According to the British Board of Film Classification, the UK equivalent of the Motion Picture Association of America, the “live-action” version of Disney’s The Lion King runs 118 minutes. That means director Jon Favreau is squeezing an extra 29 minutes more footage than the animated original.
Although the marketing for the movie doesn’t reveal it, we heard that Favreau drew a lot of inspiration from the Broadway musical version. One of the big changes of the Julie Taymor directed Broadway musical is that it gives Nala more agency including a new song “The Madness of King Scar.”
Other songs from the stage show that would work in the new photo-realistic “live-action” version of The Lion King include “Shadowland,” “Endless Night,” and “One by One.”
Here’s the official lyric video for “Shadowland” from the Broadway musical:
In case you missed it, here’s a sneak peek from “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” featuring Donald Glover (Simba) and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter (Nala):
So great to hear the voice of James Earl Jones again!
Are you planning to see Disney’s The Lion King in this new photo-realistic style?
About The Lion King:
Disney’s “The Lion King,” directed by Jon Favreau, journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his. Staying true to the classic story, Favreau utilizes pioneering filmmaking techniques to bring the iconic characters to the big screen in a whole new way. Also featuring James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon, Disney’s “The Lion King” opens in U.S. theatres on July 19, 2019