While Americans finished chowing down on Thanksgiving, Disney released a treat of its own.
The first teaser trailer for Disney's live-action Lion King remake premiered Thursday during the NFL's primetime game, and every detail from the 1994 original seems to be coming full circle in the new film. The sun rises over the African savannah, Rafiki the baboon makes his way to the top of Pride Rock, and he hoists Simba over a bowing audience of gazelles and giraffes.
James Earl Jones is the only character heard in this trailer, living on as Mufasa, the character he played in 1994. Donald Glover just can't wait to be Simba, Beyoncé stars as Nala, John Oliver plays Zazu, and Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen have no worries about teaming up as Timon and Pumbaa. 12 Years a Slave star Chiwetel Ejiofor is prepared to play Scar, but the sarcastic villain's hyena crew is replaced by a newly named threesome in the forthcoming film. The Lion King's original composer Hans Zimmer and original songwriter Elton John are also returning to rework their pieces.
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Disney first revealed its intent to remake the animated classic-turned-Broadway musical more than two years ago, following Jon Favreau's successful Jungle Book remake. Favreau is leading the new film, and it's scheduled for release June 19, 2019.
For an added treat, watch the trailer with side-by-side comparisons to the original animated feature below. Kathryn Krawczyk
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