Donald Glover to Play Simba in THE LION KING with James Earl Jones Returning as Mufasa
Director Jon Favreau's The Lion King film just took a huge step forward in the right direction! The director announced on Twitter that Donald Glover will be taking on the role of Simba in the film and James Earl Jones will return to the role of Mufasa, which he played in the 1994 animated film.
How cool is that!? Glover is so perfect for Simba and the fact that Jones is actually coming back to play Mufasa again for the movie is the greatest news ever!
Favreau's 15-year-old son is a huge fan of Glover's Childish Gambino, and while talking to Glover during THR's conversation of creativity, Favreau told the actor, "By the way, full disclosure: I see your face every day when I wake up my 15-year-old son because on his door is a portrait of you."
That's one way to be reminded that you have to cast Glover in the role of Simba every day. After seeing what Favreau did with The Jungle Book, I'm super excited to see what he does with The Lion King. It will not be a live-action remake; the film will be made using cutting-edge digital and CG technology to bring the animals to life.
The script for the film is being written by Jeff Nathanson (Catch Me if You Can, The Terminal) and I'm sure Disney has yet another huge money-making hit on their hands.
I just can’t wait to be king. #Simba pic.twitter.com/wUYKixMBJI
— Jon Favreau (@Jon_Favreau) February 18, 2017
Looking forward to working with this legend. #Mufasa pic.twitter.com/1LszbWrcYT
— Jon Favreau (@Jon_Favreau) February 18, 2017