The Lion King Reborn

The Lion King Reborn is an upcoming 2019 American animated epic, adventure, musical, drama, and dark comedy film directed by Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers from a screenplay by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, Linda Woolverton, and Jeff Nathanson, and produced by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the first film of the Disney Reborn Multiverse (DRM), and a remake of Disney's traditionally animated 1994 film. Based on the Lion King franchise, it will feature an ensemble voice cast that includes Matthew Broderick, Ernie Sabella, Jeremy Irons, Alfre Woodard, Nathan Lane, Rowan Atkinson, Robert Guillaume, Suzanne Pleshette, Meredith Scott Lynn, Jason Marsden, Neve Campbell, Moira Kelly, and James Earl Jones. It features posthumous film performances by Pleshette, who died in January 2008 and Guillaume, who died in October 2017, and the film is dedicated to their memories.

With the film co-produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, it is set to be distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on July 19 in the United States on YouTube in IMAX format, celebrating the 1994 film's 25th anniversary.

Synopsis
An unprecedented cinematic journey twenty-five years in the making and spanning of The Lion King, Scar seeks to take the mantle as King after he murders his brother Mufasa, and Simba, Kovu, Kiara, Nala, Rafiki, Timon, and Pumbaa must stop Scar and his follower Zira in a showdown before their onslaught of destruction puts an end to the Pride Lands.

Voice cast
An African lion, son of Mufasa and Sarabi, who is the crown prince of the Pride Lands. Simba later becomes Nala's husband, and Kiara's overprotective father. Joseph Williams and Cam Clarke will provide the character's singing voice. Mufasa's treacherous younger brother, Simba's uncle and Kiara's granduncle, who overtakes the throne and seeks to take the mantle of king. John Vickery, who returns from the Broadway production since 1997, will provide the character's singing voice. A comedic meerkat, who becomes Pumbaa's best friend and one of Simba's adoptive parents. Though somewhat selfish, arrogant, and withdrawn, Timon shows courageous loyalty towards his friends. A naïve, but hearten common warthog, who becomes Timon's symbiotic partner and one of Simba's adoptive parents. Though slow-witted, Pumbaa is very empathetic and willing to trust and befriend anyone. He is also claustrophobic and passes gas in crowds. Mufasa's devoted mate, Simba's mother, the leader of the lioness hunting party, and the Queen of Pride Rock. The leader of the Outsiders, Scar's most loyal follower and Nuka, Vitani, and Kovu's widowed mother. A lioness, who is Simba's best friend and later his future love-interest, Queen of the Pride Lands, and Kiara's mother. Heather Headley, who returns from the Broadway production, will provide Nala's singing voice. Simba's father, Scar's older brother, and King of the Pride Lands, as the film begins. A wise mandrill, who teaches Timon Hakuna Matata, as well as giving him faith in himself to do what he dreams of doing. Rafiki also serves as shaman of the lion king to present newborn cubs of the King and Queen to the animals of the Pride Lands. A red-billed hornbill, who serves as the lion king's majordomo and adviser (or "Mufasa's little stooge", as Shenzi calls him). A lioness, and the daughter of Simba and Nala, who grows up to become future Queen of the Pride Lands. A lion living in the Outlands, who is Zira's son, Nuka and Vitani's younger brother, and the chosen successor of Scar to become King of the Pride Lands. Zira's aggressive and spunky daughter, and Nuka and Kovu's sister. The sassy and short-tempered female leader of her hyena clan. Tracy Nicole Chapman, who returns from the Broadway production, will provide the character's singing voice. An aggressive and hot-headed Mexican-accent hyena prone to complaining and acting on impulse, who is Scar's henchman. Stanley Wayne Mathis, who returns from the Broadway production, will provide the character's singing voice. An unhinged hysterical hyena, who laughs a lot and is Scar's henchman. Timon's caring mother. She is overly protective and attached to her son, often trying to get him accepted amongst the colony, but never succeeding. Timon's paranoid, eccentric but deep down kind-hearted uncle. He initially doubts Timon's ability, but warms up to him at the film's climax. Zira's son, Vitani and Kovu's older brother and the oldest male of Zira's family. A lioness friend of Kiara and a member of Simba's pride. A lioness friend of Kiara and the youngest member of Simba's pride. A meerkat and the former best friend of Timon. He loves to laugh and play around, as well as pulling practical jokes. He used to visit Timon from time to time, usually to pull a prank on him. A meerkat, who is formerly on sentry duty before Timon takes his role.
 * Matthew Broderick as Simba
 * Jonathan Taylor Thomas as young Simba (archive recordings). Evan Saucedo and JD McCrary will provide the cub's singing voice.
 * Jeremy Irons as Scar
 * Nathan Lane as Timon
 * Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa
 * Alfre Woodard as Sarabi
 * Suzanne Pleshette as Zira
 * Moira Kelly as Nala
 * Niketa Calame-Harris as young Nala. Harris has returned to voice young Nala after 25 years since 1994. Shahadi Wright Joseph will provide the cub's singing voice, returning from the Broadway production.
 * James Earl Jones as Mufasa
 * Robert Guillaume as Rafiki
 * Rowan Atkinson as Zazu
 * Neve Campbell as Kiara
 * Michelle Horn as infant Kiara (archive recordings). Charity Sanoy will provide her singing voice.
 * Jason Marsden as Kovu
 * Ryan O'Donohue as infant Kovu (archive recordings)
 * Meredith Scott Lynn as Vitani
 * Lacey Chabert as young Vitani. Crysta Macalush Winton will provide the cub's singing voice.
 * Whoopi Goldberg as Shenzi
 * Cheech Marin as Banzai
 * Jim Cummings as Ed
 * Julie Kavner as Timon's Ma
 * Jerry Stiller as Uncle Max
 * Andy Dick as Nuka
 * Madison Pettis as Zuri
 * Sarah Hyland as Tiifu
 * S. Scott Bullock as Fred
 * Jeff Bennett as Iron Joe

Development
The film was originally planned as a "director's cut" to be released in summer of 2017, known as The Lion King: The Special Edition Cut.

The film includes the 1994 original release of The Lion King, its 1998 sequel The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, and its 2004 midquel/prequel The Lion King 1½.

Casting
In mid-February 2017, Matthew Broderick and James Earl Jones were cast as Simba and Mufasa, with the duo reprising their roles from the 1994 film. In April, Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella were in talks to reprising their roles as Timon and Pumbaa respectively. In July, Rowan Atkinson was cast to return as Zazu. In August 2017, Julie Kavner was cast to reprise her role as Timon's Ma with Jerry Stiller in talks to return as Uncle Max.

In mid-February 2018, Jeremy Irons, Cheech Marin, Whoopi Goldberg, Jim Cummings, Jason Marsden, Andy Dick, and Lacey Chabert were all cast to reprise the voices of Scar, Banzai, Shenzi, Ed, Kovu, Nuka, and young Vitani from the 1994 film and Simba's Pride. Later in June, Niketa Calame-Harris was confirmed to return as young Nala after 25 years. Archive recordings of the late Robert Guillaume and Suzanne Pleshette, as well as Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Michelle Horn, and Ryan O'Donohue as Rafiki, Zira, young Simba, Kiara, and Kovu will be included respectively. On October 20, Alfre Woodard was announced to be the voice of Sarabi, returning from her time on the 2019 live-action/CGI remake that would be released next year.

On March 2019, Meredith Scott Lynn was cast to voice adult Vitani, replacing Jennifer Lien due to her arrest for driving on a revoked license in Kingston, Tennessee. On that same day, Neve Campbell would voice adult Kiara once again from The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, and Moira Kelly's role as Nala was confirmed in an official announcement, replacing Gabrielle Union from the summer of 2018.

Production
Production on the film commenced in the summer of 2017 in Los Angeles, California, using "a lot of virtual-reality tools" per Visual Effects Supervisor Rob Legato. Though if we don't count the included the songs from the Broadway performance, they will be used in a "special edition" for the film's home media releases.

It has been confirmed that the film will have a runtime of 3 hours and 24 minutes long.

Post-production
The film dedicates to the memories of Pleshette and Guillaume. This also dedicates and marks one of the final credits for film editor Mark Livolsi, who died on September 23, 2018, and British actor W. Morgan Sheppard, who died in January 6, 2019, and provided the voice of Captain Bloodbeard in The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa.

Visual effects
The visual effects are provided by DisneyToon Studios and the Moving Picture Company, as well as supervised by Elliot Newman, Robert Legato and Adam Valdez.

Music
On November 1, 2017, it was announced that Hans Zimmer would return to write the film's score, having previously scored the 1994 animated version. On November 28, 2017, it was reported that Elton John had signed onto the project to rework his musical compositions shortly before his retirement. The film is expected to have songs from previous Lion King films, including "Digga Tunnah", "That's All I Need", "Circle of Life", "I Just Can't Wait to be King", "Hakuna Matata", "Can You Feel the Love Tonight", "He Lives in You", "We Are One", "My Lullaby", "Upendi", "Not One of Us", and "Love Will Find a Way". It was reported that the film would include five songs from the musical: "Chow Down", "Endless Night", "The Morning Report", "The Madness of King Scar" and "Shadowland".

Marketing
On December 25, the official teaser trailer was released. A day later, a teaser trailer reaction promoted, featuring Simba, Bunga, Timon and Pumbaa watching on their Blu-Ray 3D set.

On April 1, an "April Fools' Day" tease was released, featuring Timon and Pumbaa fixing a slight error at the end of the trailer.

The official trailer will be released on June 15, celebrating the 1994 film's 25th anniversary.

Release
The film was originally going to be released in August 2017. One year later, its production would be moved up and was set to be released in June 15, 2019 in honor to celebrate the 1994 film's 25th anniversary, and finally July 19 where the live-action remake will be released on that day also.

Rating
The Lion King Reborn was originally going to be rated G by the MPAA, and it would have been the first family-friendly title with a G rating in a long time. However, the film was later re-rated PG likely due to the serious yet deeper tone and mild crude humor, including Pumbaa's flatulence problems throughout the storyline.