On Thanksgiving, Disney released the teaser trailer for the CGI re-imagining of The Lion King. The film will be released on July 19th, 2019, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the original release. With an all-star cast of: James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Donald Glover as Simba, John Kani as Rafiki, Alfre Woodard as Sarabi, Beyoncé as Nala, John Oliver as Zazu, Billy Eichner as Timon, and Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, it’s time for us to prepare for an amazing film.
Hans Zimmer is reworking his Oscar-winning original score, and Elton John has agreed to rework the original soundtrack for the new film. Elton John and Beyoncé will also be working together to create some new original songs.
The trailer begins just like the 1994 film with the sun rising over the African savanna. We watch as various animals proceed to Pride Rock to see the presentation of the Mufasa’s new cub. Then the familiar voice of Mufasa, James Earl Jones, narrates with his iconic message to Simba:
“Everything the light touches is our kingdom. A king’s time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day, Simba, the sun will set on my time here, and will rise with you as the new king.”
The sounds of “Circle of Life” begin, and once again we are transported to Pride Rock and the story of Simba.
I know I’ll be in theaters on July 19th, 2019 experiencing all the emotions of that scene again… will you?