First trailer for CGI version of ‘The Lion King’ is more than a tease
Nov 26, 2018, 1:59 PM | Updated: 6:34 pm
While you were busy eating, shopping and watching football over the holiday weekend, you might have missed this major event: Disney debuted the first trailer for its CGI version of the classic “The Lion King.”
The highly anticipated movie, which you’ll have to wait until July 19 to see, stars Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé as Nala and Chiwetel Ejiofor as the villainous Scar.
The trailer, which came out on Thanksgiving Day, opens with a thrilling montage of the African landscape and wildlife before the dialogue begins with a comforting, deep, familiar voice:
“Everything the light touches is our kingdom.”
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The 1-minute, 32-second trailer isn’t just a tease. It includes a glimpse of the iconic scene where Rafiki the mandrill holds baby Simba aloft, giving the animals their first look at their future king.
And, unsurprisingly for a Disney film, baby Simba is too cute for words.
The filmmakers have either done an amazing job training wild animals or worked wonders through computer animation to bring the beasts of the savanna to life.
The film was directed by Jon Favreau, who knows a thing or two about working with CGI creatures after helming the 2016 live-action version of “The Jungle Book.”
“The Lion King” is the third updated version of a Disney classic with a 2019 release date.
“Dumbo,” directed by Tim Burton, starts the parade on March 29 and will be followed by “Aladdin,” with Will Smith as Genie, on May 24.
