Watch the new trailer for Disney's live action Lion King side by side with the original

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.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
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
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Delta flight lands upside-down in Toronto, no deaths
speed read At least 18 people were injured in a flight that landed at Toronto's Pearson International Airport
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Musk's DOGE seeks access to IRS, Social Security files
Speed Read If cleared, the Department of Government Efficiency would have access to tax returns, bank records and other highly personal information about most Americans
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - February 18, 2025
Cartoons Tuesday's cartoons - Zelenskyy excluded, illiberal arts, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published