New Photos From Disney's THE LION KING and Jon Favreau Discusses The Film and Reinventing The Story
Director Jon Favreau’s upcoming adaptation of Disney’s The Lion King looks visually stunning and the way the animals have been brought to life looks better than anything that we’ve ever seen before.
We have a few new photos to share with you today that shows off some of the CG animal characters thanks to EW. That includes new looks at Scar, Simba, Timon, Pumba and Rafiki. The magazine also talked with the cast and crew about the film and the characters that they play.
While it looks like The Lion King is going to basically be a shot-for-shot remake of the original animated film, Favreau explains how they were looking to reinvent the story, saying:
"I think this film is a culmination of all the live-action adaptations that Disney has done of their animated classics. The idea of taking these characters and this music, just as the stage play took it, sticking closely to the story but reinventing it for a different medium… I thought that this technology would be separate enough from the animated film that it felt fresh and new, yet completely related to the original."
The creation of the CGI animals in the film are obviously super impressive and they are going to be a highlight of the movie, but Favreau hopes that audiences will be emotionally engaged with the story that they set out to tell:
"We hope it will feel like something different and something that’s as emotionally engaging as a film with real animals using real cameras. And as we introduce the material to people, they’ll begin to understand — or at least be confused in a way that’s creatively compelling."
Donald Glover, who voices the adult Simba in the movie also talks about being a part of this film project and what it was like working with Favreau:
"[The Lion King is] a timeless story, but I think the way Favreau has constructed it, it’s a very timely story as well. I just wanted to be a part of a global good.
"It was really amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it. 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."
Seth Rogen, who voices Pumba in the movie talks about how confident he was about taking on this role:
"As an actor, I 100 percent don’t think I’m right for every role — there are a lot of roles I don’t think I’m right for even in movies I’m making — but Pumbaa was one I knew I could do well. Truthfully, I probably would have been a little insulted if [Favreau] didn’t ask me to."
Then there’s Chiwetel Ejiofor, who takes on the role of the villainous Scar. When talking about his character, he says:
"There’s something quite interesting in knowing that you’re always holding a lethal capacity, psychologically possessed and brutalized."
"Especially with Scar, whether it’s a vocal quality that allows for a certain confidence or a certain aggression, to always know that at the end of it you’re playing somebody who has the capacity to turn everything on its head in a split second with outrageous acts of violence… that can completely change the temperature of a scene."
Billy Eichner also talks about being cast as Timon. After he was asked about joining the film, he explained what makes his role so great:
"People way more famous and successful than me would have killed for this part. It’s such a great role that allows you to do so much. But I’ve learned that the bigger the project and the bigger the names that you’re working with, the more you have to ignore it.
"If you get to the soundstage and you’re thinking, ‘Oh my God, what a full-circle moment! Nathan Lane did it originally! Beyoncé’s in this!’ then you’re paralyzed creatively. You just have to put that out of your head in order to get the job done."
Disney’s “The Lion King, directed by Jon Favreau (“The Jungle Book”), 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.
The Lion King opens in U.S. theaters on July 19, 2019.