the supervising animator for Makuu. A clever and manipulative black-backed jackal, who is the matriarch of the pack. She is also the mother of Dogo and Kijana, and the mate of Goigoi. Christian Larocque and José Zelaya served as the supervising animators for Reirei. A greedy and dimwitted black-backed jackal, who is Reirei's mate. Christian Larocque served as the supervising animator for Goigoi. A Masai giraffe, who is part of Twiga's herd. José Zelaya served as the supervising animator for Shingo. An African bush elephant with a broken right tusk, who is the leader of the herd and the daughter of the late Aminifu, an old friend of Simba's, who was also the former leader of the elephants. Christian Larocque served as the supervising animator for Ma Tembo. A fork-tailed drongo, who can imitate the voice of any animal. Christian Larocque served as the supervising animator for Tamaa. A cream-colored African leopard from the Back Lands, who tracked Ajabu to the Pride Lands since okapis are rare creatures. Christian Larocque and José Zelaya served as the supervising animators for 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. The Lion Guard trained him to have enough courage to drive off Mapigano. Badili's personality for this film was inspired by McBrayer's character Fix-It-Felix, Jr. from the Wreck-It-Ralph franchise. Christian Larocque served as the supervising animator for Badili. A spotted hyena, who is Jasiri's sister and is part of her clan. Christian Larocque served as the supervising animator for Madoa. An eastern lowland gorilla and friend of Simba, who is the leader of the troop. Sokwe is also Majinuni and Hafifu's father and King of the Theluji Mountains. José Zelaya served as the supervising animator for Sokwe. A dimwitted, but kindly eastern lowland gorilla prince and son of King Sokwe, who is Hafifu's brother. He came to the Pride Lands to deliver a message to Simba. Christian Larocque served as the supervising animator for Majinuni. A dimwitted, but kindly eastern lowland gorilla prince and son of King Sokwe, who is Majinuni's brother. He came to the Pride Lands to deliver a message to Simba. Christian Larocque served as the supervising animator for Hafifu. A comedic yellow baboon from an unknown land, who is the leader of the Traveling Baboon Show. Christian Larocque served as the supervising animator for Uroho. A stubborn sable antelope, who is the leader of the herd and values polite behavior. Christian Larocque and José Zelaya served as the supervising animators for Bupu. A legendary African hawk-eagle, who faked having invented the Hadithi Spin. As Hadithi was previously voiced by John O'Hurley in The Lion Guard, he provided the character's singing voice and was credited as Tambor's "Hadithi consultant", providing some of the character's dialogues. Christian Larocque and José Zelaya served as the supervising animators for Hadithi. A foolish and clumsy white-backed vulture, who is a member of Mzingo's parliament. A poor-sighted white rhinoceros. A red-billed oxpecker, who is Kifaru's tickbird and best friend. A cream-colored African leopard, who bullied Badili upon invading his territory in Mirihi Forest in the Back Lands. An aardvark, who is Muhangus' wife. A cheerful ostrich, who is the leader of her flock. A plains zebra, who is the leader of the herd. In the UK release, Emma Bunton voices her instead. As Bunton voiced the character in the UK, Wahlgren was credited as her "Muhimu consultant", but not in the US. A young black rhinoceros. A Thomson's gazelle, who is the leader of her herd. She is also a friend of Muhimu. A grumpy and impatient aardwolf, who is the leader of the pack. A bright and bubbly aardwolf. A nervous and shy aardwolf. An impatient and grouchy African bush elephant, who is part of Ma Tembo's herd. An old black rhinoceros, who is the leader of his crash. Parkins also worked on the film as a co-producer. A sly and stout but smart spotted hyena. Black also provided lead vocals in songs "A Beautiful Day (Ni Siku Nzuri)", "Find Your Roar", "Kuishi Ni Kucheka" and "Fujo". A devious and sloping but smart spotted hyena. An olive baboon, who is the leader of his troop. The Lion Guard developer Ford Riley served as Baker's "Big Baboon consultant". Big Baboon was originally renamed as "Nyani". A young olive baboon, who is part of Big Baboon's troop. Gumba is also a friend of Mtoto. A Masai giraffe, who is the leader of the herd. Cartañá also performed lead vocals in songs "Trail To Hope" and "Our Kupatana Community". An African buffalo, who is the leader of her herd. Kiara once presided over their Royal Buffalo Wallow. A galago, who is the leader of her group in Ndefu Grove. A sable antelope, who is part of Bupu's herd. A hamerkop, who leaves her egg in Ono's nest, while she builds a new nest that is safe from predators. She considers Ono to be part of her family, due to him taking good care of her baby. She later names her baby Ona, in honor of Ono. Allen wrote some of the film's synopsis. An African harrier-hawk, who leaves her hunting grounds from an unknown land and travels to the Pride Lands looking for a rare meal, including Kulinda's daughter Ona. A young African bush elephant calf, who is part of Ma Tembo's herd. He also looks up to Beshte as his personal hero. Justin Felbinger, who continued to voice Mtoto in later episodes of The Lion Guard, served as Coughlin's "Mtoto consultant". A young ostrich chick, who is a friend of Mtoto. A young plains zebra foal. Kwato is also a best friend of Mtoto. A young plains zebra foal, who is Muhimu's son. A black-backed jackal pup, who is Reirei and Goigoi's son. He has blue eyes compared to the other pups, who have brown eyes. A young banded mongoose pup. Shauku is also a best friend of Mtoto. A black-backed jackal pup, who is Reirei and Goigoi's daughter and Dogo's sister. A young Masai giraffe calf, who is Twiga's daughter. An infant spotted hyena cub and brother of Wema, who is part of Jasiri's clan. An infant spotted hyena cub and sister of Tunu, who is part of Jasiri's clan. A maniacal meerkat, who is an old friend of Timon. He loves to laugh and play around, as well as pulling practical jokes. Bullock reprises his voice role from The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa in a brief cameo, and Fred is the only character from the television series to have a speaking role.
 * Matthew Broderick as Simba
 * Jonathan Taylor Thomas as young Simba. Matt Weinberg, who voiced young Simba in the 2004 prequel, was credited as Thomas' "Young Simba consultant" as he provided some of young Simba's dialogues during the cub's parenthood. Evan Saucedo and Jason Weaver provided the cub's singing voice, while Connor Funk provided his growls, although Funk was uncredited.
 * Gabrielle Union as Nala
 * Niketa Calame-Harris as young Nala. Laura Williams provided the cub's singing voice.
 * 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.
 * Jason Marsden as Kovu
 * Ryan O'Donohue as infant Kovu
 * James Earl Jones as Mufasa
 * Nika Futterman as Zira
 * Khary Payton as:
 * Rafiki
 * Muhangus
 * Diamond White as Fuli
 * Maia Mitchell as Jasiri
 * Whoopi Goldberg as Shenzi
 * Andy Dick as Nuka
 * Lacey Chabert as Vitani
 * Rowan Atkinson as Zazu
 * Alfre Woodard as Sarabi
 * Cheech Marin as Banzai
 * Sarah Hyland as Tiifu
 * Sarah Paulson as Sarafina
 * Jim Cummings as Ed
 * Landry Bender as Makini
 * Joshua Rush as Bunga
 * Dusan Brown as Beshte
 * Atticus Shaffer as Ono
 * Julie Kavner as Timon's Ma
 * Jerry Stiller as Uncle Max
 * Jeremy Irons as Scar
 * Max Charles as Kion
 * Kevin Schon as Chungu
 * Ron Funches as Ajabu
 * Madison Pettis as Zuri
 * Andrew Kishino as Janja
 * Vargus Mason as Cheezi
 * Jonny Rees as Mzingo
 * Christian Slater as Ushari
 * Kevin Michael Richardson as Basi
 * Gerald Rivers as Pua
 * Blair Underwood as Makuu
 * Ana Gasteyer as Reieri
 * Phil LaMarr as:
 * Goigoi
 * Shingo
 * Lynette DuPree as Ma Tembo
 * C. J. Byrnes as Tamaa
 * Steve Blum as Makucha
 * Jack McBrayer as Badili
 * Maisie Klompus as Madoa
 * John Rhys-Davies as Sokwe
 * Dan Howell as Majinuni
 * Phil Lester as Hafifu
 * Sinbad as Uroho
 * Michael Dorn as Bupu
 * Jeffrey Tambor as Hadithi
 * Cam Clarke as Mwoga
 * Maurice LaMarche as Kifaru
 * Rhys Darby as Mwenzi
 * Jorge Diaz as Mapigano
 * Russi Taylor as:
 * Muhanga
 * Mbuni
 * Kari Wahlgren as:
 * Muhimu
 * Young Rhino
 * Tunisia Hardison as Swala
 * Charlie Adler as Mjomba
 * Marieve Herington as Ogopa
 * Ogie Banks as Haya
 * Nick Watt as Zito
 * Howy Parkins as Mbeya
 * Beau Black as Nne
 * Dee Bradley Baker as:
 * Tano
 * Big Baboon
 * Jacquez Swanigan as Gumba
 * Alex Cartañá as Twiga
 * Virginia Watson as Vuruga Vuruga
 * Meghan Strange as Laini
 * Erica Luttrell as Boboka
 * Elise Allen as Kulinda
 * Carla Hall as Mpishi
 * Natalie Coughlin as Mtoto
 * McKenna Grace as Kambuni
 * Lyons Luke Mathias as:
 * Kwato
 * Hamu
 * Jacob Guenther as:
 * Dogo
 * Shauku
 * Amber Hood as Kijana
 * Ivy Bishop as Juhudi
 * Crimson Hart as Tunu
 * Fiona Hart as Wema
 * S. Scott Bullock as Fred
 * Brian Tochi as Fighting hyena (uncredited)

The Outsiders are a pride of lions that live in the Outlands. They originally lived in the Pride Lands with Zira and her children during the reign of Scar, who picked Kovu to be his heir. Sometime after this, Simba returned to the Pride Lands and battled Scar and defeated him, before banishing the lionesses that were only loyal to Scar to the Outlands. Other non-speaking characters in the film includes: Nyata, a swift purple skink who is a member of Shupavu's group; and Johari, an African bush elephant, who is part of Ma Tembo's herd. The Lion King: Six New Adventures character Ahadi is indirectly mentioned by Mufasa when showing the stars to Simba. When Beshte declares news, he recounts how he talked to his friend, Kulu, at the watering hole when her cousin had overhead a buffalo talking about how his sister had spotted Janja's clan near Chakula Plains. Rani, leader of the Night Pride, makes a silent cameo in the film's post-credits scene.

This film marks the first appearance of Timon's Pa, who appears as Timon's father and Ma's mate that the meerkat colony nicknamed "Fearless Buzz" because of his willingness to fight off hyena packs, only to be struck down in his moment of glory when Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed ambushed him. Pa has been in a deleted concept from The Lion King 1½; this version of Pa happens to be Buzz from another concept titled "Old Fearless Buzz", which is also a deleted verse of "Digga Tunnah".

Uncle Boaris, Toucan Dan, Princess Claudia, King Leopold, Ned the Elephant, Uncle Ernie, Tatiana, Baampu, Monti, [https://ideas.wikia.com/wiki/Cast_and_crew_of_The_Lion_King_Reborn_and_The_Lion_King_Annihilation#Pumbaa_Jr. Pumbaa Jr.], Jumbo Jumbo, Pimon and Tumbaa, and Kopa, who is Simba and Nala's son as seen in The Lion King: Six New Adventures, were all in original concepts, but were then cut out from the movie's original screenplay. Boaris is briefly mentioned by Pumbaa as Toucan Dan makes a silent cameo during Hadithi's introduction while Princess Claudia and King Leopold both make silent cameos in the Back Lands, and Pimon and Tumbaa make multiple silent cameos in the Pride Lands' locations. Additionally, Tress MacNeille was set to reprise her voice role as Tatiana from The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa alongside Jeff Bennett as the Duke of the meerkat colony, but this scene did not make the theatrical cut of the film. In order to tradition, several heads of Mickey Mouse appear as hidden Easter Eggs, and Jock from the Lady and the Tramp franchise makes a non-speaking cameo near the hyena henchmen when Scar lies they think he's king.

Species
To be continued

Locations

 * Pride Lands
 * Pride Rock
 * Pit of Shame
 * Tree of Life
 * Rafiki's Tree
 * Mount Kilimanjaro
 * Waterhole
 * Elephant Graveyard
 * Hakuna Matata
 * Great River
 * Gorge
 * Desert
 * Outlands
 * Zira's Den
 * Termite Mounds
 * The Lair of the Lion Guard
 * Hakuna Matata Falls
 * Back Lands
 * Outlands Volcano
 * Kilio Valley
 * Flat Ridge Rock
 * Watering Hole
 * Mapango Cliffs
 * Big Springs
 * Big Ravine
 * Lake Matope
 * Ndefu Grove
 * Mapema Rock
 * Lake Miziwa
 * Urembo Meadows
 * Utamu Tree
 * Nandembo Caverns
 * Mbali Fields
 * Rocky Ridge
 * Rocky Plains
 * Grove of Trees
 * Aardvark Dens
 * Reirei's Cave
 * Jasiri's Watering Hole
 * Ushari's Hole
 * Theluji Mountains
 * Flood Plains
 * Chakula Plains
 * Mizimu Grove
 * Ukuni Woods
 * Maji Baridi Falls
 * Chekundu Cliffs
 * Broken Rock
 * Mekundu Cliffs
 * Ono's Nest
 * Big Baboon Tree
 * Laini's Tree
 * Badili's Tree
 * Bin-Barriel Browns of the Bull Elephants
 * Sokwe's Cave
 * Misty Falls
 * Embamba Canyon
 * Giraffe Watering Hole
 * Mirihi Forest
 * Kulinda's Nest
 * Acacia Savanna
 * The Tallest Tree
 * Chamber of the Lion Guard
 * Four Winds (mention)
 * Summer Springs (mention)
 * Red Rocks (mention)

Production

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

Development
"Since June 1994, our original film was a huge success as we thought like, "If we're gonna do another movie, we gotta get ready now," and we started to come up with a extended version of TLK. It would also include its sequel Simba's Pride and it's midquel Hakuna Matata for a point-of-view with Timon and Pumbaa, not just having to storytell Simba. After a few months on figuring out, this film will soon be released onto 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 Alfre Woodard, Laurence Olivier Award winner Nathan Lane, Daytime Emmy Award winner Ernie Sabella, and Drama League Award winner Jeremy Irons, as well as co-starring James Earl Jones, Eden Riegel, Max Charles, Joshua Rush, Diamond White, Nika Futterman, Jason Marsden, Andy Dick, Lacey Chabert, Rowan Atkinson and Khary Payton. For fans liking the films and the Lion Guard, they will adore this upcoming ultimate film of the year: The Lion King Reborn."

- Rob Minkoff

Shortly after the sucess of the 2016 remake of The Jungle Book, Jon Favreau announced there would a special edition director's cut version 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 and Don Hahn came on board to tie the original films and television series together. 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. On June 14th, the title was once changed again to its official title The Lion King Reborn. On July 5th, they stated that the film would be "darker" and more "serious" in tone than from previous The Lion King adaptations. DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg came on board as well and served as one of the film's associate producers.

The film includes the film 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 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", and "Rescue in the Outlands". For Fred's scenes during Timon's living in the meerkat colony, archive footage of the The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa episodes "Once Upon a Timon" and "Tanzania Zany" were used to transparent out the background with only using Fred's appearance.

Deleted scenes that are included in the film are "Bug Football" from The Lion King, "Opening Concept 1", "Old Fearless Buzz", "Timon Talks to Dad" and "Timon and Pumbaa Look for their Oasis" from The Lion King 1½, "Another Cub", "Kovu's Bug" and "Nuka and Vitani's News" from The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, and "The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar End Credits Animatic" from The Lion Guard.

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.

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.

On September 19th, six new posters were released featuring the film's main characters. The posters' backgrounds are based on the Infinity Stones from Marvel Comics. On the next day, Minkoff has confirmed that there was a delay of supporting characters from The Lion Guard, to which they are confirmed to be in the film's sequel and had their scenes taken out. On October 10th, the directors announced that an animation trailer involving Simba, Nala, Kiara, Kion, Fuli, Bunga, Ono, Beshte, Jasiri, Makini, Timon, Pumbaa, Rafiki, Zazu, Mufasa, Janja, Cheezi, Chungu and Scar will be released on October 12th and that the second sneak peak will be released sometime.

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

Production companies The Baby Einstein Company, Pixar Animation Studios and Disney Junior, even ABC journalist Dan Harris, who had been broadcasting the premiere of The Lion Guard, and Alexys Gabrielle, who watched the 1994 film with Ernie Sabella on an episode of Oh My Disney! were some of the film's special thanks during pre-production.

Casting
The film's casting was mostly done by Sarah Halley Finn.

In mid-February 2018, Matthew Broderick, Jason Marsden, James Earl Jones, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Andy Dick, Lacey Chabert, Rowan Atkinson, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, Jim Cummings, Julie Kavner, Jerry Stiller and Jeremy Irons were all cast to reprise their roles as Simba, Kovu, Mufasa, Timon, Pumbaa, Nuka, Vitani, Zazu, Shenzi, Banzai, Ed, Timon's Ma, Uncle Max and Scar from the previous films.

Later in March, Andrew Kishino was announced to reprise his role as Janja from The Lion Guard. In April, Sarah Hyland, Madison Pettis, Vargus Mason and Kevin Schon were cast to reprise their roles as Tiifu, Zuri, Cheezi and Chungu from The Lion Guard. In May, The Lion Guard stars Landry Bender, Maia Mitchell, Joshua Rush, Diamond White, Dusan Brown, Atticus Shaffer and Max Charles were scheduled to voice Makini, Jasiri, Bunga, Fuli, Beshte, Ono and Kion once again.

Earlier in February, it was announced that Moira Kelly was Allers and 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. Later on June 14th, her role was unconfirmed in an official announcement, and Gabrielle Union came in to voice the character, which also confirmed that Eden Riegel, Nika Futterman and Khary Payton would all play the roles of Kiara, Zira, and Rafiki. Other stars Sarah Paulson and Jeffrey Tambor will be the voices of Sarafina and Hadithi 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 works on the 2019 live-action remake.

Music
The film has most of the songs from all three films including "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", "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)", "Zuka Zama", "Tonight We Strike", "Duties of the King", "Jackal Style", "Utamu", "Our Kupatana Community", "All Hail the Vultures", "Please Don't Make a Stink", "Bird of a Thousand Voices", "Panic and Run", "Trail To Hope", "We'll Make You a Meal", "Teke Ruka Teleza", "My Own Way", "The Traveling Baboon Show", "Bunga the Wise", "Beware of the Zimwi", "Outta the Way", "Life in the Pride Lands", "Kuishi Ni Kucheka", "Find Your Roar", "Stand Up, Stand Out", "Lions Over All", "Bring Back a Legend", "Makin' Hippo Lanes", "Running with the King", "Tickbirds and Rhinos", "Fujo", "Welcome to the Summit (Everyone is Welcome)", "Hero Inside", "Hadithi the Hero", "Today is my Way", "The Path of Honor", and an extended version of "Baboons!" alongside a remastered 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". It also features the original The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly theme composed by Ennio Morricone back in 1967 during the snail slurping contest, the song "Sunrise, Sunset" from the original soundtrack of Fiddler on the Roof, the Peter Gunn opening theme during the "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" scene, "Ride of the Valkyries" by Richard Wagner after Pumbaa farts, and Aram Khachaturian's "Sabre Dance" with Jacques Offenbach's "Cancan" as Timon and Pumbaa do circus tricks to distract the hyenas during the battle of Pride Rock. It also has been confirmed that a new song will be involved titled "Rafiki Huomboleza (Friend Mourns)" with lyrics written by Elton John and Tim Rice performed by Rafiki's voice actor Khary Payton with a backup choir before John's retirement. Hans Zimmer was confirmed to compose the film's score as he did from the 1994 animated movie and the 2019 remake. Don L. Harper, Nick Glennie-Smith and Christopher Willis, who all composed The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, The Lion King 1½ and The Lion Guard, served as Zimmer's score arrangers as well as Alan Silvestri.
 * See also: The Lion King Reborn/Soundtrack

On the soundtrack Music From and Inspired by The Lion King Reborn, it features all songs from Rhythm of the Pride Lands including "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", "Kube", "Lea Halalela (Holy Land)", "It's Time", "One by One", "Warthog Rhapsody", "Lala", "Busa", "Noyana", and "Circle of Life" performed by Disney Channel Circle of Stars as well as The Lion Guard songs "Here Comes the Lion Guard", "It Is Time", and "Call of the Guard", The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa songs "Alone Together (a.k.a. Timon and Pumbaa), "Stand By Me" and "Yummy Yummy Yummy", Timon and Pumbaa's cover of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", the Tokens' cover of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and Kool & The Gang's cover of "Jungle Boogie".

The score during the climax of the film's end credits is a mixture of "Elephant Graveyard", "This Is My Home", "Under The Stars", "Stampede", and "The Rightful King" all taken from the CD release of Walt Disney Records the Legacy Collection: The Lion King.

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 84%, based on 106 reviews, with an average rating of 8 out of 10 and a consensus, "The Lion King Reborn shows that we can retell one of our favorite cinematic stories if done properly, even when we had the heart, pride and love with our memories to share with our friends, family and even our children for future generations in the Circle of Life." On Metacritic, the film has a score of 73 out of 100, based on 24 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". IGN holds a score of 9.9/10, and IMDb holds a score of 8.6/10 based on 337,029 votes.

Audience reception
Fans and critics praised the film for it's excellent animation, voice acting (mostly Jeremy Irons' role as Scar) and while retaining the spirit of the franchise, it included newer elements such as restoring deleted scenes that had almost got in the cut. 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 87% of audience members graded the film positively, including a rare five-star rating.

Box office
W.I.P.

Accolades
W.I.P.

TvTropes page

 * 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.

Marketing
In May 2018, Matthew Broderick and his philanthropic organization Random Act Funding partnered with Omaze to initiate a contest to benefit the organization. A randomly chosen winner from those that donated would receive an Lion King set visit. A life-sized statue of Scar, created by Legacy Effects, was on display at D23 Expo 2018, alongside statues of "Army of Scar": Janja, Reirei, Ushari, and Mzingo. Additionally, Hahn, Minkoff, Broderick, Irons, Dick, Chabert, Bender, Mitchell, Rush, Sabella, Atkinson, Lane, Woodard, Marsden, Payton, Jones, and Riegel appeared at D23 Expo 2018 to present a clip highlighting the 80 years of Disney films, along with footage from The Lion King Reborn. The footage, which was screened exclusively for the panel, received strong audience reaction, with fans "literally on their feet and jumping as the footage played". Julia Alexander of Polygon commented, "to say that there was quite a bit happening in the trailer would be one heck of an understatement." She was excited that the film would deliver on the character interactions in one film and that The Lion King Reborn "finally feels like Disney has made the movie it always wanted to—and the one we've always wanted to see. For nearly ten years we dreamt of this reality and to see it play across a massive screen... it was impossible to not feel emotional." CinemaBlend's Eric Eisenberg said the footage left him "literally shaking", with the film looking "like it could be one of the most epic blockbusters ever created", concluding "the hype [for the film] most definitely feels very, very real". Haleigh Foutch for Collider said, "It looks dark and dramatic, and utterly epic. It's clear Disney is trying to do something different here... to pay off a decade's worth of narrative and world-building. While it's impossible to tell from two minutes work of footage, it certainly looks like that gamble paid off." The D23 footage was also shown at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con International.
 * Main article: Marketing of The Lion King Reborn and The Lion King Annihilation

As the red carpet premiere for the movie has been confirmed in Los Angeles, directors Allers and Minkoff, producer Hahn, and many cast members including Broderick, Riegel, Marsden, Jones, Futterman, Lane, Sabella, Payton, White, Mitchell, Goldberg, Dick, Chabert, Atkinson, Woodard, Hyland, Paulson, Bender, Rush, Brown, Shaffer, Kavner, Irons, Charles, Schon, Funches, Pettis, Kishino, Howell, Lester, Klompus, Gasteyer, LaMarr, Mason, Tambor, Cartañá, Black, Hall, Calame, Clarke, Sinbad, LaMarche, Dorn, Richardson, Underwood, and Davies are all scheduled to come to the premiere while guests include Lowe, Kelly, Williams, Oyelowo, Headley, MacNeille, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Christopher Jackson, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, and Raven-Symoné, as well as the 2019 remake voice actors including Donald Glover, Beyoncé, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, John Kani, John Oliver, Keegan-Michael Key, Eric Andre, Florence Kasumba, JD McCrary, and Shahadi Wright Joseph.

Home media
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, the THX Optimizer, 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, the film's gag reel, a set-up menu, and the THX Optimizer. 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.

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 archive recordings taken from The Lion King Reborn, while they retell them the story of the film.
 * See also: Timon & Pumbaa's Ultimate Virtual Safari Breakdown

It features Lane, Sabella, Kavner and Stiller reprising their voice roles from this film, while archive recordings of most actors and actresses from The Lion King Reborn are included.

Video games
Angry Birds The Lion King is a puzzle video game, a crossover between the The Lion King franchise, and the Angry Birds series of video games and movies (cutscene only), launched on July 18, 2019, along the premiere of "The Lion King (2019)", first for Windows, iOS, and Android devices. The game is the twenty-four Angry Birds game in the series. The characters are copyrighted from Disney's trilogy, this film, its sequel The Lion King Annihilation, and Disney Junior's Lion King spin-off series The Lion Guard. Disney and Rovio announced that Angry Birds The Lion King will be heading for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Nintendo 3DS in conjunction with Warner Bros. Interactive. The game also features a special character from every other Disney franchise.
 * See also: Angry Birds The Lion King, LEGO The Lion King, and The Lion King: Fight for the Pride Lands

LEGO The Lion King is a LEGO-themed video game based on Disney's animated film "The Lion King", "The Lion King Reborn", and "The Lion King Returns" The game closely follows the plot of The Lion King Trilogy and The Lion Guard, but with some modifications so that it would be more child-friendly, have some extra content and adapt to the two-player gameplay specific to the LEGO formula.

A fighting game developed by Arc System Works of BlazBlue and Guilty Gear fame and published with Square-Enix, The Lion King: Fight for the Pride Lands will be released after the film's release. The game will include a story mode, an arcade mode, a training mode along wih other things common in fighting games as well as an extras mode (including a cinema mode) and will have most of the cast returning from the film with a few exceptions like Cam Clarke as Simba; Vanessa Marshall as Nala; Tress MacNeille as Shenzi and Ma; and Richard Epcar with Jeff Bennett as Uncle Max and Zazu, replacing Broderick, Union, Goldberg, Kavner, Stiller, Irons and Atkinson respectively. In addition, for all of the releases of the game, the Japanese version of Circle of Life (which is the opening theme of the game as well as the main menu theme) will be performed by JAM Project, Flow, Momoiro Clover Z, AK848, Akira Kamiya, CODA, Hiroaki "Tommy" Tominaga, Jin Hashimoto and Koichi Yamadera, as the cover of the song is one of the most ambitious musical projects in Japanese music history.

Attraction
The Lion King: The 5D Extreme Attraction is an upcoming dark ride at Disneyland Park. Footage of the simulator ride as seen from an audience's point-of-view will be included in the Blu-Ray and DVD release of The Lion King Reborn in cinema mode.
 * See also: The Lion King: The 5D Extreme Attraction

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 due to a serious yet deeper tone and mild crude humor, including Pumbaa and Bunga's flatulence problems in the plot.

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

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 Annihilation was confirmed by Minkoff; it features Rob LaDuca, Darrell Rooney, Howy Parkins, Tom Derosier and Ford Riley, who co-directed this film, returning to direct, Hahn returning to produce, Glennie-Smith and Willis returning to compose the score, and much of the voice cast reprising their voice roles from the previous film. Broderick, Riegel, Marsden, Union, Futterman, Lane, Sabella, Payton, White, Mitchell, Dick, Chabert, Bender, Rush, Brown, Shaffer, Charles, Kishino, Underwood, Pettis, Sinbad, Byrnes, Slater, DuPree, Strange, Blum, Dorn, Klompus, Gasteyer, Rees, Mason, Schon, LaMarr, Parkins, Clarke, LaMarche, Richardson, and Rivers are all scheduled to reprise their roles as Simba, Kiara, Kovu, Nala, Zira, Timon, Pumbaa, Rafiki and Muhangus, Fuli, Jasiri, Nuka, Vitani, Makini, Bunga, Beshte, Ono, Kion, Janja, Makuu, Zuri, Uroho, Tamaa, Ushari, Ma Tembo, Laini and Shupavu, Makucha, Bupu, Pua, Madoa, Reirei, Mzingo, Cheezi, Chungu and Thurston, Goigoi, Mbeya, Mwoga, Kifaru, Basi, and Pua, while they are joined by a group of new additions, including Common as Kiburi, Nolan North as Tamka and Nyuni, Renée Elise Goldsberry as Dhahabu, Justin Hires as Hodari, Michael Luwoye as Askari, Christopher Jackson as Fikiri and Shujaa, Heather Headley as Kitendo, Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Rani, Behzad Dabu as Azaad, Kimiko Glenn as Chuluun, J. Elaine Marcos as Yuki, and Ace Gibson as Tumbili and Johari. Marieve Herington and Jorge Diaz don't return as Ogopa and Mapigano, but voice two new characters named Zigo and Nduli, while Gary Anthony Williams, Jeff Bennett, Bailey Gambertoglio, David Oyelowo, and Justin Felbinger replace James Earl Jones, Rowan Atkinson, Sarah Hyland, Jeremy Irons, and Natalie Coughlin as Mufasa, Zazu, Tiifu, Scar, and Mtoto respectively. Neve Campbell also reprises her voice role as adult Kiara from the 1998 sequel.
 * Main article: The Lion King Annihilation

On October 2nd, Minkoff and Riley has confirmed that they had a good reason for not using the ending scene from The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, since the cub present in the ending has been retconned to Kion.

Gag Reel

 * Main article: Gag reels of The Lion King Reborn and The Lion King Annihilation

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

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

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 Annihilation

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. If you have heard of these popular songs before, which one would you suggest to be the best from the climax of "The Lion King Reborn" or the film's soundtrack? "Digga Tunnah" "That's All I Need (Meerkat Rhapsody)" "Circle of Life" "The Morning Report" "I Just Can't Wait to be King" "Chow Down" "Be Prepared" "Rafiki Huomboleza (Friend Mourns)" "Hakuna Matata" "The Madness of King Scar" "Shadowland" "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" "Sunrise, Sunset" "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" "Endless Night" "Busa" "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)" "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" "Trail to Hope" "Life in the Pride Lands" "We'll Make You a Meal" "Find Your Roar" "Baboons!" "Beware of the Zimwi" "Lions Over All" "Stand Up, Stand Out" "Kuishi Ni Kucheka" "Running with the King" "Hadithi the Hero" "Makin' Hippo Lanes" "Tickbirds and Rhinos" "Teke Ruka Teleza" "Welcome to the Summit (a.k.a. Everyone is Welcome)" "The Traveling Baboon Show" "A Real Meal" "Fujo" "The Path of Honor" "Bring Back a Legend" "Today is my Day" "Make Way for Bunga the Wise" "Chungu's Lament" "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" "Kube" "Lea Halalela (Holy Land)" "It's Time" "One by One" "Warthog Rhapsody" "Lala" "Noyana (Traditional)" "Digga Tunnah Dance" "Timon's Traveling Theme" "It Is Time" "Here Comes the Lion Guard" "Call of the Guard" "Alone Together (a.k.a. Timon and Pumbaa)" "Stand By Me" "Yummy Yummy Yummy" "Jungle Boogie" "Ride of the Valkyries" "Grazing in the Grass" 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)

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