With the announcement of Disney's live-action remake of The Lion King last year, fans speculated how much of the original soundtrack would be preserved. Upon the reveal of Beyoncé's casting as future lion queen Nala, suddenly that concern was dwarfed in favor of the question: will we get new music from Queen Bey?
If hearing is believing, on Wednesday we were graced with the answer: yes.
Alongside old favorites like "Hakuna Matata" and "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," Beyoncé's "Spirit" will be sung sometime during the course of the film, according to a press release. The song is featured on The Lion King: The Gift, a Beyoncé-curated and produced album that will accompany the film's release on July 18 and be released in addition to the main soundtrack.
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Elton John, who wrote songs such as "Circle of Life" and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" for the 1994 original, will also be adding a new tune, entitled "Never Too Late."
Beyoncé stars alongside Donald Glover, also known by his stage name Childish Gambino, as Simba. Other notable names include James Earl Jones, reprising his role as Mufasa; Seth Rogen as the warthog, Pumbaa; Billy Eichner as Timon the meerkat; John Oliver voicing Zazu the red-billed hornbill; and 12 Years a Slave's Chiwetel Eijiofor as Scar. Listen to Beyoncé's new track below. Cyrena Touros
