'Lion King' Cast Talks About Reimagining Disney Classic
Share
LOS ANGELES — Disney’s “The Lion King” has received no shortage of remakes and spinoffs in the years since its original 1994 release. Now, as the film reaches its silver anniversary, Disney delivers a new take on the animated musical.
“I think I’m really lucky, because I feel like a lot of the people who are experiencing it don’t remember the first one.” — Donald Glover, who voices adult Simba
Cast and crew gathered in Hollywood for “The Lion King” world premiere Tuesday night, and discussed reimagining the classic.“I think I’m really lucky, because I feel like a lot of the people who are experiencing it don’t remember the first one,” joked Donald Glover, who voices adult Simba.
“(The original film) is such a big part of who I was,” Glover continued, adding he felt the weight of his role especially during his duet of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” with co-star Beyoncé.
“Tackling it was really just trying to make the song feel as emotional as it was before,” he said.
While the remake pays homage to the source material, a new approach allowed for more creative liberties than its predecessor, many cast and crew noted.
Hans Zimmer, who composed the original film’s underscore, said he was excited to produce new compositions as well as revamp original music cues.
“This time, I could breathe,” he said, explaining that some of his music was performed too fast the first time around. “I could let them play properly. I could do things with them that I never did before.”

‘The Music Department, We Went Crazy’
Composer Lebo M. said the remake will feature tunes from the original, and a host of new songs, as well as the anthem “He Lives in You,” which debuted in the stage production.
“We wrote it originally for the movie 25 years ago, and it made its mark on Broadway and around the world, and it’s now a very special version in this movie soundtrack,” he said. “The music department, we went crazy.”
“We wrote it originally for the movie 25 years ago, and it made its mark on Broadway and around the world, and it’s now a very special version in this movie soundtrack,” he said. “The music department, we went crazy.” — Composer Lebo M.
At times, so did the cast.Actor Billy Eichner, who voices Timon, said director Jon Favreau (who also helmed Disney’s recent “The Jungle Book”) allowed him to record his voiceovers alongside his co-star Seth Rogen, the voice of Pumbaa. Most voice actors do the job solo.
“I think it all comes back to Jon Favreau for being brilliant and knowing how to do a big spectacular film that people can also relate to and make it feel organic and genuinely funny,” Eichner said. “Even when Donald Glover came in to do ‘Hakuna Matata’ in our scenes together, we were all riffing. We kept it very organic and very raw, and I think the movie hopefully benefits from that.”
Glover shared a similar sentiment about Favreau, saying the director’s vision for the remake is the reason he signed on.
“The story of us all being connected is a universal truth that we really can’t ignore anymore,” he said. “If we don’t really like see the value of our lives together what’s the point of all this? Because we’re all connected.”
The vibrant red carpet hosted stars including former Destiny’s Child singers Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland, Tiffany Haddish, Jamie Foxx, Chrissy Metz, Tracy Morgan, Yara Shahidi, Chloe x Halle, and Zooey Deschanel (whose father, Caleb Deschanel, is the cinematographer). Inside, Favreau introduced the cast, who were met with a standing ovation before the film started. He also singled out filmmakers of the animated original that were in the audience for special thanks.
RELATED TOPICS:
Everything Tennis Fans Need to Know About the 2025 U.S. Open
Sports /
5 hours ago
Madera County Warns of Contagious Canine Virus Outbreak
Animals /
5 hours ago
ESPN Won’t Air Spike Lee’s Docuseries on Colin Kaepernick, Citing ‘Creative Differences’
Sports /
5 hours ago
CMAC Will Award Cash Prizes at 72-Hour Film Race Screening
Events /
6 hours ago
Gabbard Revokes Security Clearances of 37 Current, Former US Intelligence Members
U.S. /
8 hours ago
Immigrant Students Shape California’s Future. Don’t Close the Door on Them
Opinion /
8 hours ago
Fresno County Boardroom Will Now Display ‘In God We Trust’
Politics /
8 hours ago
Founders of This New Development Say You Must Be White to Live There
Housing /
9 hours ago
Latest
Videos

Latest /
4 hours ago
Porterville Police Make DUI Arrest, Issue 13 Citations in Weekend Checkpoint

Housing /
5 hours ago
Trump Claims Powell ‘Hurting’ the Housing Industry in Latest Attack on Fed Chair

Sports /
5 hours ago
Everything Tennis Fans Need to Know About the 2025 U.S. Open

Animals /
5 hours ago
Madera County Warns of Contagious Canine Virus Outbreak

Sports /
5 hours ago
ESPN Won’t Air Spike Lee’s Docuseries on Colin Kaepernick, Citing ‘Creative Differences’

Events /
6 hours ago
CMAC Will Award Cash Prizes at 72-Hour Film Race Screening

Video /
1 day ago