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Hans Zimmer & Friends: Diamond in the Desert, directed by Paul Dugdale, marries concert footage and documentary flourish across a 2 h 38 m runtime. The film anchors itself in Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena and Al Wasl Plaza, punctuated by desert-dune vignettes that evoke Arrakis. Dugdale’s lens alternates between wide shots of an 18-piece ensemble and intimate interviews shot in black-and-white 4:3.

At its core sits Hans Zimmer, shifting from piano to guitar with the confidence of a seasoned storyteller. He commands each sequence with curator’s precision, guiding viewers through his film-score legacy. Live performances of Inception, Gladiator and Dune riffs segue into on-location set pieces—Loire Cotler’s haunting vocals against rolling sands, strobe lights dancing off Burj Al Arab’s spire.

The film highlights four decades of scores that helped redefine cinematic emotion. Dugdale’s editing weaves concert crescendos with personal anecdotes, revealing how a melody springs from...

Deadline’s Most Valuable Blockbuster tournament has returned, and as you’ll see from the most profitable films of 2024, a movie’s game doesn’t end at the box office. Rather, its downstream revenues and subsequent home windows must be taken into account. Streaming continues to be a wildcard: While traditional motion picture studios such as Disney, Warner Bros, Sony, Paramount and Universal rely on lucrative pay two and pay three streamer deals to catapult their slates into the black, those streamers who’ve embraced theatrical (specifically Amazon MGM Studios and Apple Original Films) have a clandestine metric as to how they evaluate a movie’s post-cinema success. By traditional studio P&l standards, some of those releases would be considered flops. Given that, Apple and Amazon are excluded from this year’s survey. The Most Valuable Blockbuster series runs later rather than sooner as we gather the best data possible...

Next to Frozen, The Lion King is one of Disney's most successful and most beloved franchises. With sequels, prequels, two TV series, spinoffs, and a Broadway musical, it's safe to say that fans are still in love with the Pride Lands.

As much as the franchise has delighted and enchanted millions of fans for years, one of the biggest additions to The Lion King has been all but forgotten. Although the original film has both a sequel and a prequel, one of the leads just brought a buried treasure back to the surface.

Return to Pride Rock

Lamont Alexander Pierce is one of the current performers in the production of The Lion King stage musical, and he recently shared a fascinating detail on his TikTok page (found here). While most of us think film or TV series when we think sequels, they aren't the only mediums at Disney's disposal.

In the video,...

The musical extravaganza took place at the Hollywood Bowl last May and features stars from both the screen and stage properties.

Thirty years later, “The Lion King” is still the leader of the pride and the pride of Disney. The animated film, which debuted in 1994, still ranks as the highest-grossing traditionally animated movie of all time and has not only inspired multiple sequels but also a Tony Award-winning musical that is still on the Broadway boards, multiple live-action films, and decades of love.

Last May, stars of the films and musical came together at the Hollywood Bowl for a musical extravaganza worthy of the film. Still, if you couldn’t make it to Los Angeles last spring, hakuna matata: on Feb. 7, watch the premiere of the concert film “The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl” exclusively on Disney+. Watch the celebration beginning Friday with a subscription to Disney+!

How to...

The Lion King (1994) has been the jewel in Disney's crown for decades, and it has no sign of slowing down. From a Broadway stage adaptation to a series of live-action remakes, Simba, Nala, and the rest of the Pridelands have been a part of Disney's trademarked magic for generations.

Now, Disney+ is preparing to make a massive expansion of its Lion King collection by adding not just a new movie but a live concert event celebrating the original film as well. It's definitely great to be the king.

The Lion King lives on Disney+

Getting the most obvious development out of the way, Disney has recently announced that Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) would be making its way onto home media. The prequel to the 2019 Lion King remake was met with a decent reception, so it makes sense that Disney would want to get it into fan hands Asap.

However, as...

To celebrate the animated film’s 30th anniversary, “The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl” will premiere on Disney+ Feb. 7.

The live-to-film concert special will showcase how the team behind the event transformed the Hollywood Bowl into the Pride Lands for a one-night-only extravaganza.

Original voice cast members, including Lebo M (opening chant), Jeremy Irons (Scar), Nathan Lane (Timon), Jason Weaver (Simba), Ernie Sabella (Pumbaa) and Billy Eichner, teamed up with stage musical alumni Heather Headley and Bradley Gibson to celebrate the legacy of the 1999 film. Special guest North West made her stage debut as young Simba and Egot winner Jennifer Hudson performed “Circle of Life.”

Performers were accompanied by a 70-person orchestra, a troupe of skillful dancers and captivating projection mapping images. Puppetry from the Broadway show also gave viewers a glimpse into the evolution of the Disney classic. Stage projections brought in audiences at the Hollywood Bowl and...

The Lion King fans are in for the time of their lives when February 7 arrives. Disney has announced that a new concert special, The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl, celebrating the legacy of its Academy Award-winning animated classic, is coming to Disney+ on that date.

Per Deadline, the Hollywood Bowl will be transformed into the Pride Lands for the immersive concert that will honor The Lion King's 30th anniversary. The event will feature a reunion of the original The Lion King voice cast alongside performances by the Broadway adaptation's cast members. Headlining the performances are Jeremy Irons, Lebo M, Nathan Lane, Jason Weaver, Ernie Sabella, and Billy Eichner, with the Lion King stage musical alums Heather Headley and Bradley Gibson appearing with special guests North West and Jennifer Hudson.

RelatedThe Acolyte Viewership Data Hints at Biggest Reason for Star Wars Show's Cancelation

A 2024 film and television report reveals...

The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl celebrates the enduring legacy of “The Lion King” in a concert special coming to Disney+ on Friday, February 7, 2025. Today, Disney debuted the trailer and key art for the release.

This live-to-film concert experience includes epic performances with a 70-person orchestra, a troupe of skillful dancers, state-of-the-art projection mapping images, and the Broadway show’s award-winning costumes and puppetry giving viewers across the globe a front-row seat to the unprecedented musical extravaganza celebrating the world of The Lion King.

In honor of The Lion King‘s 30th Anniversary, the Hollywood Bowl transformed into the Pride Lands for an immersive concert event featuring a reunion of the original voice cast alongside performances by cast members of the iconic Broadway show.

Starring Lebo M, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Jason Weaver, Ernie Sabella, Billy Eichner, and stage musical alumni Heather Headley and Bradley Gibson, with special guests...

Disney announced on Thursday that The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl, a new concert special celebrating the legacy of its Academy Award-winning animated classic The Lion King, is coming to Disney+ on Friday, February 7. Check out a new trailer above.

In honor of The Lion King‘s 30th anniversary, the Hollywood Bowl transformed into the Pride Lands for an immersive concert event featuring a reunion of the original voice cast alongside performances by cast members of the Broadway adaptation. Lebo M, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Jason Weaver, Ernie Sabella and Billy Eichner headlined the performance, with Heather Headley and Bradley Gibson — alums of the Lion King stage musical — also making appearances, along with special guests North West and Egot winner Jennifer Hudson.

The live-to-film concert experience features a 70-person orchestra, a troupe of skillful dancers, state-of-the-art projection mapping images, and the Broadway show’s award-winning costumes and puppetry. It was produced by Disney Concerts,...

Mufasa: The Lion King's soundtrack, composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, brings new life to the beloved franchise with a catchy and emotional score. Miranda’s signature style shines through, blending powerful African melodies with more contemporary elements that fit quite well with the iconic Disney story. While it might not be one of the best soundtracks featured in Disney movies, it still brings a lot of heart and energy, giving fans something fresh to enjoy from The Lion King universe.

Among the standout tracks, "Bye Bye" and "I Always Wanted A Brother" truly shine as the best of the collection. Capturing the emotional core of the 2024 Lion King installment, all the songs, but especially these two, elevate the legendary tale to a modern story worth giving a watch. With refreshingly brilliant deliveries from the cast, the soundtrack is a must-listen for anyone who loves The Lion King movies.

As a...

Mufasa: The Lion King's soundtrack is inevitably already being compared to the soundtrack from the 1994 Lion King. The original movie's score was composed by Hans Zimmer, with songs written by Elton John and Tim Rice. The overwhelmingly positive reception to The Lion King was largely rooted in its beloved music, including the songs "Circle of Life," "I Just Can't Wait to Be King," "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," and Timon and Pumbaa's "Hakuna Matata."

Acting as both a prequel and sequel to the 2019 The Lion King, Mufasa's soundtrack features new songs, some of which were written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, along with South African composer Lebo M. The score is composed by Dave Metzger and Nicholas Britell, the latter of whom wrote the music for the critically acclaimed Star Wars series Andor. Mufasa many musical callbacks to The Lion King, but also forges its own musical identity, creating...

2019's remake of Disney's The Lion King (1994) might have made bank at the box office, but many felt that it was essentially a shot-for-shot rehash of the original animated feature. However, Disney might remedy this stigma with a new origin story for Mufasa and Scar in Mufasa: The Lion King (2024)

The new film opens a new chapter on the Lion King mythos, and features a perspective on the story generations of Disney fans are so overtly familiar with, but can it break the stigma surrounding Disney's live-action remakes? This writer had an opportunity to see an early showing, and here's what fans can expect from this return to Pride Rock.

Mufasa: Milele or Misfit?

Disney's official statement summarizes the film's plot with the following,

"Exploring the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride Lands, Mufasa: The Lion King enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara,...

The following contains spoilers for Mufasa: The Lion King, now playing in theatersMufasa: The Lion King adds new songs to the Disney music library that expand the story of Mufasa and fleshes out characters like Scar. Serving as a quasi-sequel to 2019's The Lion King as well as a prequel to the earlier days of the world, Mufasa: The Lion King reveals how a lonely cub grew to become a mighty king of the Pride Lands. The cast and characters of Mufasa: The Lion King bring new layers to their characters, particularly Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka, the prideful but cowardly prince who eventually becomes the villainous Scar.

Mufasa: The Lion King boasts a new soundtrack that feels inherently familiar for fans of the original. This includes bringing back South African composer Lebo M for a new song, along with a score that feels reminiscent of the original films. Helping...

The reviews for Mufasa: The Lion King are in, and the critic response to the film is mixed thus far. While the idea of a prequel to The Lion King sounded like a cynical move to expand the franchise, when Academy Award winner Barry Jenkins was brought on board to direct, it gave audiences hope for what the film could be. One would generally assume Mufasa: The Lion King would be the clear front-runner for the holiday box office, yet it faces tough competition from Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Disney was likely hoping critical reviews for Mufasa could drum up some excitement over the holiday season, and while it isn't a total flop, it isn't a win either.

Mufasa: The Lion King currently sits at 58% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 52 reviews, enough to make it rotten, but in a standard percentage, it is just above average. The positive reaction comes from many notable top critics,...

Disney's The Lion King is considered one of the greatest animated movies ever made. A massive critical and commercial success at the time of its release, it is still one of the most popular creations of the famous animation studio thanks to its great story, its epic music numbers, and its beloved characters.

The Lion King is perfect in almost every way possible, and it's often thanks to the likable cast of characters and their sayings. Many of The Lion King's most iconic lines are quoted even today. Even when the 2019 remake appeared in theaters, filmmakers were sure to include these well-loved lines to further memorialize these iconic The Lion King quotes.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on December 13, 2024: The Lion King turned 30 years old this year, right as the franchise returns in a new and exciting way with the upcoming release of the CGI animated prequel Mufasa: The Lion King.

Moana 2 composer Mark Mancina addresses Lin-Manuel Miranda's absence in the movie, teasing the songwriter's upcoming work in Mufasa: The Lion King. Mancina has scored over 60 films and television series and arranged many songs for Disney's theatrical adaptation of The Lion King. The Grammy Award winner and Disney's longtime collaborator worked with Miranda on the soundtrack of the first Moana. However, Miranda didn't return to work on the music for Moana 2.

Mancina addresses his fellow five-time Grammy Award winner's absence in the Moana sequel with Screen Rant's own Owen Danoff and praises the songwriter's work in the upcoming Mufasa: The Lion King. The composer reflects on the backlash about Miranda missing out on Moana 2, admitting that it would be "oversaturated" if Miranda did both films. While Mancina hasn't watched the final cut of Mufasa, he knows that "the songs are really great." Check out what he said below:

Well,...

The first reactions to Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” have started pouring in on social media, and members of the press are roaring with excitement over the prequel to the 2019 photorealistic remake of “The Lion King.”

“‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ is the perfect prequel,” wrote Variety‘s senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay. “So beautifully crafted. The songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda and score are absolutely divine and music to the ears. Pure joy.”

Dana Abercrombie, entertainment editor for The Koalition, praised the film as “a story that deserves to be told that makes you question what is destiny. Expertly written & crafted, it adds to ‘The Lion King’ franchise by adding more dimension to the characters we love & thought we knew. The visual effects are astounding.”

ComicBook.com’s Chris Killian admitted that “a ‘Lion King’ prequel was not something I was asking for, but the animation is incredible, the songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda are infectious,...

Lin Manuel-Miranda opened up about writing seven songs for Mufasa: The Lion King, the upcoming prequel to the beloved Disney animated classic.

The Grammy-winning artist stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he discussed his upcoming stint in Broadway’s All In: Comedy About Love, recent concept album Warriors and Mufasa, among other things.

Miranda explained to the late night host that he was writing the concept album and the music for the Disney movie simultaneously, and sometimes, they overlapped.

“Anytime Mufasa started cursing, I was like, ‘That’s the wrong one,'” he said. Actually, honestly, I think working on Mufasa raised the bar for me because I knew was stepping into the world of Lion King. That original album is like an all bangers, no skip album.”

He continued, “It’s only five songs. Everyone forgets that the original movie is only five songs. ‘Circle of Life,...

With the film opening in theaters on December 20, The Walt Disney Studios has revealed new Mufasa: The Lion King posters and a “Music of Mufasa” featurette.

Walt Disney Records will release the songs only and deluxe versions of Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King original motion picture soundtrack. The soundtrack is available to pre-add and pre-order now.

The original songs were written by Grammy, Tony and Emmy Award winner and Kennedy Center Honor recipient Lin-Manuel Miranda, and produced by Grammy Award winner Mark Mancina and Lin-Manuel Miranda, with additional music and performances by Lebo M.

Said Miranda, “‘The Lion King’ has an incredible musical legacy with music from some the greatest songwriters around, and I’m humbled and proud to be a part of it. It’s been a joy working alongside Barry Jenkins to bring Mufasa’s story to life, and we can’t wait for audiences to experience this film in theaters.

Having seen the Lion King musical, I need this year's Mufasa movie to include one of the best songs. As a Disney fan with a special love for The Lion King, I cannot wait for Mufasa: The Lion King to come out in December. Audiences have been understandably skeptical of Disney live-action movies, but there are many reasons to be excited about Mufasa: The Lion King. Firstly, the movie isnt an adaptation of an existing story, with screenwriter Jeff Nathanson expanding the story in a new way. Secondly, the movie is a musical and will feature brand-new songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

After the success of Mirandas previous Disney soundtracks like those of Encanto and Moana, Im confident the Mufasa movie will be in good hands. The songs will undoubtedly resonate with audiences. Still, despite focusing on new music, I hope the movie will choose to incorporate the best song from...

Last night, Disney's show-stopping "Entertainment Showcase" panel concluded with Mufasa: The Lion King director Barry Jenkins, songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda, and cast members Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Theo Somolu, Braelyn Rankins, and Anika Noni Rose hitting the stage.

They debuted an exciting new trailer and poster for the movie which you can now view below (via Toonado.com).

The highly anticipated prequel capped the studio's presentation with a show-stopping performance of the classic "Nants' Ingonyama" and the new song "Ngomso" by Lebo M., who contributes to the film’s music, alongside a full choir.

Visually, this sneak peek is nothing short of breathtaking. 2019's The Lion King looked incredible, but the past 5 years have seen technology advance even further and the result is a truly photorealistic landscape and ultra-realistic (talking) animals.

As for what's revealed in this latest sneak peek, we learn more about the brotherhood...

Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King director Barry Jenkins and songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda, along with cast members Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Theo Somolu, Braelyn Rankins, and Anika Noni Rose, shared the new trailer and poster with fans attending the studio showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.

The film capped the studio’s presentation tonight with a show-stopping performance of the classic “Nants’ Ingonyama” and the new song “Ngomso” by Lebo M., who contributes to the film’s music, alongside a full choir. Mufasa: The Lion King releases only in theaters on December 20, 2024.

Exploring the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride Lands, Mufasa: The Lion King enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick.

Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub,...

Can you feel the love tonight? The audience at D23 certainly could as they were greeted to the world premiere trailer of Barry Jenkins’ upcoming “Lion King” prequel, “Mufasa: The Lion King.” Production on the film has been underway for years, but the wait is finally nearing an end as it’s set to be released in theaters December 20 of this year, just in time for Christmas.

Jenkins’ “Mufasa” uses the same photorealistic imagery present in Jon Favreau’s remake of “The Lion King” from 2019 and will also feature some of the same voice cast including Donald Glover, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, and John Kani. The narrative is said to be told from the perspective of Rafiki communicating the story of one of Pride Land’s great leaders to Simba and Nala’s child, Kiara, played by Beyoncé’s actual daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. Other new cast members...

A new minute-long TV spot for Mufasa: The Lion King has aired which confirms a new trailer is coming "tomorrow".

As with 2019's The Lion King, the visuals are nothing short of extraordinary. The difference this time, of course, is that we're getting a new story and not a shot-for-shot remake of the original animated movie. That was a real sticking point for some five years ago.

We also see a few familiar characters scattered through the teaser, including Zazu! Check out the teaser below (via Toonado.com).

Seems a spot aired for Mufasa: The Lion King. New Trailer Tomorrow. https://t.co/wZqC0riB4i pic.twitter.com/oRxR5asEiv

— Cryptic HD Quality (@Cryptic4KQual) August 9, 2024

Mufasa: The Lion King enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick. Told in flashbacks,...

Kim Kardashian & Kanye’s Daughter’s Lion King Debut Slammed Online(Photo Credit –Instagram)

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s daughter, North, was unfairly slammed online following a significant leap in her music career. On Saturday, May 25, 10-year-old North West made her stage debut as Young Simba in Disney’s The Lion King live concert at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Per Hollywood Bowl’s official site, Kim Kardashian and Kanye’s daughter would join Disney’s The Lion King 30th Anniversary – a Two-day Live-to-Film Concert Event alongside Heather Headley and Lebo M., as well as Jennifer Hudson. Franchise veterans Billy Eichner, Bradley Gibson, Ernie Sabella, Weaver, Jeremy Irons and Nathan Lane also appeared in the live concert.

While North’s performance received a standing ovation from the audience, some social media users on X slammed Kim and Kanye’s eldest daughter for snagging a coveted role.

Trending Kate Beckinsale...

Move over, Kanye West.

The rapper and Kim Kardashian’s daughter North West will make her Hollywood Bowl singing debut Friday at the first of the two-night “The Lion King” concert event. She will perform “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King.”

As previously reported, West will join “Lion King” veterans Nathan Lane, Billy Eichner, Jeremy Irons, Ernie Sabella, Heather Headley, Lebo M and Jason Weaver as well as Egot winner Jennifer Hudson.

A full orchestra is set to perform Hans Zimmer’s Oscar-winning musical score led by conductor Sarah Hicks. The song list featured Elton John and Tim Rice classics such as “Can You Feel The Love Tonight,” “Circle of Life,” “Be Prepared” and “Hakuna Matata.”

The shows will be filmed for later broadcast as “The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl” on Disney+.

The celebration is presented by Disney Concerts, Fulwell 73 Productions, Amp Worldwide and Live Nation-Hewitt Silva.

Billy Eichner is finally getting to live out his childhood dream of a being in a major stage musical.

The “Bros” star is making his Hollywood Bowl singing debut this weekend during “The Lion King’s” 30th anniversary live-to-film concert.

“We just had our first official rehearsal all together this morning,” Eichner told me Wednesday afternoon. “The scope and size of it really knocked me out. If I can get through it, I think it’s going to be really fun.”

Eichner, who played Timon in the 2019 “Lion King” remake and reprises the role in the upcoming prequel film “Mufasa: The Lion King,” isn’t allowed to say what he’ll be performing. But it has already been announced that the two-night run — May 24 and 25 — will also feature “Lion King” veterans Nathan Lane, Jeremy Irons, Ernie Sabella, Heather Headley, Lebo M and Jason Weaver, as well as Egot winner Jennifer Hudson,...

While The Kardashians star, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s daughter, North West, has been spreading her wings into the life of child stardom, she is taking it a step further now. Notably, North has a knack for performing. From a young age, she loved being in the spotlight like her parents. But now, North is embracing a new role in an upcoming iconic Disney event.

Kim Kardashian And Kanye West Foster North West’s Child Star Career

Undoubtedly, The Kardashians star, Kim Kardashian, and her ex-husband, Kanye West, have been instrumental in aiding North West in her child star career pursuits. Not only are both parents famous themselves, but they have fostered North’s desires to perform since she was very little. However, in more recent years, her public appearances with Yeezy models and Kanye performing “Miss Westie” have added to her confidence to chase her budding career. Furthermore,...

The Kardashian-Jenners are not holding back in the season five trailer for The Kardashians.

The upcoming season of their Hulu series, which was filmed towards the end of 2023, gives insight into the pregnancy complications Kourtney Kardsahian Barker experienced with her now 6-month-old son Rocky. The cameras appeared to be rolling at the moment where Kourtney shared with her mom Kris Jenner over FaceTime that she had to go in for emergency surgery.

“This is really crazy, so I just want Kourtney to be Ok,” says an emotional Kris to the camera.

During her confessional, Kourtney delves into the alarming situation, with cameras capturing her at the hospital. “I had to go in for fetal surgery, which was terrifying,” she explains.

As fans have learned through the trailer, Kourtney was not the only one in the family who experienced a medical scare. “I had my scan…they found a cyst and like a little tumor,...

North West, the daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, has joined the cast of Disney’s “The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl,” a live concert event that will be filmed across two performances and released as a special on Disney+.

West is set to star alongside previously announced cast members Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Billy Eichner, Ernie Sabella, Jason Weaver, Jennifer Hudson and Bradley GIbson. Broadway actress Heather Headley and Lebo M. round out the cast.

The shows will take place on May 24 and 25 in celebration of “The Lion King’s” 30th anniversary.

Disney Branded Television and Fulwell 73 Productions are on board to produce the show along with Amp Worldwide and Live Nation-Hewitt Silva. The performances will be captured for a Disney+ Original special “The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl,” set to stream at a later date.

The special will celebrate the 30-year evolution of “The Lion King,...

North West, Broadway’s Heather Headley and Grammy winner Lebo M. have been added to the cast of Disney’s The Lion King 30th Anniversary – A Live-to-Film Concert Event, a musical concert set to run May 24-25 at the Hollywood Bowl.

They join previously announced cast and franchise veterans Billy Eichner, Bradley Gibson, Ernie Sabella, Jason Weaver, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane and special guest Jennifer Hudson for the two-night event, which will feature a full orchestra performing Hans Zimmer’s Oscar-winning score. The cast will perform songs and numbers featuring the Broadway show’s costumes, set design and puppetry.

Disney Concerts and Fulwell 73 Productions along with Amp Worldwide and Live Nation-Hewitt Silva, the team behind Disney’s Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl (four Emmy noms) and the Emmy-winning Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium, are producing the events. The footage will become part of a Disney+ Original special,...

The highly anticipated film, “Mufasa: The Lion King,” is slated for a theatrical release on December 20, promising to enchant cinema-goers with the untold origin story of one of Disney’s most revered characters. Directed by the acclaimed Barry Jenkins and utilizing a blend of live-action techniques alongside photorealistic CGI, the film aims to breathe new life into the majestic Pride Lands.

This narrative voyage introduces us to Mufasa as an orphaned cub who finds an unlikely family after a fateful encounter with Taka, a young lion prince destined for greatness. Amid a backdrop of sweeping landscapes, the story unfolds through vivid flashbacks narrated by Rafiki to Kiara, the next generation of the regal lineage. As Mufasa’s tale progresses, viewers are taken on an expansive odyssey that explores themes of destiny, unity, and resilience.

Adding depth and vibrancy to the saga is an ensemble cast featuring Aaron Pierre as Mufasa,...

Disney released the first official trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King Monday, featuring a young and scruffy Mufasa’s rise as king of Pride Lands.

Mufasa: The Lion King marks the prequel to the 2019 live-action remake The Lion King, where Donald Glover and Beyoncé took on the roles of adult Simba and Nala, respectively. In the Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) prequel, Blue Ivy Carter joins the cast as the young lioness Kiara, the daughter of King Simba (Glover) and Queen Nala (Beyoncé). In Mufasa: The Lion King, which blends live-action filmmaking with photo-realistic,...

Barry Jenkins’ “The Lion King” prequel has unveiled its first footage.

Following Jenkins’ appearance at the Disney panel at CinemaCon, the story of the unlikely rise of the titular king of the Pride Lands comes to life. “Mufasa: The Lion King” enlists Rafiki (John Kani) to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter), daughter of Simba (Donald Glover) and Nala (Beyoncé Knowles-Carter), with Timon (Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa (Seth Rogen) lending their signature schtick.

Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny.

The cast also includes Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Kagiso Lediga, Tiffany Boone, Lennie James,...

Mufasa: The Lion King – © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Disney unveiled a first look at “Mufasa: The Lion King,” the new film coming to theaters Dec. 20 that explores the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride Lands.

“Mufasa: The Lion King” enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick. Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny—their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.

Announced this morning is an all-star roster of talent bringing new and fan-favorite characters to life—plus,...

You have to admit, even the promise of it is fascinating: what does a photoreal-animated Lion King film look like when it comes from Barry Jenkins – the director of Moonlight, and If Beale Street Could Talk, and The Underground Railroad? We’re about to find out, because Jenkins is directing Mufasa: The Lion King, the follow-up to Jon Favreau’s 2019 The Lion King remake – ostensibly a prequel about the rise of Simba’s legendary dad, but also weaving in sequel threads following Simba and Nala’s burgeoning family. And it’s not that Jenkins is being parachuted in – he’s working with his regular cinematographer James Laxton, and editor Joi McMillon, bringing his impeccable craft to an entirely different type of filmmaking, with the biggest tools blockbusterdom can bring. Check out the trailer here:

There’s plenty to dig into here – particularly those big names in the cast list. While...

The Circle of Life begins for Mufasa, the famous King of Pride Rock. Here, we are introduced to him as a lion cub. The official synopsis from Disney reads, “Mufasa: The Lion King enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick. Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny—their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.”

New and returning cast members were called on to lend their voices to the film:

Aaron Pierre as Mufasa Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka, a lion prince with...

Disney unveiled a first look at Mufasa: The Lion King, the new film coming to theaters on December 20 that explores the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride Lands.

Announced this morning is an all-star roster of talent bringing new and fan-favorite characters to life—plus, celebrated award-winning songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda is writing the film’s songs produced by Mark Mancina and Miranda, with additional music and performances by Lebo M.

Said Miranda, “Elton John. Tim Rice. Hans Zimmer. Lebo M. Mark Mancina. Beyoncé, Labrinth, Ilya Salmanzadeh. Beau Black, Ford Riley, the incredible music team on ‘The Lion Guard,’ and so many musical contributors over the years.

“‘The Lion King’ has an incredible musical legacy with music from some of the greatest songwriters around, and I’m humbled and proud to be a part of it. It’s been a joy working alongside Barry Jenkins to bring Mufasa’s story to life,...

Disney has released the first trailer for “Mufasa: The Lion King,” a prequel to the 2019 photorealistic remake of “The Lion King,” and revealed that Blue Ivy Carter has joined the voice cast.

From “Moonlight” director Barry Jenkins, “Mufasa” will explore the titular lion’s origin story, depicting his childhood with his brother Taka aka Scar, who becomes the main antagonist in “The Lion King.” Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. will voice the younger versions of Mufasa and Scar, respectively. James Earl Jones voiced Mufasa in both the 1994 original film and 2019 remake. Jeremy Irons voiced Scar in 1994, while Chiwetel Ejiofor took over in 2019.

Many members of the 2019 voice cast are returning, including John Kani as Rafiki, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Billy Eichner as Timon, Donald Glover as Simba and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala. Beyoncé’s daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, will play Kiara, the daughter of King Samba and Queen Nala.

Hans Zimmer drew inspiration from African sounds to create the iconic opening song of The Lion King. "Circle of Life" ends with a musical button, creating a dramatic impact on the audience. Disney's original plan for the song was very different, but Zimmer's creativity led to its extended version.

Hans Zimmer, the famed composer of Disney’s The Lion King, recently revealed some interesting information about what went into making The Lion King's famous opening song, “The Circle of Life.” When The Lion King premiered in 1994, it was an instant success, and a large part of that success is thanks to its memorable award-winning soundtrack. Zimmer scored the animated film with a handful of original songs written by composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice, who had previously worked with Disney on the Aladdin soundtrack. Along with composing the songs, John was also a featured vocalist on multiple tracks.

"He Lives In You" adds emotional depth to The Lion King soundtrack, honoring lost loved ones with powerful lyrics and African influences. The live-action remake missed an opportunity to use the song in a key scene, but its inclusion is still crucial for the movie's success. Despite not being in the original animated film, "He Lives In You" is considered one of the best songs in The Lion King franchise.

Disney's The Lion King added one crucial change to the live-action movie's soundtrack that helped it improve over the original's. The Lion King depicts the story of a young lion cub, Simba, whose destiny is to rule over Pride Rock; after he is tricked by his uncle into believing he is responsible for his father's death, Simba flees into the wild, with new friends Timon and Pumbaa. It is only after he grows up that he remembers who he is...

South Africa’s Known Associates, the fast-growing parent company of Johannesburg-based Known Associates Entertainment (Kae) and Cape Town-based Moonlighting Films, is launching into unscripted programming, Variety can reveal.

The company has acquired a 60% stake in Zero Gravity, a production outfit founded in 2017 by former Endemol Shine Africa and Trace Studios CEO Sivan Pillay, and will team up with South African media giant Primedia to “relaunch multiple new high-end unscripted formats,” according to Pillay. Though specific titles covered by that agreement have not been finalized, Primedia’s catalog includes hit series “The Masked Singer,” “Deal or No Deal” and “Ready Steady Cook.”

“For us, it’s a natural progression,” said Known Associates chairperson Joel Phiri at the Joburg Film Festival. “We’re bringing our production expertise, and it’s keeping in line with our acquiring [production services giant] Moonlighting [in 2022]. It’s linking with our servicing facilities and growing that side of the business.”

The...

Warning: contains spoilers for Disney Villains: Scar #1!The new prequel series to the hit Disney film The Lion King has officially exposed the dark implications of the original's Circle of Life. The Lion King has been treasured by Disney fans for decades now because of its wholesome story about a young cub's rise to become the King of the Pride Lands. It's remembered for its stellar animation and lovable characters that make every rewatch a treat. However, it's the film's opening song - The Circle of Life by Elton John, Tim Rice, Carmen Twillie and Lebo M. - that struck a chord with audiences because of how well it establishes a major theme. However, the movie dodged the darkest implications of the song's message.

Disney Villains: Scar #1 by Chuck Brown and Trevor Fraley opens its story from the perspective of a herd of wildebeests, as one of the children learns...

Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer is set to release a new double album, “Hans Zimmer Live,” in 2023.

Sony Classical announced the news today as it previewed the first single(s), the three-part “Last Samurai Suite.”

Zimmer’s new album features reimagined arrangements of his most iconic pieces. Among those scores getting new treatments are “The Lion King,” “The Dark Knight,” “Dunkirk” “Gladiator” and “Inception.”

Zimmer recorded the album this past summer while on tour. The sessions were put together over 10 nights with his 20-piece band, “The Disruptive Collective.”

His band features frequent collaborators Lisa Gerrard (“Gladiator”), Lebo M. (“The Lion King”), Loire Cutler (“X Men: Dark Phoenix”), cellist Tina Guo (“Wonder Woman”) and Nick Glennie-Smith (musical director of the band). Zimmer plays multiple instruments on the album, which also features the Odessa Opera Orchestra and Choir.

He said, “I simply wanted to produce the best album. I wanted to create an...

It took the combined talents of four Grammy winners, a symphony orchestra and a choir of African-American opera singers to make “The Woman King” resonate with the sounds of 19th-century West Africa.

“This was one of those once-in-a-lifetime films,” says composer Terence Blanchard of director Gina Prince-Bythewood’s project, for which he wrote a powerful score – the likes of which haven’t been heard in a period African film since Quincy Jones’ “Roots” 45 years ago.

“All of your experiences lead you to this moment, to work on something like this,” says the two-time Oscar nominee and five-time Grammy winner. “As soon as I saw it, I was floored. I looked at these characters as the founding DNA of all the strong African-American women I experienced growing up.”

“The Woman King” is set in 1823 Dahomey, a West African kingdom now known as the nation of Benin. Viola Davis plays the leader...

One of South Africa’s most renowned composers has got things other than the British royals on his mind.

Speaking to the MailOnline, Lebohang Morake, better known professionally as Lebo M, said he couldn’t recall speaking with Meghan Markle about Nelson Mandela at the 2019 premiere of “The Lion King”.

Read More: Nelson Mandela’s Grandson Responds To Meghan Markle’s Comments About Her Marriage Being Celebrated Just Like His Grandfather’s Prison Release

In an interview this week with The Cut, the Duchess of Sussex claimed that she had met a South African cast member at the premiere in London, said to her, “I just need you to know: ‘When you married into this family, we rejoiced in the streets the same we did when Mandela was freed from prison.'”

On Wednesday, Dr. John Kani, the only South African cast member in the film, denied ever having spoken to Markle,...

A Lion King actor and friend of Nelson Mandela says he is “baffled” after Meghan Markle claimed she was told people in South Africa “rejoiced in the streets” over her marriage to the Duke of Sussex.

In a recent interview, the Duchess of Sussex told The Cut magazine that an unnamed South African actor from the cast of the 2019 film of The Lion King made the surprise proclamation during the London premiere.

“He looked at me, and he’s just like light,” Meghan recalled. “‘I just need you to know: When you married into [the royal family], we rejoiced in the streets the same we did when Mandela was freed from prison’.”

However, Dr John Kani, who voiced the mandrill shaman Rafiki in the Disney film, has now claimed that he was the only South African actor in the production, and also said that he had never met the Duchess and did not attend the UK premiere,...

Three years ago, when Disney announced a remake of its animated classic The Lion King, it was easy to be skeptical: With the original still so beloved, was an upgrade even necessary? But at least one family in South Africa was hopeful. In both the first movie and a later stage production, The Lion King features “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” a Sixties pop hit that has its roots in “Mbube,” a song written and recorded in the Thirties by South African singer and migrant worker Solomon Linda. For decades, Linda...

One of the most iconic musical moments in cinematic history was a spur-of-the-moment freestyle, recorded for a demo for a movie that many thought would be overshadowed by a beautiful cartoon from Disney: Pocahontas. In 1994, though, The Lion King began with an animated sun rising against a crimson sky, a now-legendary voice booming “Nants ingonyama bagithi baba.” Nothing would eclipse it.

“As I was leaving the studio I saw the image of Mufasa, and I asked what’s that about, and I was told that’s the king arriving.

Composer Hans Zimmer is seated at the mixing board at the Sony scoring stage, head bobbing to the music being performed by 107 musicians just a few yards away. He’s wearing a vintage “Lion King World Tour” T-shirt, frayed at the collar.

On the giant screen behind the orchestra, two lions are bounding across the African veldt. As the ensemble finishes playing cue 5M31, Hans tells conductor Nick Glennie-Smith, “I like the feel — one more time, from the beginning,” while Jon Favreau, director of this new, all-computer-imagery “Lion King,” says simply, “That was pretty cool, Hans.”

Twenty-four years ago, Zimmer won an Oscar for his score for the original animated version of “The Lion King.” Since then, he has written such influential scores as “Gladiator,” “The Dark Knight” and “Inception” — yet when Favreau asked him to re-create his music for Disney’s elaborate new version, and to supervise production of...