The Lion King (2019 remake)

The Lion King is a 2019 American animated musical film directed by Jon Favreau, written by Jeff Nathanson, and produced by Walt Disney Pictures. It is a photorealistic computer-animated remake of Disney's traditionally animated 1994 film of the same name. The film stars the voices of Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, Billy Eichner, John Kani, John Oliver, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, as well as James Earl Jones reprising his role from the original film. The film's plot follows Simba, a young lion who must embrace his role as rightful king of his native land following the murder of his father, Mufasa, at the hands of his uncle, Scar. The film premiered in Hollywood on July 9, 2019, and was released theatrically in the United States on July 19, 2019. It grossed over $1.6 billion worldwide. Despite it not being advertised as an animated film, it managed to surpass Frozen as the highest-grossing animated film of all time. It also became the second highest-grossing film of 2019 and the seventh-highest of all time. It received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for the visual effects, music, and vocal performances (particularly Rogen and Eichner), but criticism for its lack of originality and facial emotion on the characters. It was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film and Original Song at the 77th Golden Globe Awards and 25th Critics' Choice Awards. It was also nominated at the 73rd British Academy Film Awards and 92nd Academy Awards, both for visual effects. A sequel, titled The Lion King: Return of Simba, was released in 2028.

Synopsis
Simba is the son of Mufasa and Sarabi, and will one day become king of his native land, the Pride Lands. While being manipulated by his uncle, Scar, into a gorge where a wildebeest stampede breaks out, Scar informs Mufasa of his son's presence down there, and Mufasa goes after Simba, only to get caught by his brother and thrown into the stampede, where he is killed. Simba is then tricked by Scar into believing he killed his own father and he flees the kingdom. Years later, Simba's best friend Nala and a wise mandrill called Rafiki find him and, thanks to their words of wisdom, convince Simba to go home and challenge his uncle.

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