It’s pretty safe to say the remake of “The Lion King” will be a hit when it’s released in theaters on July 19, not only for the classic the original became over the years but for the huge stars that are in the new release.
Some of the celebs who will lend their voices to the Jon Favreau-directed film include Donald Glover, Beyoncé, Alfre Woodard and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Glover is voicing the part of Simba in the movie, Beyoncé will be Nala, Ejiofor the evil Scar, while James Earl Jones will reprise his role as Mufasa.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Glover talked about how impressed he was with how Favreau combined old school with modern technology, and he said the remake will be pertinent to today’s world. The “Atlanta” creator also explained what first drew him to the project.
“‘[The Lion King is]’ a timeless story, but I think the way Favreau has constructed it, it’s a very timely story as well,” said Glover. “I just wanted to be a part of a global good.”
Unlike the original 1994 film, which was animated, the 2019 version combines both computerized animation and film, which gives the project an entirely different feel, based on the trailer.
“It was really amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Glover. “To be able to have that type of mobility in an actual world is the first of its kind, I think. How he melded new and old tech was really inspiring.”
Ejiofor also talked about how impressed he is with the remake.
“The technology just seemed so next-generation and out there,” he explained.
“But to know that an audience is going to be experiencing something that is absolutely brand new, that has never been seen before, and thereby is able to connect to and engage with the story in this totally unique way is, to me, an extraordinarily exciting thing to be a part of,” added Ejiofor.
