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The Lion King Revisited
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 Official logo | |
| Directed by | Rob Minkoff Roger Allers Jon Favreau |
| Produced by | Don Hahn Jeffrey Silver Karen Gilchrist |
| Screenplay by | Jeff Nathanson Kendall Michele Haney |
| Based on | The Lion King by Irene Mecchi Jonathan Roberts Linda Woolverton |
| Starring | Gabrielle Union Matthew Broderick Jeremy Irons Nathan Lane Ernie Sabella Alfre Woodard Jason Marsden Eden Riegel Nika Futterman Andy Dick Lacey Chabert Khary Payton Edward Hibbert Madison Pettis Peyton Elizabeth Lee Sarah Hyland Joshua Rush Diamond White James Earl Jones Max Charles |
| Music by | Original Score: Hans Zimmer Christopher Willis Original Songs: Tim Rice Beau Black Elton John |
| Edited by | Adam Gerstel Christopher K. Gee Ivan Bilancio |
| Production companies | Walt Disney Pictures Disney Television Animation Mercury Filmworks |
| Distributed by | Disney+ |
| Release date | February 16, 2020 |
| Country | United States South Korea India |
| Runtime | TBA |
| Language | English |
The Lion King Revisited is a 2020 American animated musical epic comedy-drama film produced by Disney Television Animation. It is a remake to the 1994 animated film The Lion King, its midquel The Lion King 1½, its sequel The Lion King II: Simba's Pride and some selected episodes from its spin-off TV series The Lion Guard, all conjoined into a three-part film, aside as part to the Disney Reborn Multiverse. The film features an ensemble voice cast led by Gabrielle Union and Matthew Broderick as Nala and Simba. Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Alfre Woodard, Jason Marsden, Eden Riegel, Nika Futterman, Andy Dick, Lacey Chabert, Khary Payton, Edward Hibbert, Madison Pettis, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Sarah Hyland, Joshua Rush, Diamond White, James Earl Jones and Max Charles are featured in supporting roles.
The film will be released on February 16, 2020 on Disney+. It received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its performances, voice acting, musical score, animation, and direction, but criticism for its long duration, screenplay, Nala's role as the main protagonist, and perceived departures from the themes and story of the original saga. It will be released sometime on 4K Blu-Ray and DVD in 2020.
Plot
In the Pride Lands of Africa, a pride of lions rules over the animal kingdom from Pride Rock. King Mufasa's and Queen Sarabi's newborn son, Simba, is presented to the gathering animals by Rafiki the mandrill, the kingdom's shaman and advisor. Mufasa shows Simba the Pride Lands and explains to him the responsibilities of kingship and the "circle of life", which connects all living things. Mufasa's younger brother, Scar, covets the throne and plots to eliminate Mufasa and Simba, so he may become king. He tricks Simba and his best friend Nala (to whom it is expected Simba will marry) into exploring a forbidden elephants' graveyard, where they are attacked by spotted hyenas led by the ruthless Shenzi. Mufasa is alerted about the incident by his majordomo, the hornbill Zazu, and rescues the cubs. Though upset 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. Meanwhile, Scar visits the hyenas and manages to convince them to help him overthrow Mufasa in exchange for hunting rights in the Pride Lands.
Meanwhile, a meerkat named Timon is a social outcast in his meerkat colony on the outskirts of the Pride Lands due to frequently messing things up by accident. Though he is unconditionally supported by his mother, 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 Shenzi's son Janja. This becomes the last straw for the colony, prompting Timon to leave to find a better life. He meets the mandrill Rafiki, who teaches him about "Hakuna Matata" (meaning "no worries" in Swahili) and advises him to "look beyond what you see". Timon takes the advice literally and Timon ventures some places and meets a warthog named Pumbaa, who suffers from demophobia-triggered flatulence problems. Although the two quickly form a bond and Pumbaa accompanies Timon as his acquaintance, they start living in a small oasis behind the landmark, but forced to go to another place.
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 that the king will rush to save his son. 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. He then convinces Simba that the tragedy was Simba's own fault and advises him to leave the kingdom and never return. He orders the hyenas to kill the cub, but Simba escapes. Scar tells the pride that both Mufasa and Simba were killed in the stampede and steps forward as the new king, allowing Shenzi's clan to live in the Pride Lands. Meanwhile, Timon and Pumbaa finally settle in a huge luxurious green jungle. Sooner enough, they rescue Simba on a desert floor before they raise him under "Hakuna Matata"
A year later, Simba rescues Timon and Pumbaa from a hungry young adult lioness, who turns out to be Nala. She and Simba reunite and fall in love. Believing Hakuna Matata to be in jeopardy, Timon and Pumbaa attempt to sabotage their reunion, but fail every time. She tries to convice 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 his father in the night sky, who tells him he must take his rightful place as king. Realizing he can no longer run from his past, Simba decides to return home.
Nala explains Timon and Pumbaa that he had run off to confront Scar, and that they need their help. Upset that Simba left them, Timon unsuccessfully tries to persuade Pumbaa to stay, but Pumbaa follows Simba and Nala. Timon indulges in the jungle's luxuries by himself, but loneliness starts to overcome him. Rafiki appears again and indirectly helps Timon realize that his true Hakuna Matata is with the ones he loves, prompting Timon to take off after Pumbaa, Simba and Nala. Timon catches up and reconciles with Pumbaa, before they journey onward to Pride Rock.
Aided by his friends, Simba sneaks past the hyenas at Pride Rock and confronts Scar, who had just struck Sarabi. Timon and Pumbaa run into Ma and Uncle Max, who came looking for Timon. Scar taunts Simba over his role in Mufasa's death and he backs his nephew to the edge of Pride Rock, where he reveals to Simba that he murdered Mufasa. Enraged, Simba pins Scar to the ground and forces him to reveal the truth to the rest of the pride. After Timon proposes that they all help Simba by getting rid of the hyenas, he, Pumbaa, Nala, Sarabi, Zazu, Rafiki, and the other lionesses fend off the hyenas, alongside Ma and Max, who are directed to construct a series of tunnels beneath the hyenas. When the tunnels are finished, Max knocks down the sticks, the cave-in commences, and the hyenas are ejected through the tunnels. Scar begs for mercy and attempts to blame the hyenas for his actions, but Simba spares his life and orders him to leave the Pride Lands forever. Scar suddenly attacks his nephew, but Simba manages to toss him from the top of Pride Rock. Scar survives the fall, but then gets eaten by the hyenas, because they overheard him betray them to Simba.
With Scar gone for good, Simba takes over the kingship as the rains begin to fall, restoring life to the land; Timon takes his entire meerkat colony to live in predator-free environment to complete his "Hakuna Matata"; Nala gives birth to a newborn cub; and she is presented to the assembled animals.
A few weeks later, Timon and Pumbaa babysit Kiara while Nala gives birth to another cub named Kion. Kiara becomes annoyed with her father's overprotective parenting and enters the Outlands, where she meets an Outsider cub named Kovu. His mother Zira reminds Simba of how he exiled her and the other Outsiders, and reveals that Scar selected Kovu to be his successor despite not being his biological father. After returning to the Pride Lands, Simba lectures Kiara about the danger posed by the Outsiders, and reminds her they are part of each other. In the Outlands, Zira reminds Kovu that Simba killed Scar and exiled the lions who respect him. Kovu explains that he does not think it is so bad to have Kiara as a friend, but Zira realizes that she can use Kovu's friendship with Kiara to seek revenge on Simba.
Growing up as a playful cub, Kion discovers that he has the ability to channel the roars of the Great Lions of the Past, giving him fierce power just like his great uncle Scar who had the same power before him, but who tragically misused it for evil and lost it forever. 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, Ono, Beshte and Fuli 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.
As the wet season passes, the Lion Guard continue to protect the Pride Lands by driving off several Outlanders, including Janja's clan, Reirei's pack of jackals and Mzingo's parliament of vultures with help from the Pride Landers and a friendly hyena named Jasiri. She 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 infant cubs named Tunu and Wema. When he goes to help them out, he encounters the Outsider lions and their leader 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.
As the dry season begins, Ma Tembo works to find a new water source, and Rafiki takes in a young mandrill named Makini as an apprentice. While fed up with always getting trampled and disturbed when the Lion Guard is near, an Egyptian cobra named Ushari inadvertently finds out that Kion talks to the spirit of Mufasa. When ambushed by Janja's clan, Ushari forms an alliance with them, and they conspire to find a way to summon the spirit of Scar.
While overhearing Rafiki, Ushari learns that the evil lions of the past appear in the flames of fire, and once they are summoned by the Roar of the Elders, a bakora staff can be used to talk to them. With this knowledge, Janja, Cheezi, Chungu, Nne, and Tano steal Makini's bakora staff and kidnap Kiara to lure Kion and the Guard to the Outlands, with the intent on tricking Kion to Roar with enough power to make the hyenas' volcano erupt in flames. After the Guard manages to save Kiara, Janja taunts Kion until he Roars in anger and unknowingly summons Scar when the volcano erupts. Ushari and the hyenas are then able to speak with Scar's spirit in the volcano after dropping the bakora staff into it. Meanwhile, the Lion Guard and Kiara return to the Pride Lands safely, but are unaware that Scar has returned.
During the Kumbuka celebration honoring the day that Simba defeated Scar, Scar sends a scorpion named Sumu to sting Simba, causing him to become very ill. Rafiki sends Makini and the Lion Guard to the Outlands' volcano to get the volcanic ash needed to cure Simba by sundown. Once Makini and the guard reach the volcano, Scar reveals himself to them and commands Ushari, Sumu, a monitor lizard named Kenge, Janja's clan, Reirei's pack, Mzingo's flock, Shupavu's group, and a float of crocodiles led by Kiburi to attack them. After battling Scar's army of Outlanders, Makini and the Lion Guard make it back to Pride Rock with the ash. While Simba is recuperating, Kion informs Rafiki that Scar has returned. In the Outlands, Jasiri forms a hyena resistance with her clan by informing them of Scar's plans and stopping his army after reporting the news of his return.
As Simba figures out a way to defeat Scar, Kion gathers Ma Tembo's herd, Bupu's herd, Laini's troop, and Mbeya's crash to prepare them in their fight against the villainous Outlanders. After the training doesn't go well, Kion asks Makuu to help train the Pride Landers, but Makuu soon becomes frustrated and abandons them. When Scar hears the news from the skinks, he orders Janja's clan, Reirei's pack, and Kiburi's float to attack Makuu's float at their watering hole, but the Pride Landers are determined to help Makuu and his float and follow the Lion Guard to help them.
While the other Pride Landers are on edge due to the recent Outlander attacks, Makini is excited for her mpando mpya, the planting of a baobab tree in Mizimu Grove by a Royal Mjuzi in training. To cheer everyone up, Kion decides to make Makini's mpando mpya a big event and invites all of the Pride Landers to witness it, and asks Timon and Pumbaa to put on a show to entertain them. However, the skinks overhear this and inform Scar, who comes up with a plan to take over Mizimu Grove. After dealing with Ushari, Janja's clan, Reirei's pack, Kiburi's float, Mzingo's flock, and Shupavu's group attacking Mizimu Grove during the festivities, Scar's spirit appears in the flames of a fire and comes face to face with Simba and the Pride Landers for the first time. The Pride Landers become spooked by Scar's appearance and consider leaving the Pride Lands to avoid further attacks. Later, Kion gets some advice from Mufasa and then discovers that the baobab sapling that Makini left behind had survived the whole attack. This inspires the Pride Landers to stay, as they realize that they are stronger together, and celebrate with Makini's mpando mpya.
Several months have passed, and Kion and the Lion Guard, grown into teenagers, continue to defend the Pride Lands from Scar and his army. Simba suggests they take the battle with Scar into the Outlands to increase their chances more. That night, the Lion Guard gathers all of their allies, and Janja's clan is sent to distract them. Unbeknownst to Janja, however, Scar has Mzingo's flock set fire to Pride Rock to take out his clan as well as the royal family and the Guard. While Janja escapes to get Jasiri's help, the Lion Guard escapes through an underwater tunnel, along with the hyenas. Janja, realizing that Scar does not care about him or his clan, tells Kion of the supposed way to vanquish Scar for good, by using the Roar at full power inside the volcano. Unknown to Janja and the Pride Landers, this is in fact part of Scar's plan to trick Kion into causing the volcano to erupt, destroying the Pride Lands.
The next morning, the Pride Lands' army charge into the battle against Scar's army, allowing the Lion Guard to get to the top of the volcano. Once they reach the pit, a rejuvenated Scar in his younger body has Ushari bite Kion on the face, giving him a scar as well. As Scar insists that the two of them are now the same, Kion, refusing to use violence, instead summons the Great Lions of the past vanquish Scar, before he uses the Roar to vaporize his body, finally killing him. Before his final death, Scar yells out that the Roar is a curse. Ushari tries to attack Kion again, but is knocked into the lava pit by Bunga and is killed. Ono suffers eye damage rescuing Bunga. With Scar gone, Janja determines that Jasiri should assume control of the Outlands, and she accepts. Kion, meanwhile, finds that his injury is causing him to lose control of his Roar when he almost hurts Bunga with it. Back at Pride Rock, Rafiki instructs Kion to eat Tuliza blossoms when his scar is irritating him, and deduces that Kion and Ono's injuries can be healed by the Tree of Life, a faraway place that sick animals go to get better. Rafiki tells them they have to follow the paintings on the moja kwa moja stones to find their way to the Tree. Due to Ono's eye damage, Kion names Anga as the new keenest of sight, and renames Ono as the smartest member. With Ono having memorized each of the landmarks, the Guard sets off on a journey to the Tree of Life, with Makini joining them.
At Rafiki's tree, Mufasa's spirit persuades the mandrill to bring Kiara and Kovu together as a way of uniting the prides. He then asks if Mufasa is crazy and doubts that the plan will never work and tells him that he's been up there too long and his head in the clouds, and is then immediately buffeted by a strong gust of wind from Mufasa's spirit, immediately convincing the mandrill to carry out the deceased king's idea.
Another year later, back at Pride Rock, Kiara, now a young adult, begins her first solo hunt. As part of Zira's plan, Kovu's siblings Nuka and Vitani trap Kiara in a fire, allowing Kovu to rescue her. Simba is forced to accept Kovu's place since he rescued Kiara. Kovu contemplates attacking Simba as he was instructed to, but he teaches Kiara how to hunt instead and eventually realizes his feelings for her. Kiara and Kovu stargaze where they talk about the Great Kings of the Past and Kovu wonders if there is a darkness in him like there was in Scar. That night, Simba allows Kovu to sleep inside Pride Rock with the rest of the pride, but because of this, Zira sets a trap for her son and Simba.
The next day, Kovu once again tries to reveal his mission to Kiara, but Simba takes him around the Pride Lands and tells him Scar's story. The Outsiders then ambush Simba, resulting in Nuka's death from a log pile and Simba's escape. Enraged, Zira scratches Kovu for his brother's death, causing him to turn against her. Kovu returns to Pride Rock to asks Simba for his forgiveness, but is exiled. Kiara makes Simba realize that he is acting irrationally, and flees to find Kovu. The two lions later find each other and profess their love. Realizing that they must reunite the two prides, Kiara and Kovu return to the Pride Lands and convince them to stop fighting. When Zira attempts to kill Simba, Kiara intervenes and Zira vocally refuses Kiara's help, letting go of her own accord with a twisted smile upon her face. Afterwards, Simba accepts Kovu and the Outsiders back into the Pride Lands.
Learning that the Pride Lands are threatened from Jasiri, Janja and a male Asiatic cheetah named Azaad, the Lion Guard returns to their homeland, in which are assisted by the Hyena Resistance and Mzingo's parliament. Not recognizing Kion because of his scar, Vitani and her pride of lionesses, Shabaha, Kasi, Imara and Tazama, mistake the Lion Guard for enemies. Before they can fight, Kiara and Kovu interject and reveal that Vitani and the rest of Zira's pride have joined the Pride Landers.
The next day, Vitani and her lionesses meet Kion and his friends at the Lair of the Lion Guard. Vitani explains that as the future king's sister, she believes that it is her responsibility to protect the Pride Lands, so she has formed her own Lion Guard in their absence. Kion argues that he is the future queen's brother and has the mark of the Guard along with the Roar of the Elders, but Vitani and her guard still refuse to back down.
They start a competition to decide which one is more worthy to become the defender of the Pride Lands. Kion and his friends prove themselves to be superior in all aspects, but Vitani tells Kion that she doesn't need the Roar of the Elders because she believes that she's fierce enough to lead the Lion Guard. Kion deems Vitani worthy to lead the Lion Guard after remembering the words of Askari, the leader of the Pride Lands' first Lion Guard, on mastering the Roar and bestows her the mark of the Lion Guard along with the Roar. Vitani demonstrates the Roar, and the mark of the Lion Guard disappears from Kion and his friends, officially establishing Vitani's Lion Guard and ending Kion's Guard. Although Askari appears in the clouds and gives advice to Kion that the Roar needs help for the Tree of Life, Kion and his friends become members of the Night Pride. Vitani questions Kion on what it means to master the Roar, and Kion demonstrates by picking up Pride Rock with the power of the Roar.
At the Tree of Life, Kion's coronation is held, in whom becomes Rani's mate and king. The spirits of Ãnanda, Sãhasí, Askari, Janna and Mufasa look down at the ceremony in happiness as Makini reveals Kion and Rani's newborn cub and holds her up.
Cast
- Gabrielle Union as Nala
An African lioness, who is Simba's best friend and later his future love-interest, Kiara and Kion's mother, and the Queen of the Pride Lands. She is the film's main protagonist. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter provides the character's singing voice. Moira Kelly, who was originally set to reprise her role, served as Union's voice double.- Shahadi Wright Joseph voices Nala as a cub.
- Matthew Broderick as Simba
A lion, son of Mufasa and Sarabi, who is the crown prince of the Pride Lands. Simba later becomes Nala's husband, and the overprotecting father of Kiara and Kion. He is the film's secondary protagonist. Cam Clarke and Donald Glover provide the character's singing voice. Rob Lowe, who voices the character in The Lion Guard, served as Broderick's voice double.- JD McCrary voices Simba as a cub.
- Jeremy Irons as Scar
Mufasa's treacherous younger brother, Simba's uncle, Kiara and Kion's granduncle, and the former leader of his Lion Guard, who overtakes the throne and seeks to take the mantle of king after his brother's death. He is the film's main antagonist. David Oyelowo, who was originally set to provide Scar's singing voice, served as Irons' voice double. - Nathan Lane as Timon
A comedic meerkat, who becomes Pumbaa's best friend, one of Simba's adoptive parents and Bunga's adoptive uncles. Though somewhat selfish, arrogant, and withdrawn, Timon shows courageous loyalty towards his friends. He is the film's main deuteragonist. - Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa
A naïve, but hearten common warthog, who becomes Timon's symbiotic partner, one of Simba's adoptive parents and Bunga's adoptive uncles. Though slow-witted, Pumbaa is very empathetic and willing to trust and befriend anyone. He is also claustrophobic and passes gas in crowds. He is the film's secondary deuteragonist. - Khary Payton as:
- Rafiki
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 the shaman of the lion king to present newborn cubs of the king and queen to the animals of the Pride Lands. - Muhangus
A grumpy aardvark with short temper, who is the leader of his shoal.
- Rafiki
- Edward Hibbert as Zazu
A Tanzanian red-billed hornbill, who serves as Mufasa's, later Simba's majordomo. - Eden Riegel as Kiara
A lioness, the daughter of Simba and Nala, Kion's older sister, and Mufasa's granddaughter, who grows up to become future queen of the Pride Lands. Liz Callaway provides the character's singing voice. Neve Campbell, who originally voiced the character in Simba's Pride, served as Riegel's dialogue reader.- Michelle Horn voices Kiara as a cub.
- Jason Marsden as Kovu
A lion 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. Kenny Lattimore provides the character's singing voice.- Ryan O'Donohue voices Kovu as a cub.
- Nika Futterman as Zira
The leader of the Outsiders, Scar's most loyal follower, and the widowed mother of Nuka, Vitani and Kovu. - Bryana Salaz as Anga
An adolescent martial eagle, who is a friend of Beshte and the keenest of sight of the Lion Guard, taking over for Ono. - Diamond White as Fuli
An adolescent tomboyish cheetah, who is the fastest member of the Lion Guard, Kion's friend and second-in-command. - Kevin Schon as:
- Maia Mitchell as Jasiri
A adolescent spunky, yet friendly spotted hyena living in the Outlands, who is the leader of her clan. - Whoopi Goldberg as Shenzi
The sassy and short-tempered female leader of her hyena clan and the mother of Janja. - Kevin Michael Richardson as Basi
A hippopotamus, who is the leader of his pod in Big Springs, and Beshte's father. - Lynette Dupree as Ma Tembo
An African bush elephant, who is the leader of her herd in Kilio Valley. - Andy Dick as Nuka
Zira's son, Vitani and Kovu's older brother and the oldest male of Zira's family. - Lacey Chabert as Vitani
Zira's aggressive and spunky daughter, and Nuka and Kovu's sister, who is the leader of her Lion Guard. - Alfre Woodard as Sarabi
The Queen of Pride Rock, who is the leader of the lioness hunting party, Mufasa's devoted mate, and Simba's mother. - Behzad Dabu as Azaad
An Asiatic cheetah, who refers to himself in the third person. - John O'Hurley as Hadithi
A legendary African hawk-eagle, who faked having invented the Hadithi Spin. - Phil LaMarr as:
- Landry Bender as Makini
A curious adolescent mandrill, who is Rafiki's apprentice, Rani's adviser, and Kitendo and Fikiri's daughter. - Joshua Rush as Bunga
An adolescent honey badger, who is the bravest member of the Lion Guard. He is also Timon and Pumbaa's adoptive nephew and Kion's best friend. Bunga's fearless and hot-headed nature is grounded in reality, as real honey badgers are aggressive and fearless. - Blair Underwood as Makuu
A Nile crocodile, who is the leader of his float. - Michael Dorn as Bupu
A stubborn sable antelope, who is the leader of his herd, and values respective politely behavior. - Eric André as Azizi
An unhinged hysterical hyena, who laughs a lot and is Scar's henchman. André reprises his role from the 2019 realistic remake. - Keegan-Michael Key as Kamari
An aggressive and hot-headed hyena prone to complaining and acting on impulse, who is Scar's henchman, and Shenzi's mate. Key reprises his role from the 2019 realistic remake. - Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Rani
A slender built Asiatic lioness, who is the leader of the Night Pride, queen of the Tree of Life, Janna's grandaughter, Sãhasí and Ãnanda's daughter, Baliyo's older sister, Surak's niece, and love interest of Kion. She cameos at their wedding. Lana McKissack, who provided the character's singing voice in The Lion Guard, served as Lee's dialogue reader. - Sarah Hyland as Tiifu
A lioness friend of Kiara and a member of Simba's pride, who is somewhat more sensible. - Virginia Watson as:
- Vuruga Vuruga
A cape buffalo, who is the leader of her herd. - Muhanga
An aardvark, who is Muhangus' mate and the co-leader of his armory.
- Vuruga Vuruga
- Howy Parkins as Mbeya
An south-western old black rhinoceros, who is the leader of his crash. - Maurice LaMarche as Kifaru
A stubborn southern white rhinoceros with poor eyesight, who resists at Lake Matope. - Vargus Mason as:
- Andrew Kishino as:
- C.J. Byrnes as Tamaa
A fork-tailed drongo with a talent in imitating animal calls. - Sinbad as Uroho
A sneaky, later loyal yellow baboon, who is the leader of Traveling Baboon show. - Common as Kiburi
An arrogant crocodile, who is the leader of his float that defied their leader Makuu's orders and were exiled for their evil deeds. - Christian Slater as Ushari
An Egyptian cobra who often conflicted with Bunga and would get disturbed whenever the Lion Guard was near him. - Jacob Bertrand as Chama
A young fun-loving elephant, who used to be part of Ma Tembo's herd. He, Mzaha, and Furaha are best friends and share a tree together near Big Springs. - Kari Wahlgren as Muhimu
A plains zebra, who is the leader of her herd in Mbali Fields, and the mother of Hamu. - Ron Funches as Ajabu
An okapi from the Back Lands, who came to the Pride Lands and made friends with Beshte. - Tunisia Hardison as Swala
A Thomson's gazelle, who is the leader of her herd. - Mekai Curtis as Furaha
A young happy-go lucky Zanzibar red colobus and former member of Tumbili's troop, who is one of Chama's friends. - Cade Sutton as Mzaha
A young fun-loving sable antelope, who used to be part of Bupu's herd and is one of Chama's friends. - Gerald C. Rivers as Pua
An elderly Nile crocodile, who is the former leader of his float. - Christopher Jackson as Shujaa
A massively strong gorilla warrior, who refers to himself in the third person. - Jaime Camil as Pinguino
A macaroni penguin, who is the leader of his rookery at the Tree of Life. - Michael Luwoye as Askari
The deceased leader of the Pride Lands' first Lion Guard. - Lou Diamond Phillips as Surak
An adult Asiatic lion, who is a member of the Night Pride, Janna's second born son, and Rani and Baliyo's uncle. - Hudson Yang as Baliyo
A young Asiatic lion, who is a member of the Night Pride and Rani's brother. - Shohreh Aghdashloo as Janna
An elderly Asiatic lioness, who is the former queen of the Tree of Life and Rani's grandmother. Aghdashloo signed without a completed script, and erroneously said her character would be Scar and Mufasa's mother Uru. - Miki Yamashita as Nirmala
An Asiatic lioness, who is the Night Pride's healer. - Dusan Brown as Beshte
A young hippopotamus, who is the strongest member of the Lion Guard and Kion's friend. - Atticus Shaffer as Ono
A young cattle egret, who is the smartest member of the Lion Guard and Kion's friend. - Julie Kavner as Timon's Mother
Timon's caring mother, who is overly protective and attached to her son, often trying to get him accepted amongst the colony, but never succeeding. - Jerry Stiller as Uncle Max
Timon's paranoid, eccentric but deep down kind-hearted uncle. He initially doubts Timon's ability, but warms up to him. - James Earl Jones as Mufasa
Simba's father, Scar's older brother, Kiara and Kion's grandfather, and the former king of the Pride Lands. According to Jon Favreau, this will be the last time Jones reprises the voice of his character. Gary Anthony Williams, who voiced the character in The Lion Guard, served as Jones' dialogue reader. - Max Charles as Kion
An adolescent lion, who is Simba and Nala's second-born son, Mufasa's grandson, Kiara's younger brother, Rani's husband, the Prince of the Pride Lands, the King of the Tree of Life, 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. At the end of the battle for the Pride Lands, Kion gets a scar across his left eye due to Ushari donning him. According to executive producer Ford Riley, Kion will meet his fate as he sees a vision of his future self becoming like Scar. - Dee Bradley Baker as:
- Baby Baboon
A young playable baboon, who lives in Mapango Cliffs. - Tano
A sloping, but devious, and smart hyena.
- Baby Baboon
- Alex Cartañá as Twiga
A friendly Masai giraffe, who is the leader of her herd and Juhudi's mother in Acacia Grove. - Grace Young as Ãnanda
Rani's deceased mother. - James Sie as:
- John Rhys-Davies as Sokwe
A mountain gorilla, who is the leader of his troop, Majinuni and Hafifu's father, and the king of the Theluji Mountains. - Phil Lester as Hafifu
A gorilla, who is a prince of the Theluji Mountains and Majinuni's brother. - Daniel Howell as Majinuni
A gorilla, who is a prince of the Theluji Mountains and Hafifu's brother. - Heather Headley as Fikiri
An adult mandrill, who is Kitendo's mate and Makini's mother. - Savannah Smith as Kasi
An Outsider lioness, who is the fastest member of Vitani's Lion Guard. - Rachel Crow as Imara
An Outsider lioness, who is the strongest member of Vitani's Lion Guard. - Sophie Reynolds as Tazama
An Outsider lioness, who is the keenest of sight of Vitani's Lion Guard. - Fiona Riley as:
- Justin Felbinger as Mtoto
A young elephant calf, who is a member of Ma Tembo's herd. He looks up to Beshte as his personal hero. - Nick Watt as Zito
An impatient and grouchy elephant, who is a member of Ma Tembo's Herd. - Rhys Darby as Mwenzi
A red-billed oxpecker, who is Kifaru's best friend and tickbird. - Maisie Klompus as Madoa
A spotted hyena, who is Jasiri's skeptical sister. - Erica Luttrell as:
- Madison Pettis as Zuri
A sassy lioness friend of Kiara and a member of Simba's pride, who hates grubs and getting dirty than her constant companion Tiifu. - Penny Johnson Jerald as Sarafina
A lioness friend of Sarabi and Nala's mother. Jerald reprises her role from the 2019 realistic remake. - Greg Ellis as Mzingo
A white-backed vulture, who is Janja's majordomo of the Outlands. He is the leader of a parliament of vultures that is allied with Janja's clan and Jasiri's clan. - Cam Clarke as Mwoga
A foolish vulture, who is a member of Mzingo's parliament. - Jorge Diaz as Nduli
An optimistic crocodile loyal to Kiburi. - Nolan North as:
- Meghan Strange as:
- Ana Gasteyer as Reirei
A clever, scheming and manipulative black-backed jackal, who is the matriarch of her family. - Jacob Guenther as Dogo
A mischievous, yet adorable jackal pup, who is one of Reirei and Goigoi's sons, and Kijana's brother. - Amber Hood as Kijana
A jackal pup, who is Reirei and Goigoi's daughter, and Dogo's sister. - Ford Riley as Njano
A rainbow skink with a blue tongue, who is Shupavu's second-in-command. - Beau Black as Nne
A stout, but sly, and smart hyena. - C. C. H. Pounder as Kongwe
An elderly African spurred tortoise, who is the oldest and wisest animal in the Pride Lands. She cameos at Kion's coronation. - J. Elaine Marcos as Yuki
A Japanese macaque, who is the leader of her troop. She cameos at Kion's coronation. - Ai-Chan Carrier as Kimyo
The daughter of Yuki and Hitashi and a member of their troop. She cameos at Kion's coronation. - Evan Kishiyama as Nabasu
The son of Yuki and Hitashi and a member of their troop. He cameos at Kion's coronation. - Clyde Kusatsu as Domog
An elderly red panda, who is the leader of his pack. He cameos at Kion's coronation. - Matthew Yang King as Dughi
A red panda, who is a member of Domog's pack. He cameos at Kion's coronation. - Amir Talai as Tupp
A four-toed jerboa. He cameos at Kion's coronation. - Greg Chun as Seisou
A Northern white-cheeked gibbon. He cameos at Kion's coronation. - Jason Lashea as Yun-Mibu
A Sunda clouded leopard. He cameos at Kion's coronation. - Jacquez Swanigan as Gumba
A young olive baboon. - Justin Hires as Hodari
An electric blue gecko. - Rachel House as Mama Binturong
A deceased binturong. - Steve Blum as Makucha
A deceased leopard. - Kimiko Glenn as Chuluun
A deceased snow leopard. - Ace Gibson as Jiona
A deceased leopard. - Kristofer Hivju as Kenge
An enormous and ferocious rock monitor. - Crimson Hart as Tunu
A hyena cub and Wema's brother. - Fiona Hart as Wema
A hyena cub and Tunu's sister. - Elise Allen as Kulinda
A hamerkop, who left her egg in Ono's nest while she built 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. - Vyvan Pham as Ullu
An Indian scops owl, who warns the Night Pride whenever there is a potential threat to the Tree of Life. She cameos at Kion's coronation. - Tiffany Espensen as Heng-Heng
A young giant panda, who resides at the Tree of Life. She cameos at Kion's coronation. - David S. Jung as Kely
A gentle lemur, who is the leader of his conspiracy. He cameos at Kion's coronation. - Danny Jacobs as Kiril
A Siberian musk deer, who resides at the Tree of Life. He cameos at Kion's coronation. - Henry Kaufman as Feliks
A Siberian tiger cub, who is Varya's son, and Pasha and Polina's brother. He cameos at Kion's coronation. - Iris Bahr as Varya
A Siberian tigress, who is mother to Feliks, Pasha and Polina, that resides at the Tree of Life. She cameos at Kion's coronation. - Bluebelle Saraceno as Pasha and Polina
Two Siberian tigress cubs, who are Varya's daughters, and Feliks' sisters. They cameo at Kion's coronation. - Jeremy Ray Valdez as Cek
An Arabian tahr, who resides at the Tree of Life. He cameos at Kion's coronation. - Rafael Petardi as Tangaagim
A polar bear, who resides at the Tree of Life. He cameos at Kion's coronation. - G.K. Bowes as Sasem
A water shrew, who resides at the Tree of Life. She cameos at Kion's coronation.
Development
An early concept of the Great Kings of the Past teaching Kion about the Roar of the Elders
Shortly after the success of the 2019 computer-animated remake of The Lion King, director Jon Favreau announced there would another reboot of the 1994 film. Favreau, Rob Minkoff, Roger Allers, Don Hahn and Ford Riley, the executive producer of The Lion Guard, came on board to tie the original films and television series together on Filmora 9.
The film will include the 1994 original release of The Lion King, its 1998 sequel The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, its 2004 direct to video midquel/prequel The Lion King 1½, and as well as numerous episodes of The Lion Guard, including "Return of the Roar", "The Rise of Scar", "Battle for the Pride Lands", "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", "Janja's New Crew", "Baboons!", "Beware the Zimwi", "Lions of the Outlands", "Ono's Idol", "The Scorpion's Sting", "Pride Landers Unite!", "The Fall of Mizimu Grove", "Ghost of the Mountain", "Mama Binturong", "Journey of Memories", "Friends to the End", "The Tree of Life", "Long Live the Queen", Triumph of the Roar", "Journey to the Pride Lands", and "Return to the Pride Lands".
At the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, the filmmakers released the first footage of the film, which gave the audience "a bigger and grander hype on seeing the return of the king". As confirmed from leaked spoilers, it reveals that Kion sees a vision of his future self if he became like Scar and used the Roar of the Elders against his Lion Guard, losing his gift forever.
On September 4, 2019, it was announced that a novelization of the film will be released early before the theatrical release in addition to television broadcasts for the film's Japanese dubbed version.
Casting
In July 2019, the majority of the voice cast was announced, including Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Alfre Woodard, Jason Marsden, Lacey Chabert, Andy Dick, and James Earl Jones reprising their respective roles as Simba, Scar, Timon, Pumbaa, Sarabi, Kovu, Vitani, Nuka, and Mufasa from the original film.
In August 2019, following the release of "Battle for the Pride Lands", it was announced that several guest stars would all reprise their roles from The Lion Guard, including Andrew Kishino as Janja, Vargus Mason as Cheezi, Kevin Schon as Chungu, John O'Hurley as Hadithi, Lynette Dupree as Ma Tembo, Blair Underwood as Makuu, and Michael Dorn as Bupu. 22 days later, Behzad Dabu was cast to reprise the voice of Azaad the Asiatic cheetah from The Lion Guard after his announcement of his character's return,[1] and Miki Yamashita and Peyton Elizabeth Lee were cast to reprise the voices of Nirmala and Rani.[2]
New additions of the cast include Max Charles, Joshua Rush, Diamond White, Dusan Brown, Atticus Shaffer, Bryana Salaz, Landry Bender, and Maia Mitchell reprising the voices of Kion, Bunga, Fuli, Beshte, Ono, Anga, Makini, and Jasiri from The Lion Guard. Eden Riegel, Nika Futterman, and Khary Payton replace Neve Campbell, the late Suzanne Pleshette, and Robert Guillaume as Kiara, Zira, and Rafiki, respectively.
Music
- Main article: The Lion King Revisited (soundtrack)
In July 2019, Hans Zimmer signed on to compose the film's score. Christopher Willis, who composes the musical score in The Lion Guard, will also contribute music to the score, using Zimmer's musical note of "This Land" from the original 1994 film to create the ultimate new hybrid theme (not just the remixed one, bit with a Rock influenced version of it made for the Album by Slash of Guns N' Roses fame).
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, who voices Nala in the photorealistic computer animated remake, will write a new song with Elton John, who had signed onto the project to rework his musical compositions shortly before his retirement, and several songs written by John, Tim Rice, and Beau Black will also be featured as well.
According to Willis, Zimmer will incorporate most of the major themes and songs of the entire Lion King franchise, including "Circle of Life", "That's All I Need ('Meerkat Rhapsody')", "I Just Can't Wait to be King", "Be Prepared", "Hakuna Matata", "Can You Feel the Love Tonight", "Spirit", "He Lives in You ('Anaishi ndani Yako')", "We Are One", "Kion's Lament", "The Path of Honor", "On The Last Night", "When I Led The Guard", "Upendi", "Not One of Us", "Love Will Find a Way", and "Never Too Late", among many others.
Release
The film was released in Disney+ on January 1, 2020.
Home media
The logo for the film's bloopers and outtakes
The film is scheduled to be released sometime on 4K Blu-Ray and DVD in 2020. It will also feature a set of outtakes done by characters that mess up or act silly.
Reception
Critical response
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 76% with an average score of 6.5/10. On Metacritic, it holds a rating of 54% based on 14 reviews.
Transcript
Main article: The Lion King Revisited/Transcript
Gallery
Coming soon!
Credits
Coming soon!
Trivia
- Nala replaces Simba as the film's main protagonist.
- This marks the first appearances of Kion, Rani, Dogo and Kijana as young adults.
- It is revealed that Janja is the son of Shenzi, while Cheezi and Chungu are descendants of Kamari and Azizi.
- Some animals that didn't appear in the original film (either appearing in later media or never appeared in the franchise at all before the remake) appear in this film. They include hammerhead sharks, basking sharks, koalas, red kangaroos, Spix's macaws, aardvarks, dragonflies, dung beetles, grey-crowned cranes, grey parrots, eclectus parrots, Fischer's lovebirds, weaverbirds, white storks, honey badgers, egrets, cobras, skinks, Darwin's foxes, jackals, monitor lizards, scorpions, penguins, polar bears, giant pandas, gentle lemurs, red pandas, tigers, musk deer, Arabian tahrs, eagles, Zanzibar red colobuses, parakeets, macaws, piping plovers, pangolins, Sumatran elephants, Asian elephants, forest hogs, yellow baboons, Indian scops owls, and hamerkops.
- Due to the Australian wildfires, the film is sponsored to sign up in saving the koalas and kangaroos.
- Kristofer Hivju and Justin Hires' roles as Kenge and Hodari were originally going to be much longer before it was shorten for the final cut.
- Domog's pack, Yuki's troop, Makuu's float, Mzingo's parliament, Bupu's herd, Hadithi, Pua, Yun-Mibu, Seisou, Tenuk and many other animals are added for Kion and Rani's wedding.
- On January 17, during his 89th birthday, James Earl Jones has announced that he'd be retiring sometime after voicing his character one last time.
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