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Posted by: Joe. 6th October 2016, 09:19 AM

It was announced, after the critical and commercail success of the Jungle Book remake, that the director Jon Favreau would be taking on the project.

I loved the Jungle Book remake, I felt it was its own film, whilst not taking from the magic of the original, but still keeping its identity and charm. Excited for this, though I feel like its songs are even more important than the Jungle Book, and that was the weakest part of that remake.


(again, I did search, but couldn't see a topic, delete if needed)

Posted by: Josh. 6th October 2016, 03:03 PM

I adored seeing The Jungle Book re-imagined in a live action, the effects were incredible so I'm sure The Lion King, with a similar setting will look equally fantastic when portrayed more realistically. I do agree that The Jungle Book songs in the new version weren't one of the high points and the excellent soundtrack in the real Lion King film is probably its most important feature so I hope they don't edit and/or cut them too much. It's going to be very exciting to see the likes of Rafiki, Timon & Pumba in live-action, as well as all the lions of course

Posted by: ~josh~ 26th April 2017, 06:46 AM

Seth Rogen has been cast as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon!

I think the former is quite a fun choice actually, can see him pulling it off. Idek who the latter is tbh

Posted by: Jonjo 26th April 2017, 08:13 AM

Billy does the "Billy on the Streets" youtube videos! He's an interestingly strong choice but I can't believe how perfect a choice Seth is for Pumbaa!

Posted by: UltraGreenLight 26th April 2017, 08:27 AM

19th July 2019.

One day after my birthday, I'm ready *.*

Posted by: Liаm 26th April 2017, 11:02 AM

Seth Rogen *.* daddy.

Posted by: Regina 26th April 2017, 11:12 AM

QUOTE(Liаm @ Apr 26 2017, 12:02 PM)

Posted by: Josh! 2nd November 2017, 09:47 AM

The full cast!

Most excited for Beyonce of course but I do think Seth Rogen is a fab choice for Pumbaa too. I'm looking forward to Florence Kasumba too, she's been fierce af from her teeny role in the Marvel universe so far and left a big impression with very little screen time so I think she'll make a great hyena! A bit of a shame they didn't bring back Jeremy Irons for Scar though, I can't really imagine anyone else in the role

Posted by: breezyspice 2nd November 2017, 04:00 PM

I was going to riot if James Earl Jones didn't come back for Mufasa.

Posted by: Sceryl_Streep 2nd November 2017, 04:31 PM

The combined OVERACTING of James Earl Jones and Alfre Woodard together on screen may be enough to RUPTURE ALL OF SPACE AND TIME

Posted by: Liаm 2nd November 2017, 04:38 PM

Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner as Timon and Pumba is GENIUS!

Also excited or Donald Glover, what a man. And Bey ofc *.*

Posted by: aDNAn 2nd November 2017, 05:12 PM

I have mixed feeling about Beyonce being in here tbh...there are plenty of other talented female artists that they could have picked...and I know this is not about acting that much but still.

Posted by: Jonjo 2nd November 2017, 05:27 PM

As someone who is not a Beyonce fan.. I actually think she's a great choice for Nala! I also think John Oliver is genius casting as Zazu!

The whole list seems ok actually, my only concern is Chiwetel as Scar... he's a fantastic actor, so I probs should have faith, but I have very mild doubts. Interesting choice for sure.

Posted by: Josh! 19th February 2018, 10:34 AM

"Be Prepared" is not going to be in the film. Only "Circle of Life", "Hakuna Matata", "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" will appear from the original film.

SO disappointed with that news It's arguably the best Disney villain song ever (that or "Poor Unfortunate Souls" anyway)

Posted by: Joe. 19th February 2018, 10:38 AM

Awh that's a shame. I was worried they'd cut 'I Just Can't Wait To Be King' which is my childhood favourite.

Posted by: Jonjo 19th February 2018, 11:48 AM

Omg. Gutted at that news. I assume it's to make way for new tracks that Elton is supposedly working on. But still... I guess this was always gonna be the risk of taking on a classic Disney musical. However, my friend seems to think 'Be Prepared' wasn't in the original version anyway! (His Disney trivia is honestly to be matched so I trust him haha)

Posted by: TomboOnBroadway 24th April 2018, 06:01 AM

I can't wait for this, the cartoon version is one of the best Disney films of all time!

Posted by: troublepink 24th April 2018, 02:29 PM

I'm so ready for this!!

Disney are getting a lot of stick for these live action remakes, but I love them!

Posted by: UltraReputation 22nd November 2018, 10:42 PM

I'm so hyped!!! It looks incredible

Posted by: Chez Wombat 22nd November 2018, 11:03 PM

Oh wow, this is going to be such a visual spectacle, it looks incredible

I do wonder how they're going to do it story wise, with the Jungle Book, they had a lot more areas of the source material they went with, hard to see how they can do much here apart from just doing the original again (unless they're going into unexplored areas of Hamlet ), not that that would be a bad thing, but it would be nice if this didn't go the way of Beauty and the Beast which had nothing that distinguished it at all apart from the fact it looked amazing.

Posted by: SweetButJonjo👻 22nd November 2018, 11:20 PM

I'm so EXCITED. It looks stunning.

Posted by: Slick 22nd November 2018, 11:26 PM

This film looks beautiful! It has everything it needs to be amazing, I hope it pulls off.

Posted by: Cremey 22nd November 2018, 11:28 PM

I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited for a film 😭

Posted by: cantthinkofaname 23rd November 2018, 12:35 PM

THE HYPETRAIN HAS ARRIVED AT THE STATION!!

I'm so freakin excited. My childhood is weepin right now.

Posted by: Cody Cranberry 23rd November 2018, 07:50 PM

idk if I can bring myself to sit through Mufasa’s death again. It was waaaaaaay too hard the first time

Posted by: Brett-Butler 23rd November 2018, 08:35 PM

I'm amazed how well they managed to train all the animals for that trailer.

I'm wondering if this remake is still going to include the implicit anti-immigration narrative in regards to the treatment of the hyenas that many people picked up on in the original.

Posted by: PaulM1983 25th November 2018, 12:29 PM

Wow. This looks absolutely stunning.

This is going straight into the top 10 of all time isn't it? It's going to be absolutely huge.

Posted by: PaulM1983 10th April 2019, 12:18 PM

Full trailer is out. My god almighty it looks fantastic. Those last few seconds after the cast names made me smile so much.

Posted by: Jαsє 10th April 2019, 12:26 PM

The new trailer is amazing. God I can't wait for this

Posted by: Chez Wombat 10th April 2019, 12:32 PM

I got goosebumps omg

GODDAMMIT DISNEY, I WAS JUST GETTING CYNICAL OF YOUR CASH GRABBING WAYS

Posted by: cantthinkofaname 11th April 2019, 12:29 AM

I don’t care if this is just shameless money grabbing from Disney, I’m HERE for it!!

Posted by: Jonjo 25th June 2019, 02:32 PM

QUOTE(Josh! @ Feb 19 2018, 11:34 AM)

"Be Prepared" is not going to be in the film. Only "Circle of Life", "Hakuna Matata", "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" will appear from the original film.

SO disappointed with that news It's arguably the best Disney villain song ever (that or "Poor Unfortunate Souls" anyway)

Posted by: Jαsє 25th June 2019, 03:50 PM

The full soundtrack:

-Lindiwe Mkhize / Lebo M: 'Circle of Life / Nants' Ingonyama'
-Hans Zimmer: 'Life's Not Fair'
-Hans Zimmer: 'Rafiki's Fireflies'
-JD McCrary / Shahadi Wright Joseph / John Oliver: 'I Just Can't Wait to Be King'
-Hans Zimmer: 'Elephant Graveyard'
-Chiwetel Ejiofor: 'Be Prepared (2019 Version)'
-Hans Zimmer: 'Stampede'
-Hans Zimmer: 'Scar Takes the Throne'
-Billy Eichner / Seth Rogen / JD McCrary / Donald Glover: 'Hakuna Matata'
-Hans Zimmer: 'Simba Is Alive!'
-Billy Eichner / Seth Rogen: 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'
-Beyoncé / Donald Glover / Billy Eichner / Seth Rogen: 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight'
-Hans Zimmer: 'Reflections of Mufasa'
-TBA
-Hans Zimmer: 'Battle for Pride Rock'
-Hans Zimmer: 'Remember'
-Elton John: 'Never Too Late'
-Lebo M: 'He Lives in You'
-Lebo M: 'Mbube'

A new song from Elton!

Wonder what the TBA is..

Posted by: Jonjo 25th June 2019, 06:11 PM

I feel like it'll be a new Beyoncé song and it'll be used as the 'Love Me Like You Do'/'Happy' of the movie.

Posted by: Jαsє 25th June 2019, 06:59 PM

omg I'd be here for that

Posted by: Jonjo 25th June 2019, 08:26 PM

Jon Favreau (director) seems to have confirmed that Beyoncé has a track on the soundtrack and it's not just a standalone song to boost the soundtrack, it's an actual Nala solo!

Posted by: Jonjo 9th July 2019, 11:50 PM

Taken from The Lion King's Facebook page:

Posted by: Jonjo 10th July 2019, 08:40 AM

Hmm. First listen it's OK. Can't see myself going back to it much on it's own, but hopefully in the context of the movie/the movie version will make it feel like it belongs in the film. I'm struggling to see where this will fit, when we have 'He Lives In You' already. Hmm...

Also I read that someone said this will be as big as Circle Of Life. And I oop. Chart wise I have no idea, but COL as a song is leagues ahead and one of the greatest movie songs of all time

Gaaahhh. I kinda wanted it a bit more commercial/poppy.

Edit: Doesn't matter. I think this is the song that's used in the credits etc.. as opposed to being Nala's song.

Posted by: lewistgreen 11th July 2019, 06:01 PM

The dubbing is being panned a lot.. in fact all I’ve read so far is negative reviews of the film as a whole eek

Posted by: T Boy 11th July 2019, 06:57 PM

I’m not that pumped for it to be honest. Parts of the trailer look almost identical to the original with little new going on. Aladdin was amazing but if this is almost a carbon copy of the original, it will feel...pointless?

I’m sure the music will deliver though.

EDIT: I’ve just heard Be Prepared and I’m not here for it.

Posted by: .MIKE. 11th July 2019, 08:11 PM

I’ve literally only seen good reviews for it... can’t wait to see for myself !

Posted by: Jonjo 11th July 2019, 08:30 PM

I've seen such a mixed bag of reviews. It's 58% atm on Rotten Tomatoes (with 87 reviews), and the gneral consensus seems to be (honestly exactly what I had expected - if it wasn't "perfect")

Posted by: Chez Wombat 11th July 2019, 08:36 PM

Well, this is exactly what I was worried about really, but I thought the director of The Jungle Book would pull something out of the bag. There just isn't much else to do with a film like this other than make it look pretty in live action, what story is there left to tell? I'm questioning how much I need a live action remake that adds nothing new when I have the original available. I guess I shouldn't bother but goddammit my inner child would hate me forever.

Posted by: *Tim 11th July 2019, 08:47 PM

Ugh I just heard Beyoncé speak as Nala. Such a miscast.
She's more of a Sarabi

Posted by: Jαsє 11th July 2019, 10:39 PM

Gutted about the lukewarm reviews :/

Posted by: Jαsє 12th July 2019, 12:53 AM

https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a28368503/the-lion-king-rotten-tomatoes-score-first-reviews/

Posted by: Jonjo 12th July 2019, 06:42 PM

I'm still expecting to like it. I just think it's made out to be a lot worse than it is, due to it being The Lion King.

Aladdin was so much fun and has worse reviews. I liked Dumbo too!

Posted by: Jαsє 12th July 2019, 09:39 PM

Well it's officially classed as "fresh" now as it's up 3% to 60%!

Posted by: Jonjo 20th July 2019, 09:01 AM

Saw this last night.

Posted by: Dexton 21st July 2019, 03:59 PM

I loved this! Timon & Pumbaa were clear highlights as was Zazu. I loved the energy Billy Eichner brought to the role and it was so much more than him just trying to be Nathan Lane, he fit perfectly into this role and the chemistry with him and Seth Rogen was incredible. Donald Glover’s volume could’ve done with being a bit higher during Can You Feel The Love Tonight but otherwise no complaints about him at all. Beyoncé fit well as Nala - not a standout performance but still good.

I think a big thing with the complaints is everyone is comparing it to the original, which in itself was a phenomenal movie that didn’t need improving on. Then people compare this remake to The Jungle Book and it obviously pales because The Jungle Book remake was 100x times better than its original - the original was a fairly average movie to the begin with but it’s remake added so much more to the movie it felt unique and fresh. Whereas this is a remake closer to the original so when people came expecting it to be improved on as much as TJB was they’re left somewhat disappointed.

Posted by: T Boy 21st July 2019, 10:32 PM

It was good. The visuals were amazing generally and the music was pretty great. It did all feel a bit unnecessary though as where there were slight changes they still followed the original almost to the letter. I was particularly taken aback by how the opening sequence was almost exactly like the original frame by frame.

Timon and Pumbaa definitely stole the show. James Earl Jones sounded a bit too old to be Mufasa (I had the same issue with Darth Vader in Rogue One) and Scar was nowhere near as good as he was in the original (and after a lacklustre Jafar, why can’t Disney get these villains right anymore?) I did find the lack of facial expressions a bit distracting given the emotional weight of the story. I didn’t feel much after ‘remember who you are’ which is still such an emotional moment for me from the original even 25 years later.

It was much better than Dumbo but Aladdin is slaying the Disney remakes for me so far this year.

Posted by: HausofTove 24th July 2019, 09:12 AM

Was so nervous about this but I left not feeling disappointed! It's basically the exact same film but most of the subtle changes feel natural. Beyonce needed to calm down a bit - it's not her film :')

The soundtrack is incredible as always and the visuals were superb. Comedy was on point and emotion was there too. Main negative was the butchering of Be Prepared but I get why they did it, Scar wasn't as pantomime as the original.

I hope new generations go back to the original despite this being available my favourite animated classic!

Posted by: Jordan Lee 24th July 2019, 03:19 PM

Beyoncé’s song Spirit really didn’t work in the film in the scene it was used in

It just felt so out of place.

I enjoyed it though.

Scar was my favourite in this one for some reason

Posted by: Jonjo 24th July 2019, 05:28 PM

I really liked Scar in this. To my surprise. The original is one of the most iconic Disney villains but I liked the more sinister feel of this one.

Posted by: T Boy 24th July 2019, 05:34 PM

Scar wasn’t it for me, I’m afraid.

As much as I did enjoy this, I can’t see myself ever going back to this version. I think I’d always opt for the cartoon.

Posted by: Esmerelda 25th July 2019, 09:03 PM

Visually very impressive. There weren't many changes from the original but I liked the minor tweaks with the characters of Zazu and Simba's mother for instance

Posted by: Nightcrawler 2nd August 2019, 05:36 PM

Just got back from seeing this. Up until Timon and Pumbaa appeared, I really wasn't enjoying it at all. For me, Scar and Zazu were majorly miscast; I missed the 'campness' of Scar ('Ooh I shall practise my curtsey') and none of Zazu's jokes hit home with me at all - wish they'd got Rowan Atkinson back. I also absolutely detested what they'd done to Be Prepared, which is just such an iconic Disney villain song. In fact, the only thing I really liked about the first part of the film was the Circle of Life introduction, due to the fact that it was a shot by shot remake of the original opening.

I thought Timon and Pumbaa were excellent and definitely brought the comedy. I actually loved the remake of Hakuna Matata, especially when they get fed up with Simba's riffing

At the moment, I think I preferred Aladdin but I might have to watch this again to see if it grows on me with future viewings. I totally agree with T Boy though: the lack of facial expressions meant that a lot of the dramatic scenes landed a bit flat, which was a shame.

Posted by: cantthinkofaname 15th August 2019, 02:07 PM

This video sums up my feelings towards TLK very well. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it like I hoped to. There was something that bugged me with the movie and this video nails it right on the head.

Posted by: dandy* 16th March 2020, 10:34 PM

We finally watched this as it's on Sky Movies... and I liked it! Not as much as the original cartoon but I can't think what else they could have done to make it better. I even quite liked the Be Prepared rendition, I was expecting a monstrosity from what I'd read on here but it just sort of felt like a theatre monologue to me? I loved the little details such as them acknowledging it's weird that Simba grows up so much while everyone else in that scene stays the same

Posted by: WhoOdyssey 26th July 2020, 10:33 PM

I finally got around to watching this, it's fine. I'd never choose it over the original, and it feels so lifeless compared to that. I liked Elton's new song for the credits though.

And the drum beat with the logo at the end of Circle of Life still gives me goosebumps 😅