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Cast and Characters of The Lion King 2019
The Lion King is an upcoming American musical drama film directed by Jon Favreau and produced by Walt Disney Pictures. It is a photorealistic computer animated remake of Disney's traditionally animated 1994 film of the same name. Here we bring you a complete list of artists who have lent their voices for the iconic characters of The Lion King. Take a look:
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Donald Glover is Simba
The central lion of the movie, Donald Glover will voice adult Simba, who lives deep in the jungle with his friends Timon and Pumbaa, following the death of his father. He remains there, happy until it becomes time for him to take his rightful place as king of Pride Rock and Nala finds him. Simba must overthrow Scar, his uncle, who had forced Simba into exile and now rules the pride lands with his pack of hyenas
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James Earl Jones is Mufasa
'Remember who you are,' is one of Disney's most iconic lines, as a down and defeated Simba looks up to the stars in search of his father, Mufasa. Originally voiced by the incomparable James Earl Jones, Mufasa really couldn't be voiced by anyone else, and Jones is the only original cast member to reprise his Lion King role. Mufasa is a shining light for young Simba, delivering deep and meaningful life lessons before his own life is cruelly snatched from him by Scar. Even after his death, Mufasa continues to advise his son about his place in the circle of life.
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Beyonce is Nala
Beyonce was Jon Favreau's top pick for the role of Nala, the lioness who is Simba's best friend through childhood and later on becomes his love interest, and her involvement in The Lion King was confirmed in November 2017. While the role of adult Nala is not necessarily major, having Beyonce voice her - as well as write songs for the movie - definitely is.
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Chiwetel Ejiofor is Scar
Scar is one of the evilest Disney villains of all time, which therefore makes him one of the best. There's not much that beats fratricide when it comes to evil deeds, and throwing Mufasa from the top of a cliff as he begs for help is right up there as one of the most traumatic scenes in the Disney canon. Not only that. but Scar then lays the blame on his young nephew, prompting him to flee, and sets a pack of hyenas after the cub. With no one left to stand in his way, Scar takes over as king, with the awful hyenas by his side.
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Alfre Woodard is Sarabi
Simba's mother, Sarabi is so happy and proud of her young cub, and then she loses her mate and her son in one day. Under Scar's rule, she is treated badly and punished for not hunting enough, despite there being no animals left to hunt as he has destroyed the pride lands.
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Seth Rogen is Pumbaa
Pumbaa is a lovable, hapless warthog who picks up a nearly dead Simba in the desert. He isn't very smart, has a very bad gas problem, and likes to eat bugs, but he also has a heart of gold and would do anything for his friends. Pumbaa's moto is, of course, Hakuna Matata - no worries.
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Billy Eichner is Timon
Pumbaa is nothing without Timon, and vise-versa. Timon is a wise-cracking meerkat who thinks he's smart, but it's often Pumbaa who's cleverer. They've been living in the jungle together for a long time before they find Simba, and both serve as surrogate parents, raising Simba to adulthood.
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John Oliver is Zazu
Zazu is a hornbill who serves as Mufasa's majordomo. Part of his role also involves him reluctantly having to babysit the young Simba and Nala. He's begrudgingly fond of them, though, and overjoyed when Simba returns.
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John Kani is Rafiki
Rafiki is a wise Mandril and not, as it is said in the original version of The Lion King, a baboon; in the animated version of the movie, Rafiki has a tail, when in fact Mandrills do not. Whether this will be corrected in the new movie or not remains to be seen.. Rafiki is Mufasa's advisor, and is the one to present the newborn Simba to the animal kingdom.
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Keegan-Michael Key is Kamari, Eric Andre is Azizi, and Florence Kasumba is Shenzi
Of the three hyenas who follow Scar, only Shenzi is a character from the original The Lion King; Kamari and Azizi are newer versions of Banzai and Ed.
Florence Kasumba is known for playing Ayo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Eric Andre plays Mike in the FXX series, Man Seeking Woman, while Keegan Michael-Key is best known as one half of the comedy sketch duo, Key and Peele, as well as appearing in many shows such as Parks and Recreation, Whose Line is it Anyway, and Fargo. -
JD McCrary is Young Simba
When The Lion King opens, both Simba and Nala are young cubs and therefore different actors are needed to voice them. JD McCray plays the young Simba. He is 11 years old, and currently stars in The Paynes on The Oprah Winfrey Network.
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Shahadi Wright Joseph is Young Nala
Shahadi Wright Joseph voices Nala. She is 13 years old and best known for playing Zora Wilson/Umbrae in the Jordan Peele movie, Us.
