News

Nobody was surprised (probably) when the massive, star-studded episode of "Saturday Night Live" celebrating the show's 50th anniversary mostly leaned on old standby sketches and concepts. There were some exceptions — including a perfect new Digital Short about how everybody who's ever worked at "SNL" has both anxiety and Ibs — but it's ultimately not shocking that the episode featured yet another musical ode to New York City's most disgusting aspects centered around John Mulaney.

From the man who brought you "Diner Lobster," "Airport Sushi," and "Port Authority Duane Reade," among others, we got "New York 50th Musical," and it's safe to say that Oscar nominee Adam Driver would only don a hot dog costume for something this great. After David Spade and Pete Davidson, the latter of whom note that they're "the same age" and just moved to New York in 1975 from the same small town, visit Mulaney's all-knowing hot dog vendor in Times Square,...

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,...

Fans are spoiled for choice when it comes to picking Disney animations. Decades worth of work has provided an extensive catalog of films that range from comedy to drama. However, among all those movies, there are some scenes that audiences just can't stop thinking about.

Whether it's from a villain or hero or even supporting characters, creators always managed to find a way to ensure viewers will remember particular scenes. Sometimes, viewers find it hard to forget a scene because of how profound it was, but on other occasions, it might just be a terrifying section of the movie, especially if they first watched it as a younger viewer.

Mufasa's Teachings Make Simba Understand the Right Thing to Do

Leaving Pride Rock wasn't Simba's fault. As a young cub, he was under the false impression that he was the reason for his father's death. His Uncle Scar wanted to take over as King and,...

Mufasa: The Lion King has caused a surge in popularity for the franchise, but there is a forgotten movie from the franchise that fans need to see. The first Lion King movie was released in 1994. This hit animated film from Disney was a part of a significant resurgence for the brand after an extended slow period for their animated movies. And of course, while Disney continued to invest in new animated projects, they also expanded their popular stories like The Lion King.

This led to a sequel being made in 1998 which jumped ahead and explored what life was like for Simba as the head of his own pride. But then, the timeline gets more complicated when another sequel arrives in 2004, which is simultaneously a prequel, and a sidequel. Beyond that, there were video games and TV shows that further expanded the Lion King universe, until the live-action remake of the...

In the early 1990s, the programming wizards at NBC realized they might be leaving advertising dollars on the table by not providing adolescents a Saturday morning entertainment bridge from cartoons to live-action sitcoms that reflected, in that garish sitcom way, their middle to high school lives. The only serious counter-programming threat in these hours was "Yo, MTV Raps!," so for kids who were more into bubblegum pop than hard-hitting rhymes, there was a demand not being met. And thus the Tnbc block was born.

The linchpin of the Tnbc block early in its heyday was "Saved by the Bell." What began as a spinoff of "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" -- which started on NBC before moving to The Disney Channel -- became a Saturday morning mainstay for both kids looking to do a whole lot of nothing on their morning off from school and hungover adults who knew better but...

Throughout its history, Disney has produced some of the most iconic, influential, and critically acclaimed animated movies in cinema history, carving its name into the eternal pedestal of pop culture. While some Disney animated films can be long, the longest animated film of all time is Studio Mappa's In This Corner of the World, whose extended version has a 168-minute runtime.

Disney movies are significantly shorter in comparison — Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first Disney film, is around 83 minutes long. Given young viewers' limited attention spans and most Disney animated films catered to children, it doesn't make sense for animated movies to be longer than two hours anyway. However, many Disney animated films can be considered 'long,' and only one Disney production surpasses this implicit time limit.

Updated on December 16, 2024, by Robert Vaux: Disney is considered a legend in the animation world and has shown no signs of slowing down.

Disney villains have become just as iconic as the movies themselves. With a wide range of animations for viewers to choose from, there are a lot of different stories often dictated by the villains. The heroes have to find a way to defeat whatever a villain might have done, but it's not always easy.

As the movies go on, fans get to see a bigger picture of what motivates the villain. Whether it's a long-standing rivalry or sheer greed, there's always something dark going on. Each villain has a defining moment that highlights their true personalities, even if they try hard to hide it.

Scar Killing Mufasa Defines His Goals

Loosely based on the William Shakespeare drama Hamlet, The Lion King's story unfolds as Scar plots to take the crown away from his brother, Mufasa. Jealousy had taken over his mindset, driven by greed and an unwavering thirst for power.

This weekend, director Barry Jenkins brings the story of Mufasa to life through the live-action style popularized by the 2019 The Lion King. It was an unusual choice to craft a prequel to the popular franchise but also provided some distance from the straight-to-dvd sequels of the 2000s. With Mufasa: The Lion King, we’re seeing a return to the Disney sequels and Disney prequels of the past. It’s no longer confined to animation, but with features like Maleficient, Alice in Wonderland, and Lightyear, Disney continues to expand its franchises.

What was a very uncommon aspect of Disney for its first sixty years became popularized in the 1990s. Three decades later, we’ve seen the House of Mouse continue to roll out these films. With Mufasa: The Lion King releasing this week, here are 10 of our favorite sequels and Disney prequels. Out of fairness, we’re only including a single entry from each franchise,...

The internet is filled with facts, both true and otherwise. In Film Trivia Fact Check, we’ll browse the depths of the web’s most user-generated trivia boards and wikis and put them under the microscope. How true are the IMDb Trivia pages? You want the truth? Can you handle the truth?...

The Lion King is one of Disney’s most popular and beloved animated movies, but it hasn’t been safe from a variety of theories – and one, in particular, gives a villain twist to a fan-favorite character and ally of Simba. Between 1989 and 1999, Disney went through what’s known as the Disney Renaissance, in which the studio went back to producing critically and commercially successful animated movies. Among them is The Lion King, released in 1994 and considered Disney’s first animated movie with an original story, and which has earned a spot as one of the Mouse House’s best works.

The Lion King takes viewers to the Pride Lands of Tanzania to meet King Mufasa (voiced by James Earl Jones) and his young son Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Matthew Broderick). Simba is the heir to the throne, but Mufasa’s brother, Scar (Jeremy Irons), also wants it. Scar...

A new Disney prequel is on the horizon, Mufasa: The Lion King shocked many when it was first announced. Fans of the original 1994 animated film felt a prequel was unnecessary but the news had many others excited to meet the beloved animals of the Pride Lands once again.

However, one mystery surrounded the prequel ever since it was announced and that was the involvement of Pumbaa in the cast. Since the story follows a young Mufasa, viewers don’t understand what role could the warthog play in it. But fans would be shocked to know that even in The Lion King, Pumbaa’s role was a much-needed surprise, something voice actor Ernie Sabella was worried would not make it to the final script.

The importance of Disney’s only farting character Still from The Lion King | Credits: Walt Disney Studios

The Lion King was the studio’s masterpiece, a movie...

For decades, Disney and Pixar movies have been delivering some truly heartbreaking moments. Starting in the 1930s and 1940s, when Disney was pioneering western animation, the studio developed a reputation for its power to create emotionally devastating moments. Disney is also known for its humor and its lively animation, but it wouldn't be the same without some heavy moments.

Both Disney and Pixar have enough respect for their young audiences to show them the unhappy side to life. Some of their classic movies show the deaths of beloved characters and other tragic moments. These scenes represent universal human experiences, and for many children, they are their first exposure to such feelings. Disney and Pixar can get away with such depressing topics because they balance them out with hope and personal growth, often teaching their audiences the complexities of grief and sadness.

Related 10 Disney Movies With Very Strange Messaging

Disney movies...

The direct-to-dvd sequels of Disney don't exactly have the best reputation, but there are some real hidden gems hidden among the iconic animation studio's catalog of straight-to-video films. The best movies of Disney's golden age have paid dividends for the company in terms of marketable IP, but few of them were given sequels worthy of their individual franchise's names. That being said, a few of Disney's lesser-known follow-up films have managed to be solid despite their faults, or even great on occasion.

Admittedly, Disney did not allot much budget to their direct-to-dvd sequels, often leaving them with weaker voice casts, animation, and writing compared to their famous older siblings. That being said, unlike Disney's live-action remakes, the seldom-seen sequels were often able to go in more dramatic, interesting directions compared to the theatrical releases. While many of these stories were misses, a select number of them stand out as clever continuations of the classic stories.

Summer blockbusters need crowdpleasing action and unique concepts. A good summer blockbuster can get everybody talking about the same movie. From Jaws to Barbie, big summer blockbusters have become a popular cinematic tradition.

The best summer blockbusters of all time know what it takes to appeal to a huge audience, and they have stood the test of time. Since the 1970s, a few movies have helped define the summer blockbuster as it is known today. The concept has evolved into a mainstay of every film lover's calendar. Summer always means that it's time for big-budget, high-concept action movies hoping to make a splash at the box office.

A good summer blockbuster must be financially successful, and these movies often influence the landscape of cinema. Audiences want to see a combination of creative action, good humor and a bold original concept. This is why sci-fi thrillers and superhero movies tend to do so well.

For thirty years, the kingdom of Pride Rock has entertained and amazed audiences young and old with tales of growth, courage, responsibility, and, of course, family. What began as a small idea has become one of Disney’s most recognizable properties worldwide, with multiple films, television shows, video games, and even stage musicals.

The story famously borrows heavily from Shakespeare, specifically from the tragedy Hamlet, but other biblical stories, such as Joseph and Moses, were also very influential.

The story focuses on Simba (Johnathan Taylor Thomas), a lion cub meant to be the next king of the Pride Lands after his father Mufasa’s (James Earl Jones) reign. Mufasa’s brother Scar (Jeremy Irons) wants the throne for himself and stages Mufasa’s death, making Simba believe he was responsible.

Simba runs away and meets Timon (Nathan Jones) and Pummba (Ernie Sabella), a meerkat and warthog who decide to raise...

Elton John saved "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" from being performed by Timon & Pumbaa, ensuring a romantic tone. "Hakuna Matata" replaced Timon & Pumbaa's original song, giving them a more fitting and memorable musical number. Elton John's vision for the music in The Lion King preserved the romantic essence of the film while capturing the characters' energy.

The Lion King has one of the best and most memorable soundtracks in Disney history thanks to Tim Rice and Elton John, and the latter saved the movie from a major musical disaster. Disney is home to many popular and beloved animated movies, of which many earned a place in film history. Among them is The Lion King, directed by Rogers Allers and Rob Minkoff and released in 1994 as part of the Disney Renaissance, the period between 1989 and 1999 in which the studio produced critically and commercially successful movies again.

The Lion King takes...

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...

Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella revealed their experience working on Disney's The Lion King to be chaotic, fun, and memorable. The characters of Timon and Pumbaa were born out of Lane and Sabella's chemistry, providing comic relief in the Shakespearean tale. Elton John was against Timon and Pumbaa singing Can You Feel the Love Tonight?

The Lion King reaches its 30th anniversary in June, and as one of Disneys biggest and most successful movies of all time, that means there is a lot to be celebrated. Ahead of the milestone, Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella, who voiced the comical pairing of Timon and Pumbaa, have been recalling their time working on the movie, including delivering Disneys first - and only - on-screen farting character, and having Elton John shut down the idea of them singing one of the movies pivotal songs.

Disney's The Lion King (1994) GAnimationAdventureDrama Release DateJune 23, 1994DirectorRoger Allers,...

North West, the 10-year-old daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye “Ye” West, was among the notable names who helped bring The Lion King to life in celebration of the original film’s 30th anniversary.

Disney honored the popular animated film Friday at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles with a screening of the film backed by a live orchestra, interspersed with live musical numbers that included performances originally seen in the Broadway stage production. The studio released the original movie in theaters on June 24, 1994.

north west sings “i just can’t wait to be king” from the lion king at the hollywood bowl on friday. the song was introduced as her “hollywood debut.” pic.twitter.com/rjeeGsWEZV

— Ryan Gajewski (@_RyanGajewski) May 25, 2024

North West performed “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” onstage while dressed as young lion cub Simba. Jason Weaver, who performed the song in the original movie,...

Elton John was not feeling the original choices in The Lion King to sing his Oscar-winning ballad, Can You Feel The Love Tonight?

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Nathan Lane revealed that early versions of the animated classic saw Timon and Pumbaa singing all of Can You Feel the Love Tonight?

“Originally, we sang the whole thing,” Lane said. “Elton John was mortified that the warthog and the meerkat were singing it. He said, ‘The reason I wrote the score was because I wanted to have a Disney love song. I didn’t want it to be sung by the rat and the pig.'”

There is an original rat/pig version floating around with Lane and Ernie Sabella, who voiced Pumbaa.

“We did [record] a version,” Lane said. “We sang the whole thing in our character voices. It wasn’t like we were going to do our legit Broadway version.

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,...

Did the trailer for Mufasa make you nostalgic for Disney’s 1994 classic The Lion King? Me, too! To celebrate three decades of one of the studio’s best films, The Hollywood Bowl is hosting a live-to-film concert featuring several special guests!

For two nights only, the venue will present an “immersive live-to-film concert event featuring the original 1994 film roaring from the Bowl screens, live orchestra, fireworks, showstopping vocal performances of award-winning songs from the film, and special celebrity guests, including cast members from both the classic 1994 animated and 2019 films.”

Image Credit: Disney | The Hollywood Bowl

Members of the animated film’s original cast who are returning for the two dates are:

Nathan Lane Ernie Sabella Jeremy Irons

Timon, Pumbaa, and Scar?! Yes! As a bonus, some stars from the 2019 CGI remake will also be in attendance:

Billy Eichner Bradley Gibson Ernie Sabella Jason Weaver

The Hollywood Bowl teases that more...

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,...

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s daughter, North West, is among the cast additions for a special concert celebrating The Lion King this May at the Hollywood Bowl.

Disney’s The Lion King 30th Anniversary – A Live-to-Film Concert Event will feature singers and actors from all three iterations of the beloved Disney franchise — the 1994 animated film, the 1998 Broadway musical, and the 2019 live-action remake — including original Scar actor Jeremy Irons, a pair of Timon actors (Billy Eichner and Nathan Lane), members of the Broadway cast, plus Jennifer Hudson and more.

It...

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 30th anniversary of the original animated film version of “The Lion King” will be celebrated at the Hollywood Bowl next month with a live-to-film concert/screening that will include cast members from both the movie and theatrical versions — and beyond — including Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Billy Eichner, Ernie Sabella, Jason Weaver and Bradley GIbson.

The shows will take place at the Bowl May 24-25 and be produced by Disney Concerts, Fulwell 73 Productions, Amp Worldwide and Live Nation-Hewitt Silva.

The general on-sale begins Friday at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster, with an American Express cardholder presale starting Tuesday at 10 a.m.

“Disney’s The Lion King 30th Anniversary – A Live-to-Film Concert Event” will feature a full orchestra performing the Oscar-winning score composed by Hans Zimmer for the 1994 classic, conducted by Sarah Hicks. But the long tail that film has cast will be part of the celebration as well. The cast...

"The Lion King" explores the theme of the circle of life, emphasizing the importance of balance and respect among all creatures in the ecosystem. Scar's desire for power and his hierarchical view of the savanna lead to the destruction of the environment and the breakdown of the circle of life. The hyenas, who are promised a better life by Scar, ultimately turn against him, implying that manipulation and exploitation will have consequences.

The ending of Disney's 1994 animated The Lion King sees the "circle of life" restored after Simba returns to Pride Rock to rescue the other lions from his evil uncle Scar and his hyenas. The Lion King is one of Disney's most popular animated films and ranked #37 on IMDb's top 250 films of all time. The Lion King features a star-studded cast of 90s celebrities including James Earl Jones, Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, Whoopi Goldberg, Rowan Atkinson, Jonathan Taylor Thomas,...

The Lion King looks set to roar in theaters again for a short time as the classic 1994 film lands a cinematic run to help mark Disney's 100th-anniversary celebrations.

Per Collider, Disney has announced The Lion King will be re-released in multiplexes across the U.S. for a two-week run, beginning on Sept. 29 and ending on Oct. 12. This is one of the multiple anniversary initiatives Disney is pushing featuring The Lion King as the mass media giant celebrates 100 years since its formation. The Academy Award-winning movie is also included on a special Blu-ray box set, the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection, which will be available on Nov. 14.

Related: Did Scar Eat Mufasa in The Lion King?!

The Lion King is widely regarded as one of the greatest animated movies ever made and is credited with ushering Disney's Renaissance through the '90s alongside Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast. The film,...

Hulu’s acclaimed “Only Murders in the Building,” currently vying for 11 Emmys, has gone all razzle dazzle in its third season. Make that rattle dazzle! Beleaguered Broadway director Oliver (Martin Short) was hoping for a comeback on the Great White Way with the mystery thriller “Death Rattle.” But when his leading man (Paul Rudd) is murdered, he decides to turn the straight play into a musical, “Death Rattle Dazzle!” And in the third episode, Meryl Streep’s nervous journeyman actress and Ashley Park’s leading lady performed the show-stopping ballad “Look for the Light” co-written by Sara Bareilles. One almost forgot the prime suspects in “Death Rattle Dazzle!” are the infant Pickwick triplets.

The 1959 multiple Tony winner “Redhead” also has a rather strange plot for a musical: a serial killer is stalking women in London in the 1880s during the time Jack the Ripper was terrorizing the city. Sounds like a real toe-tapper.

The Lion King, 1994, is among the most treasured of Disney's animated features, as well as one of its best live-action adaptations. The world of the African Pride Lands is beautifully realized, and within that world is a wealth of memorable characters. Surprisingly, it's the first Disney animated film with a completely original storyline, with nods to Hamlet and Bambi. But did you know that at the end is another first for Disney films? Sorry, let me rephrase: did you know that at An end is a first for Disney films? That end belongs to Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella), and that first - no butts about it - is the first-ever fart in a Disney film.

“The Lion King,” a Disney Media Franchise, commemorated its 26th anniversary this past June. It is a genuine archetypal that can captivate audiences of all ages. The first Lion King film in the series was produced in 1994.

According to Environment Weekly, there were more than 600 animators involved in the production of “The Lion King” including animators, technicians, and other crucial figures. In fact, every moment was arduously explored, reorganized, and refined again which cost a lot of money, time, and a lot of headaches. And here’s the result – the great movie “The Lion King.”

The key to its success comes from its skilfully constructed characters who frequently walk and act like their real-life equivalents. The real-life lions were brought to the studio for the animators to study.

Beyond expectations, “The Lion King” movie proved immensely profitable and is the best-selling VHS of all time. The Lion Guard is an...

I've watched babies who have yet to speak their first words sit in front of a TV or an iPad and break into laughter as they watch cartoons. Every time, I ask myself: How are they laughing when they don't even understand what's going on? I wonder if I did the same as a toddler. I'm sure I did. For a long time, I claimed "The Mask" starring Jim Carrey as one of my favorite movies from my childhood but couldn't tell you the plot.

But one movie I know for sure I didn't do that to is "The Lion King." The 1994 Disney classic became one of my lifelong favorites the first time I saw it. I followed the plot seamlessly. A prince lion cub who can't wait to be king of the jungle gets spooked away by his jealous, evil uncle, who murders the king and takes the throne.

The production trajectory for a Broadway musical is a unique beast. Shows are built with constant rewriting and retooling based on the people who come in and out of the production. After an endless collaborative parade of trials and errors lead to a finish product, you can put in front of an audience knowing everyone working on the project is on the same page and working towards the same goal. A lot of the time, people are cast as characters without material being written for them so the authors can write specifically to their strengths. In the audio commentary for the original Broadway stage...

The post How Nathan Lane And Ernie Sabella's Audition Changed The Lion King appeared first on /Film.

A line-up of nearly 30 stars – from Glenn Close, Patti LuPone, Darren Criss, Kelsey Grammar and David Alan Grier to Jake Gyllenhaal, Joshua Henry and Phillipa Soo – will perform title songs from more than 20 musicals for a special livestreamed musical event next month benefiting The Actors Fund.

The event, called Show of Titles, will feature title songs of Broadway musicals spanning nine decades, from “Lady Be Good” to “The Light in the Piazza.” In addition to the above-mentioned performers, the line-up includes Annaleigh Ashford, Len Cariou, Santino Fontana, Isabelle Huppert, Norm Lewis, Rob McClure, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Melba Moore, Jessie Mueller, Eva Noblezada, Kelli O’Hara, Laura Osnes, Steven Pasquale, Michael Rupert, Ernie Sabella, Lea Salonga, Will Swenson, Aaron Tveit, Leslie Uggams, Vanessa Williams and Patrick Wilson.

Making special appearances will be Broadway Inspirational Voices, Candice Bergen, Danny Burstein, Bryan Cranston, Sheldon Harnick, John Kander, Angela Lansbury, John Lithgow, Lindsay Mendez, Phylicia Rashad,...

[We're celebrating some of the most memorable horror and sci-fi movies of 1989 this month in Daily Dead's Class of 89 retrospective series! Check back on Daily Dead throughout the rest of August for more special features celebrating the 30th anniversaries of a wide range of horror and sci-fi films!]

Even as a kid, I was always super precious over my favorite horror movies. So, when Fright Night Part 2 was released, let’s just say that 11-year-old Heather was less than enthused. Thankfully, I’ve come to my senses over the last several decades and now recognize that the Fright Night sequel, when judged entirely by its own merits, is actually a super fun creature feature that exploits Charley Brewster’s healthy libido by utilizing a seductive temptress named Regine to torment him as he does his best to distance himself from the events of the original Fright Night in an effort to move forward with his life.

And that’s the thing I didn’t really understand at the time: that the world of Fright Night was moving forward, too, whether I was ready for it or not, and while it was a bitter pill for me to swallow some 30 years ago,...

Jon Favreau’s The Lion King may be making a killing at the box office – having already made over $700 million going into its second weekend – but it’s far from a critical hit.

Currently sitting at a splat-worthy 52% on Rotten Tomatoes, the photorealistic majesty of the animation seemed to act as a double-edged sword. Yes, it was revolutionary. But it also took a great deal away from what made the 1994 film a bonafide classic – including any physical display of emotion.

And from the looks of it, critics aren’t the only ones who share this opinion. Another habitant of the House of Mouse has made his disgruntled and disappointed voice heard, and it’s none other than Tony Bancroft, one of the two directors behind the 1998 picture, Mulan.

Taking to Twitter, he made sure his followers knew his blunt opinion of the film: underwhelmed. You can check out what he had to say below.

The original The Lion King movie is packed to the brim with quotable, memorable moments that every '90s kid knows by heart. The catchiest of them all, of course, is "Hakuna Matata," Timon and Pumbaa's peppy, hilarious ode to the worry-free life. The characters claim that the phrase "means no worries for the rest of your days," and they're actually right!

The lyric "hakuna matata" is a Swahili phrase, and it really does translate as "no worries!" According to a bonus feature on a special edition DVD of the original animated The Lion King, the creative team reportedly heard the phrase from a safari guide in Kenya while on a trip to do research. The pronunciation, however, is different in the movie than it is in Swahili (the "T" sound is apparently the key difference). The phrase intrigued the team for its opposition to the themes of royal responsibility...

Mark Harrison Jul 18, 2019

Sequels and spin-offs and remakes, oh my! We examine the many extensions of Disney's classic, from direct-to-video movies to TV spin-offs

This Lion King article comes from Den of Geek UK.

The Lion King was an enormous hit for Disney back in 1994, and 25 years later, it seems likely it will imminently be an enormous hit again. But between Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff’s animated favorite and Jon Favreau’s “live-action” remake, the House of Mouse has not shied away from turning it into a franchise with various sequels and TV shows.

At the time the animated version was originally released, the studio was riding high on the critical and financial success of its 1990s renaissance, which started with The Little Mermaid and arguably peaked here. Having only created one sequel up to this point (1990’s The Rescuers Down Under), the studio’s feature division didn...

Seth Rogen is stepping into The Twilight Zone. The star of Knocked Up and Neighbors will star in an upcoming episode of the CBS All Access revival of the classic sci-fi/fantasy franchise that became famous for its twist endings, eerie characters and unsettling theme song.

The Twilight Zone premieres on the subscription streaming site with two episodes on April 1, and more will follow beginning April 11, when weekly releases arrive every Thursday. No word yet on Rogen’s character nor any hints about the episode that he appears in. The April Fool’s Day launch of the series might suggest that one of the first episodes veers into humor; the original series had several light-hearted or comedic installments, among them the 1960 episode called “A World of His Own,” starring Keenan Wynn, and the 1963 episode “Cavender is Coming,” which featured a young Carol Burnett as well as a laugh track.

Rogen...

This article marks Part 21 of the Gold Derby series analyzing 84 years of Best Original Song at the Oscars. Join us as we look back at the timeless tunes recognized in this category, the results of each race and the overall rankings of the winners.

The 1994 Oscar nominees in Best Original Song were:

“Look What Love Has Done” from “Junior”

“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from “The Lion King”

“Circle of Life” from “The Lion King”

“Hakuna Matata” from “The Lion King”

“Make Up Your Mind” from “The Paper”

Won: “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from “The Lion King”

Should’ve won: “Circle of Life” from “The Lion King”

If there is any year in which a single film could and should have filled out the entire Best Original Song category at the Oscars, it is 1994.

Kudos to voters for nominating “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” “Circle of Life...

Disney has released the first teaser trailer for its much anticipated live action/CGI remake of “The Lion King,” thus continuing the circle of life for the beloved movie musical.

Released in 1994, “The Lion King” is a loose riff on William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” The movie follows young lion cub Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas/Matthew Broderick) as he prepares to succeed his father, Mufasa (James Earl Jones), king of the Pride Lands. After Simba’s evil uncle Scar (Jeremy Irons) murders Mufasa, he convinces Simba to flee. With the help of jokesters Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella), the cub grows up in exile, eventually returning to challenge Scar and reclaim his throne at the behest of his childhood friend, Nala (Moira Kelly).

“The Lion King” is primarily remembered for its original songs, which were written by composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice, with a score by Hans Zimmer.

The 1994 animated film The Lion King was a critical and commercial hit and beloved by families. The Disney movie won two Oscars and has grossed more than $968 million worldwide.

The animated version was directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, with a voice cast that included Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Moira Kelly, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Robert Guillaume, Rowan Atkinson, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Madge Sinclair, Whoopi Goldberg and Cheech Marin.

In September 2016, it was announced that Disney is doing a CGI remake of the film with Jon Favreau set to direct. The cast of ...