The first full official trailer for Disney’s upcoming “live-action” remake of The Lion King has just dropped online. I threw up those proverbial air quotes around “live-action” because I need you to understand that this film actually isn’t. For the layman, live-action probably implies that real animals were perhaps used to recreate the beloved two-time Oscar-winning 1994 animated original, or at the very least that digital characters were placed in a real-world backdrop. That would be a nope on both accounts though.
Instead, director Jon Favreau, using the skills he honed on The Jungle Book remake, shot motion-captured actors standing in for animals on a full-sized bluescreen stage, all to be digitally painted over later. This approach has become known in the biz as a “virtual production”. And because there were real people using real cameras to film other real people doing stuff, The Lion King is still considered a live-action film. Except it really isn’t. But holy hell, my eyes can’t tell the difference as every frame of footage in this latest trailer is about as realistic as I have ever seen!
My eyeballs are still melting but damn did they go wide when Timon and Pumbaa showed up. I don’t care what you say, they were always the true stars of the original and you guys can hakuna my tatas if you disagree!
Disney showed off a full scene from The Lion King at CinemaCon last week, where it blew away those in attendance. One note that was made though, is that for the talking animals Disney is not trying to make the animals human-like in any way. Their facial expressions and mouth movements while talking are never exaggerated past the point what an actual animal would be capable of. This ups the air of realism even further, but it remains to be seen how this works in film’s more complex singing numbers.
The Lion King stars the voices of Donald Glover, James Earl Jones, Billy Eichner, Seth Rogen, John Oliver, Alfre Woodard, Beyonce Knowles, Chiwetel Ejiofor, JD McCrary, Shahadi Wright Joseph, John Kani, Florence Kasumba, Eric Andre, and Keegan-Michael Key. It is scheduled for release on 19 July 2019.
Last Updated: April 10, 2019
Allykhat
April 10, 2019 at 15:19
Goosebumps….
My mom bought me a Lion King VHS when I was a kid. I watched it so much the tape stretched and I had to get another one. By far my most favorite movie of all time.
25 years later, I’ll be taking my mom to watch this in Imax 3D and buying her the Blue-Ray to keep too.
Admiral Chief
April 10, 2019 at 15:29
Mama’s boy!
Hehe
Allykhat
April 10, 2019 at 15:29
I’ll wear that title proudly 😛
Guz
April 10, 2019 at 15:29
The circle of life xD
Kromas
April 10, 2019 at 15:30
Are you achen yum yum yum
For some Bacon yum yum yum
He’s a big pig
You can be a big pig too!
Admiral Chief
April 10, 2019 at 15:30
BIG PIG!
Yahtzee
April 10, 2019 at 15:41
I hope no one spoils the movie before it hits blu ray.
Pariah
April 10, 2019 at 15:42
The monkey is his uncle.
Allykhat
April 10, 2019 at 16:09
#Gutted
Dutch Matrix
April 10, 2019 at 15:42
To be honest, Beauty and the Beast remake put me off any thing Disney tries to revive/redo.
This trailer though.
YES! MY HEART IS READY TO BE TRAMPLED ON BY SOME WILDEBEEST!!!
Also, fuck you Scar!
Guz
April 10, 2019 at 16:45
Get the tissues ready
Dutch Matrix
April 10, 2019 at 16:58
I am taking a roll of TP with me into the cinema…
Kikmi
April 10, 2019 at 16:09
yawn
McGafter
April 10, 2019 at 17:34
I still think they should have gotten Jeremy Irons to voice scar again, the new scar voice is missing something that Irons had
BradeLunner
April 11, 2019 at 01:04
I really agree, there’s no edge in this new scar (based on trailers) just like jaffar
Admiral Chief
April 10, 2019 at 15:19
http://quoteapic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/the-lion-king-childhood-ruined-177×300.jpg
Dutch Matrix
April 10, 2019 at 15:42
There is always that ONE guy…
Pariah
April 10, 2019 at 15:19
“Damn I’ve got a mother of a migraine”, Pumbaa mumbled to himself softly. These were his last words.
Timon only learned of this a few days later when he asked the hyenas if he could take at least one of the bones as a memento of his former friend. Timon had followed the footprints for days, eventually leading to this cave. There he saw the final resting place of his lifelong best friend, Pumbaa. Being hyenas, they of course just chased him away, but not before Timon got the name of his newfound nemesis. He swore his revenge, and vowed never to rest until such villainy was stamped out for good. After lunch, that is, because boy was he famished. A few juicy slugs aught to fill that gap.
Admiral Chief
April 10, 2019 at 15:19
I feel bad for laughing at that
Matthew Figueira
April 10, 2019 at 15:19
YESYESYES.gif
Guz
April 10, 2019 at 15:30
This looks like a feast for the eyes, got some serious nostalgia vibes, also Timon and Pumbaa!
Pariah
April 10, 2019 at 15:30
Feast for the *eye-enas.