It’s no surprise that Disney likes to lean on cross-division corporate synergy and for this year’s THE LION KING, the coordination between segments of the vast empire was a no-brainer. A new video by Disney shows how filmmakers spent more than a month doing research at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park at Walt Disney World, getting reference footage and drawing inspiration from the African creatures in the park that would have similar on-screen counterparts.
THE LION KING is director Jon Favreau’s all-new journey to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his. The all-star cast includes Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon.
THE LION KING comes home on digital on October 11, 2019.
