The Lion King Reborn (2024 film)

The Lion King Reborn is an upcoming 2024 American animated epic, adventure, musical, drama, and dark comedy film directed by Rob Minkoff, Roger Allers and Jon Favreau, from a screenplay by Jeff Nathanson and Kendall Michele Haney, and produced by Walt Disney Pictures. It is a remake of Disney's 2019 film of the same name. Based on the Lion King franchise, it will star an ensemble voice cast that includes Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, Ernie Sabella, Moira Kelly, Nathan Lane, Jason Marsden, Eden Riegel, Lacey Chabert, Joshua Rush, Diamond White, Nika Futterman, Alfre Woodard, Sarah Hyland, Khary Payton, Rowan Atkinson, with Max Charles, and James Earl Jones.

With the film co-produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and Mercury Filmworks, it is set to be distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on July 19th in the United States on YouTube, celebrating the 1994 film's 30th anniversary.

Synopsis
The reboot tells a young lion named Simba, who is to succeed his father, Mufasa, as King of the Pride Lands when his evil younger brother Scar murders him in a massively wildebeest stampede; a subplot involving a meerkat and warthog duo named Timon and Pumbaa, who search a place as their dream home with no predators via the word "Hakuna Matata" (a meaning to "No Worries" in Swahili); Simba and Nala's daughter Kiara falling in love with Kovu, a male rogue lion from a banished pride that was once loyal to Scar; and Simba's second-born son Kion leading Fuli the cheetah, Bunga the honey badger, Beshte the hippopotamus, and Ono the egret to protect the Circle of Life and begin their journey for the Tree of Life.

Plot
A meerkat named Timon, who is a social outcast of his colony outskirts, "the Pit of Shame", dreams for more in life than his colony's bleak existence hiding from predators, but his daydreaming leads to the near-death of his Uncle Max by a trio of hyenas named Shenzi, Kamari and Azizi. Timon leaves to find a better life, and meets a pig named Pumbaa, who suffers from demophobia-triggered flatulence problems. Although the two quickly form a bond and Pumbaa accompanies Timon as his acquaintance, they start living in a small oasis behind the landmark while King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi's newborn son Simba is presented to the crowded animals at a majestic place named Pride Rock.

Mufasa shows young Simba the Pride Lands and explains to him the responsibilities of kingship and the Circle of Life which connects all living things. Meanwhile, Mufasa's younger and selfish brother Scar covets the throne and plots to eliminate Mufasa and Simba so he may become king. He and his henchmen of hyenas set a trap for his brother and nephew, luring Simba into a gorge and having the hyenas drive a large herd of wildebeest into a stampede that will trample him. Scar refuses to help Mufasa, instead sending him falling to his death, then convinces Simba that the tragedy was his own fault and advises him to flee the kingdom and never return. Scar tells the pride that Mufasa and Simba were killed in the stampede and steps forward as the new king. Meanwhile, Timon and Pumbaa finally settle in a huge luxurious green jungle. Sooner enough, they rescue Simba on a desert floor before they raise him under their philosophy of "Hakuna Matata" (meaning "no worries" in Swahili).

A year later, Simba rescues Timon and Pumbaa from a hungry young adult lioness, who turns out to be his best friend Nala. She and Simba reunite and fall in love, and she argues with him to return home, telling him the Pride Lands have become a drought-stricken wasteland under Scar's reign. Feeling guilty over his father's death, Simba refuses and storms away. He encounters Mufasa's mandrill adviser Rafiki, who says that Mufasa's spirit lives on in Simba, and he is visited by the ghost of his father in the night sky, who tells him he must take his rightful place as king. Realizing he can no longer run from his past, Simba decides to return home.

As Scar taunts Simba over his role in Mufasa's death, he backs his nephew to the edge of Pride Rock, where he reveals to Simba that he murdered Mufasa. Enraged, Simba pins Scar to the ground and forces him to reveal the truth to the rest of the pride. After Timon proposes that they all help Simba by getting rid of the hyenas, he, Pumbaa, Nala, Sarabi, Zazu, Rafiki, and the other lionesses fend off the hyenas, alongside Timon's Ma and Max, who are directed to construct a series of tunnels beneath the hyenas. When the tunnels are finished, Max knocks down the sticks, the cave-in commences, and the hyenas are ejected through the tunnels. Scar begs for mercy and attempts to blame the hyenas for his actions, but Simba spares his life and orders him to leave the Pride Lands forever. Scar suddenly attacks his nephew, but Simba manages to toss him from the top of Pride Rock. Scar survives the fall, but then gets eaten by his former henchmen of hyenas, because one overheard him betray them to Simba.

With his enemies gone, Simba takes over the kingship as the rains begin to fall, restoring life to the land; Timon takes his entire meerkat colony to live in predator-free environment to complete his "Hakuna Matata"; Nala gives birth to a newborn cub; and she is presented to the assembled animals. Rafiki paints an emblem of the cub on the trunk of his tree, but Mufasa's spirit ruffles the painting, making him discover another cub that's living in rogues known as the "Outlands" named Kovu.

A few weeks later, Timon and Pumbaa babysit Kiara while Nala gives birth to another cub named Kion. Kiara becomes annoyed with her father's overprotective parenting and enters the Outlands, where she meets Kovu. His mother Zira reminds Simba of how he exiled her and the other Outsiders, and reveals that Scar selected Kovu to be his successor despite not being his biological father. After returning to the Pride Lands, Simba lectures Kiara about the danger posed by the Outsiders, and reminds her they are part of each other. In the Outlands, Zira reminds Kovu that Simba killed Scar and exiled the lions who respect him. Kovu explains that he does not think it is so bad to have Kiara as a friend, but Zira realizes that she can use Kovu's friendship with Kiara to seek revenge on Simba.

Growing up as a playful cub, Kion discovers that he has the ability to channel the roars of the Great Lions of the Past, giving him fierce power just like his great uncle Scar who had the same power before him, but who tragically misused it for evil and lost it forever. At the instructions of Simba and Rafiki, Kion forms a team called the Lion Guard. As Kion goes against tradition and chooses his non-lion friends Bunga, Ono, Beshte and Fuli to populate it, Simba scolds him for not taking his new responsibilities seriously. When they save Kiara from a herd of stampeding gazelle and defeat a hyena clan led by Janja and Mzingo the vulture, Simba realizes that Kion has protected the Pride Lands and is indeed ready to lead his new Lion Guard.

As the wet season passes, the Lion Guard continue to protect the Pride Lands by driving off several Outlanders, including Janja's clan, Reirei's pack of jackals and Mzingo's parliament of vultures with help from the Pride Landers and a friendly hyena named Jasiri. She asks for Kion's help in dealing with a pride of lions, who are keeping her family away from their watering hole, including her sister Madoa and two infant cubs named Tunu and Wema. When he goes to help them out, he encounters the Outsider lions and their leader Zira, who tries to get Kion to join her side by stating that she knows about more about the Roar than he does, such as its ability to bring a brief rain shower by roaring at a cloud. Zira eventually reveals to Kion that she knew Scar. When Kion refuses to join Zira, she and her lionesses trap him. Meanwhile, the rest of the guard head to the Outlands to rescue Kion after Rafiki informs them of who the Outsider lions are.

As the dry season begins, Ma Tembo works to find a new water source, and Rafiki takes in a young mandrill named Makini as an apprentice. While fed up with always getting trampled and disturbed when the Lion Guard is near, an Egyptian cobra named Ushari inadvertently finds out that Kion talks to the spirit of Mufasa. When ambushed by Janja's clan, Ushari forms an alliance with them, and they conspire to find a way to summon the spirit of Scar.

While overhearing Rafiki, Ushari learns that the evil lions of the past appear in the flames of fire, and once they are summoned by the Roar of the Elders, a bakora staff can be used to talk to them. With this knowledge, Janja, Cheezi, Chungu, Nne, and Tano steal Makini's bakora staff and kidnap Kiara to lure Kion and the Guard to the Outlands, with the intent on tricking Kion to Roar with enough power to make the hyenas' volcano erupt in flames. After the Guard manages to save Kiara, Janja taunts Kion until he Roars in anger and unknowingly summons Scar when the volcano erupts. Ushari and the hyenas are then able to speak with Scar's spirit in the volcano after dropping the bakora staff into it. Meanwhile, the Lion Guard and Kiara return to the Pride Lands safely, but are unaware that Scar has returned.

During the Kumbuka celebration honoring the day that Simba defeated Scar, a scorpion named Sumu sent by Scar stings Simba, causing him to become very ill. Rafiki sends Makini and the Lion Guard to the Outlands' volcano to get the volcanic ash needed to cure Simba by sundown. Once Makini and the guard reach the volcano, Scar reveals himself to them and commands Sumu, Janja's clan, Reirei's pack, Mzingo's flock, Ushari, Kenge, Shupavu's group, and a float of crocodiles led by Kiburi to attack them. After battling Scar's army of Outlanders, Makini and the Lion Guard make it back to Pride Rock with the ash. While Simba is recuperating, Kion informs Rafiki that Scar has returned. In the Outlands, Jasiri forms a hyena resistance with her clan by informing them of Scar's plans and stopping his army after reporting the news of his return.

As Simba figures out a way to defeat Scar, Kion gathers Ma Tembo's herd, Bupu's herd, Laini's troop, and Mbeya's crash to prepare them in their fight against the villainous Outlanders. After the training doesn't go well, Kion asks Makuu to help train the Pride Landers, but Makuu soon becomes frustrated and abandons them. When Scar hears the news from the skinks, he orders Janja's clan, Reirei's pack, and Kiburi's float to attack Makuu's float at their watering hole, but the Pride Landers are determined to help Makuu and his float and follow the Lion Guard to help them.

While the other Pride Landers are on edge due to the recent Outlander attacks, Makini is excited for her mpando mpya, the planting of a baobab tree in Mizimu Grove by a Royal Mjuzi in training. To cheer everyone up, Kion decides to make Makini's mpando mpya a big event and invites all of the Pride Landers to witness it, and asks Timon and Pumbaa to put on a show to entertain them. However, the skinks overhear this and inform Scar, who comes up with a plan to take over Mizimu Grove. After dealing with Janja's clan, Reirei's pack, Kiburi's float, Mzingo's flock, Kenge, Sumu and Shupavu's group attacking Mizimu Grove during the festivities, Scar's spirit appears in the flames of a fire and comes face to face with Simba and the Pride Landers for the first time. The Pride Landers become spooked by Scar's appearance and consider leaving the Pride Lands to avoid further attacks. Later, Kion gets some advice from Mufasa and then discovers that the baobab sapling that Makini left behind had survived the whole attack. This inspires the Pride Landers to stay, as they realize that they are stronger together, and celebrate with Makini's mpando mpya.

Another year later, Kion and the Lion Guard have grown into teenagers and continue to defend the Pride Lands from Scar and his army. Simba suggests they take the battle with Scar into the Outlands to increase their chances more. Meanwhile, Janja finds himself wondering if he and his hyena clan should stay with Scar or not, since they never emerge victorious. That night, the Lion Guard gathers all of their allies, and Janja's clan is sent to distract them. Unbeknownst to Janja, however, Scar has Mzingo’s flock set fire to Pride Rock to take out his clan as well as the royal family and the Guard. While Janja escapes to get Jasiri's help, the Lion Guard escapes through an underwater tunnel, along with the hyenas. Janja, realizing that Scar does not care about him or his clan, tells Kion of the supposed way to vanquish Scar for good, by using the Roar at full power inside the volcano. Unknown to Janja and the Pride Landers, this is in fact part of Scar's plan to trick Kion into causing the volcano to erupt, destroying the Pride Lands.

The next morning, the Pride Landers' army charge into the battle against Scar's army, allowing the Lion Guard to get to the top of the volcano. Once they reach the pit, Scar has Ushari bite Kion on the face, giving him a scar as well. Despite Scar insisting that the two of them are now the same, Kion, refusing to use violence, instead has the Great Lions of the past vanquish Scar. Scar yells out that the Roar is a curse as he vanishes. Ushari tries to attack Kion again, but is knocked into the lava pit by Bunga and is killed. Ono suffers eye damage rescuing Bunga. With Scar gone, Janja determines that Jasiri should assume control of the Outlands, and she accepts. Kion, meanwhile, finds that his injury is causing him to lose control of his Roar when he almost hurts Bunga with it. Back at Pride Rock, Rafiki instructs Kion to eat Tuliza blossoms when his scar is irritating him, and deduces that Kion and Ono’s injuries can be healed by the Tree of Life, a faraway place that sick animals go to get better. Rafiki tells them they have to follow the paintings on the moja kwa moja stones to find their way to the Tree. Due to Ono's eye damage, Kion names Anga as the new keenest of sight, and renames Ono as the smartest member. With Ono having memorized each of the landmarks, the Guard sets off on a journey to the Tree of Life, with Makini joining them.

At Rafiki's tree, Mufasa's spirit persuades the mandrill to bring Simba's daughter Kiara and Zira's son Kovu together as a way of uniting the prides. He then asks if Mufasa is crazy and doubts that the plan will never work and tells him that he's been up there too long and his head in the clouds, and is then immediately buffeted by a strong gust of wind from Mufasa's spirit, immediately convincing the mandrill to carry out the deceased king's idea.

Another year later, back at Pride Rock, Kiara, now a young adult, begins her first solo hunt. As part of Zira's plan, Kovu's siblings Nuka and Vitani trap Kiara in a fire, allowing Kovu to rescue her. Simba is forced to accept Kovu's place since he rescued Kiara. Kovu contemplates attacking Simba as he was instructed to, but he teaches Kiara how to hunt instead and eventually realizes his feelings for her. Kiara and Kovu stargaze where they talk about the Great Kings of the Past and Kovu wonders if there is a darkness in him like there was in Scar. That night, Simba allows Kovu to sleep inside Pride Rock with the rest of the pride, but because of this, Zira sets a trap for her son and Simba.

The next day, Kovu once again tries to reveal his mission to Kiara, but Simba takes him around the Pride Lands and tells him Scar's story. The Outsiders then ambush Simba, resulting in Nuka's death from a log pile and Simba's escape. Enraged, Zira scratches Kovu for his brother's death, causing him to turn against her. Kovu returns to Pride Rock to asks Simba for his forgiveness, but is exiled. Kiara makes Simba realize that he is acting irrationally, and flees to find Kovu. The two lions later find each other and profess their love. Realizing that they must reunite the two prides, Kiara and Kovu return to the Pride Lands and convince them to stop fighting. When Zira attempts to kill Simba, Kiara intervenes and Zira vocally refuses Kiara's help, letting go of her own accord with a twisted smile upon her face. With his enemy gone, Simba accepts Kovu and the Outsiders back into the Pride Lands.

At the Tree of Life, Ono and Kion are fully healed by the Night Pride and their leader Rani after Kion uses the Roar to banish an army of predators led by Makucha the leopard and Mama Binturong. When they are learned that the Pride Lands are threatened from Jasiri, Janja and a male Asiatic cheetah named Azaad, Kion uses the Roar to help the Lion Guard return home as soon as possible.

The Lion Guard returns to their homeland, in which are assisted by Mzingo and his parliament. Not recognizing Kion because of his scar, Vitani and her pride of lionesses, Shivaha, Kasi, Imara and Tazama, mistake the Lion Guard for enemies. Before they can fight, Kiara and Kovu interject and reveal that Vitani and the rest of Zira's pride have joined the Pride Landers.

The next day, Vitani and her lionesses meet Kion and his friends at the Lair of the Lion Guard. Vitani explains that as the future king's sister, she believes that it is her responsibility to protect the Pride Lands, so she has formed her own Lion Guard in their absence. Kion argues that he is the future queen's brother and has the mark of the Guard along with the Roar of the Elders, but Vitani and her guard still refuse to back down.

They start a competition to decide which one is more worthy to become the defender of the Pride Lands. Kion and his friends prove themselves to be superior in all aspects, but Vitani tells Kion that she doesn't need the Roar of the Elders because she believes that she's fierce enough to lead the Lion Guard. Kion deems Vitani worthy to lead the Lion Guard after remembering the words of Askari, the leader of the Pride Lands' first Lion Guard, on mastering the Roar and bestows her the mark of the Lion Guard along with the Roar. Vitani demonstrates the Roar, and the mark of the Lion Guard disappears from Kion and his friends, officially establishing Vitani's Lion Guard and ending Kion's Guard. Although Askari appears in the clouds and gives advice to Kion that the Roar needs help for the Tree of Life, Kion and his friends become members of the Night Pride. Vitani questions Kion on what it means to master the Roar, and Kion demonstrates by picking up Pride Rock with the power of the Roar.

At the Tree of Life, Kion's coronation is held, in whom becomes Rani's mate and king. The film ends with the spirits of Ãnanda, Sãhasí, Askari, Janna and Mufasa look down at the ceremony in happiness.

Cast

 * Matthew Broderick as Simba
 * Donald Glover and Cam Clarke as Simba (singing voice)
 * JD McCrary as young Simba
 * Jeremy Irons as Scar
 * Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa
 * Nathan Lane as Timon
 * Moira Kelly as Nala
 * Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala (singing voice)
 * Shahadi Wright Joseph as young Nala
 * Jason Marsden as Kovu
 * Ryan O'Donohue as young Kovu
 * Eden Riegel as Kiara
 * Michelle Horn as young Kiara
 * Charity Sanoy as young Kiara (singing voice)
 * Lacey Chabert as Vitani
 * Joshua Rush as Bunga
 * Diamond White as Fuli
 * Nika Futterman as Zira
 * Alfre Woodard as Sarabi
 * Khary Payton as Rafiki / Muhangus
 * Rowan Atkinson as Zazu
 * Max Charles as Kion
 * James Earl Jones as Mufasa
 * Whoopi Goldberg as Shenzi
 * Keegan-Michael Key as Kamari
 * Eric Andre as Azizi
 * Maia Mitchell as Jasiri
 * Landry Bender as Makini
 * Bryana Salaz as Anga
 * Michael Dorn as Bupu
 * Lynette Dupree as Ma Tembo
 * John O'Hurley as Hadithi
 * Erica Luttrell as Boboka
 * Blair Underwood as Makuu
 * Behzad Dabu as Azaad
 * Miki Yamashita as Nirmala
 * Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Rani
 * Jaime Camil as Pinguino
 * Howy Parkins as Mbeya
 * Christopher Jackson as Shujaa / Kitendo (uncredited)
 * Andrew Kishino as Janja / Ora
 * Kevin Schon as Chungu / Thurston
 * Vargus Mason as Cheezi
 * Maurice LaMarche as Kifaru
 * Andy Dick as Nuka
 * Dusan Brown as Beshte
 * Atticus Shaffer as Ono
 * Julie Kavner as Timon's Mother
 * Jerry Stiller as Uncle Max
 * John Rhys-Davies as Sokwe
 * Gerald C. Rivers as Pua
 * Shohreh Aghdashloo as Janna
 * Michael Luwoye as Askari
 * Kari Wahlgren as Muhimu / Laini (uncredited) / Chura (uncredited) / Boboka's son (uncredited)
 * Greg Ellis as Mzingo
 * Maisie Klompus as Madoa
 * Alex Cartañá as Twiga
 * Phil LaMarr as Shingo / Goigoi
 * Sinbad as Uroho
 * Tunisia Hardison as Swala
 * Virginia Watson as Vuruga Vuruga / Mtoto's mother (uncredited) / Mbuni (uncredited) / Muhanga (uncredited)
 * Kevin Michael Richardson as Basi
 * Justin Felbinger as Mtoto
 * Ron Funches as Ajabu
 * C.J. Byrnes as Tamaa
 * Jacob Bertrand as Chama
 * Nick Watt as Zito
 * Madison Pettis as Zuri
 * Sarah Hyland as Tiifu
 * Penny Johnson Jerald as Serafina
 * Common as Kiburi
 * Ana Gasteyer as Reirei
 * Christian Slater as Ushari
 * Lou Diamond Phillips as Surak
 * Vyvan Pham as Ullu
 * Rachel House as Mama Binturong
 * Steve Blum as Makucha
 * Kimiko Glenn as Chuluun
 * Dee Bradley Baker as Tano / Flinchy (unseen) / Baby baboon (uncredited) / Mwevi (uncredited) / Mwizi (uncredited)
 * Beau Black as Nne
 * Tiffany Espensen as Heng Heng / Rama (uncredited)
 * Savannah Smith as Kasi
 * Sophie Reynolds as Tazama
 * Rachel Crow as Imara
 * Fiona Riley as Shabaha  / Bogino / Binga
 * Rhys Darby as Mwenzi
 * Justin Hires as Hodari
 * Mekai Curtis as Furaha
 * Cade Sutton as Mzaha
 * Lyons Luke Mathias as Hamu
 * Ivy Bishop as Juhudi
 * Nolan North as Tamka / Fahari
 * Ace Gibson as Jiona / Johari (uncredited)
 * Cam Clarke as Mwoga
 * Grace Young as Ãnanda (vocal cameo)
 * James Sie as Sãhasí (vocal cameo) / Smun
 * Jorge Diaz as Nduli
 * Jacob Guenther as Dogo
 * Amber Hood as Kijana
 * Kristofer Hivju as Kenge
 * Ford Riley as Njano / Sumu (uncredited)
 * Crimson Hart as Tunu
 * Fiona Hart as Wema
 * Sacha Baron Cohen as Kiril (replacing Danny Jacobs)
 * Rafael Petardi as Tangaagim
 * Jeremy Ray Valdez as Cek
 * Meghan Strange as Shupavu / Astuto
 * David S. Jung as Kely / Tsah (uncredited)
 * G.K. Bowes as Sasem
 * Iris Bahr as Varya
 * Bluebelle Saraceno as Pasha / Polina
 * Henry Kaufman as Feliks
 * Matthew Yang King as Dughi / Tenuk (replacing Yuki Matsuzaki)
 * Clyde Kusatsu as Domog
 * Greg Chun as Seisou
 * Heather Headley as Fikiri
 * Dan Howell as Majinuni
 * Phil Lester as Hafifu
 * Elise Allen as Kulinda
 * Jacquez Swanigan as Gumba
 * Amy Sedaris as a guinea hen
 * Chance the Rapper as a bush baby
 * Josh McCrary as an elephant shrew
 * J. Lee as a hyena
 * André Sogliuzzo as a zebra
 * Carter Hastings as a young hippo
 * Sam Lavagnino as a young hippo

Development
Coming soon!

Transcript
Main article: The Lion King Reborn (2024 film)/Transcript

Gallery
Main article: The Lion King Reborn (2024 film)/Gallery

Trivia
Coming soon!