| − | In late 2016, after the success of his remake of ''The Jungle Book'', Jon Favreau announced that he would start making a photorealistic CGI remake of ''The Lion King''. It was released in theaters on July 19, 2019. Stars in the film include Donald Glover (Simba), Beyoncé (Nala), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Scar), Alfre Woodard (Sarabi), John Kani (Rafiki), John Oliver (Zazu), Billy Eischner (Timon), and Seth Rogen (Pumbaa). Out of the original cast from the 1994 film, James Earl Jones is the only one to voice a character he had voiced in the original (Mufasa). | + | In late 2016, after the success of his remake of ''The Jungle Book'', Jon Favreau announced that he would start making a photorealistic CGI remake of ''The Lion King''. It was released in theaters on July 19, 2019. Stars in the film include Donald Glover (Simba), Beyoncé (Nala), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Scar), Alfre Woodard (Sarabi), John Kani (Rafiki), John Oliver (Zazu), Billy Eischner (Timon), and Seth Rogen (Pumbaa). Shenzi (Florence Kasumba) is the only named hyena character to keep her name, while Banzai and Ed are renamed to have more Swahili names: Kamari (Keegan-Michael Key) and Azizi (Eric Andre). Out of the original cast from the 1994 film, James Earl Jones is the only one to voice a character he had voiced in the original (Mufasa). |
| | The remake contains the same themes as the original, examples ranging from faith to reconciliation, and it also contains most of the original story from the 1994 film. The overhunting part from Scar is expanded upon, showing that Scar did this deliberately to keep his tyrannical reign in line and out of spite for Sarabi refusing to be his queen (a scene that is very similar to Claudius wedding Hamlet's mother in ''Hamlet'' and was even lifted from the Broadway musical, though the musical had Scar harassing Nala instead). Hakuna Matata is also shown in a nihilistic light in the remake - Timon and Pumbaa believing that nothing exists beyond seeking one's own happiness - and Simba follows in the same path before eventually taking responsibility. That being said, critics have said that the CGI's biggest flaw is lack of facial expressions, as well as important scenes from the original being missing (such as Rafiki telling Simba that while the past can hurt, he could either run from it or learn from it). | | The remake contains the same themes as the original, examples ranging from faith to reconciliation, and it also contains most of the original story from the 1994 film. The overhunting part from Scar is expanded upon, showing that Scar did this deliberately to keep his tyrannical reign in line and out of spite for Sarabi refusing to be his queen (a scene that is very similar to Claudius wedding Hamlet's mother in ''Hamlet'' and was even lifted from the Broadway musical, though the musical had Scar harassing Nala instead). Hakuna Matata is also shown in a nihilistic light in the remake - Timon and Pumbaa believing that nothing exists beyond seeking one's own happiness - and Simba follows in the same path before eventually taking responsibility. That being said, critics have said that the CGI's biggest flaw is lack of facial expressions, as well as important scenes from the original being missing (such as Rafiki telling Simba that while the past can hurt, he could either run from it or learn from it). |