Lion King Sequel: New Characters Coming
What story will The Lion King sequel (or prequel) bring to screens?
Image: Walt Disney Studios
Does Skyler Shuler speak Lion? Maybe. But The DisInsider’s movie maven certainly ain’t lyin’ as he delivers news about a possible upcoming sequel (prequel) to Disney’s live-action The Lion King.
During the wee hours of last night, The DisInsider (West Coast) was working whilst we (East Coasters) were sleeping and he caught his prey.
Cue the music:
Image: The Walt Disney Company
Weeheeheehee dee heeheeheehee weeoh aweem away
In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
In the jungle the quiet jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
Wee heeheehee weeoh aweem away
A prequel to the live-action The Lion King?
Image: Walt Disney Studios
Casting is underway for Disney’s follow-up to their highest-grossing live-action/CGI remake of The Lion King, released in 2019. Now, thanks to an industry insider we have some new information on the film. Thanks to Daniel Richtman, he has revealed a new production grid that features two familiar characters and several new characters… new characters not shown in the previous incarnations of the various Lion King films. The characters are as follows, Adah, Horatio, Elijah, Celia, Kaliban, Cardi (no, not B.), and Zola.
Shuler also noted that the studio is looking for young actors to play “young Scar and Mufasa” (aged 8 to 13). As for the other characters, there was little information beyond a “mix of American and British accents.”
As you remember, The Lion King (which was nominated for one Oscar) earned 19 awards and (was nominated for 44) as Disney delved ever deeper into live-action remakes of its animated classics.
Star-Studded Voice Cast
Beyonce. Image: Walt Disney Studios.
Starring the voices of Donald Glover, Beyonce, Seth Rogan, James Earl Jones, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and John Oliver (among others), The Lion King was an almost beat-for-beat CGI remake of the animated movie. And the film was successful in its box office and special effects, if not for originality. However, the work Director Jon Favreau put into the production clearly informed The Mandalorian showrunner’s approach to Star Wars – so there’s that.
Donald Glover. Image: The Walt Disney Company.
However, as I sit here, I have only watched the film once and that was in the theater back in 2019.
Perhaps this sequel, or prequel as the casting list teased, might be exactly what the doctor ordered. Original storytelling was lacking in the “original” reboot. And it might make for a reason to return to the cinema and re-watch the 2019 and 1994 films.
Image: Disney
