THE LION KING
We’re going back to Pride Rock
Director Jon Favreau Starring Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, James Earl Jones, Keegan-Michael Key
Disney’s final ‘live-action’ retelling of 2019 is a doozy: a CG-animated saga that, going by the chill-inducing trailer, will pay its dues to the 1994 cartoon while giving it a gritty, vibrant update. “They’re like, ‘So here are the lyrics,’ and I’m like, ‘I know the lyrics! Don’t worry,’” laughs star Donald Glover of recording The Lion King’s iconic songs, four of which appear in this reimagining. Voicing Simba, Glover’s joined by an A-list cast (Rogen as Pumbaa, Ejiofor as Scar, Beyoncé as Nala), with director Jon Favreau surely hoping to best the nearly $1bn haul his live-action Jungle Book generated in 2016. JW the Lion King opens on 19 july.