The Lion King Revisited is a 2020 American animated musical epic comedy-drama film produced by Disney Television Animation. It is a remake to the 1994 animated film The Lion King, its midquel The Lion King 1½, its sequel The Lion King II: Simba's Pride and some selected episodes from its spin-off TV series The Lion Guard, all conjoined into a three-part film. The film features the voices of Gabrielle Union, Matthew Broderick, Ernie Sabella, Nathan Lane, Jeremy Irons, Alfre Woodard, Jason Marsden, Eden Riegel, Nika Futterman, Andy Dick, Lacey Chabert, Khary Payton, Edward Hibbert, Sarah Hyland, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Joshua Rush, Diamond White, James Earl Jones and Max Charles.
The film was released on January 1, 2020, on Disney+. It received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its performances, voice acting, animation, and direction, but criticism for its long duration and perceived departures from the themes and story of the original saga. It will be released sometime on 4K Blu-Ray and DVD in 2020.
Plot
A young lion named Simba is to succeed his father, Mufasa, as King of the Pride Lands; however, after Simba's paternal uncle Scar murders Mufasa, Simba is manipulated into thinking he was responsible and flees into exile. After growing up in the company of the carefree outcasts Timon and Pumbaa, Simba receives valuable perspective from his childhood friend, Nala, and his shaman, Rafiki, before returning to challenge Scar to end his tyranny and take his place in the Circle of Life as the rightful King. Simba and Nala's daughter Kiara falls in love with Kovu, a male rogue lion from a banished pride that was once loyal to Scar.
Kion is the son of King Simba and Queen Nala, the younger brother of Kiara and the prince of the Pride Lands. As the second-born of the Lion King, he is gifted with a power called the Roar of the Elders and becomes the leader of the Lion Guard, a team of animals who protect the Pride Lands and defend the Circle of Life. Kion, along with his friends Bunga the honey badger, Beshte the hippopotamus, Fuli the cheetah and Ono the egret, sets out to keep the Pride Lands safe and protected from animals who do not respect the Circle of Life.
Following a threat of revenge by the revived Scar, the Lion Guard prepare to invade the Outlands by uniting the Pride Landers and a clan of hyenas led by Jasiri. In the final battle against Scar's assembled army of Outlanders — Kiburi's float of crocodiles, Reirei's pack of jackals, Mzingo's parliament of vultures, Shupavu's group of skinks, and a pride of lionesses led by Kovu's mother Zira, the Pride Landers overpower the huge army, but Scar attacks the Pride Lands' fleet with roar lightning and incapacitates Kion, who obtains a scar across his left eye. Weakened, the Great Kings of the Past lend him their strength. Scar attacks him with his roar, but Kion deflects it using his roar, killing him and himself. By expressing their love to him, the Lion Guard let the Great Kings bring back Kion from his death.
After Scar's defeat, the Lion Guard travels out of the Pride Lands of Africa and across the world to get to the Tree of Life to cure Kion and Ono from their battle injuries. Kion's team also gets a new member, a martial eagle named Anga who replaces Ono's position as the new keenest of sight after Ono lost his eyesight, while Ono gains a new position as the smartest. Separated by Simba's prejudice against the banished pride and a vindictive plot planned by Zira, Kiara and Kovu struggle to unite their estranged prides and be together.
The Lion Guard returns to the Pride Lands, only to find out that the conflict has already been settled. Zira's daughter and Kovu's older sister, Vitani, forms her own Lion Guard in their absence, causing an argument between them and Kion's Lion Guard. However, after seeing Vitani's confidence in becoming a leader even without the Roar, Kion allows Vitani's Lion Guard to succeed his Guard as defenders of Pride Lands. Kion and his friends return to the Tree of Life where Kion marries Rani and is crowned King of the Tree of Life with his close family and friends attending. Makini reveals Kion and Rani's newborn cub and holds her up.
Characters and Cast
- Nala (voiced by Gabrielle Union as an adult, and Shahadi Wright Joseph as a cub) is the film's main protagonist. She is a lioness, who is Simba's best friend and later his future love-interest, Kiara and Kion's mother, and the Queen of the Pride Lands. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter provides the character's singing voice. Moira Kelly, who was originally set to reprise her role, served as Union's voice double.
- Simba (voiced by Matthew Broderick as an adult, and JD McCrary as a cub) is the film's secondary protagonist. He is a lion, who is the son of Mufasa and Sarabi, and the crown prince of the Pride Lands. Simba later becomes Nala's husband, and the overprotecting father of Kiara and Kion. Donald Glover and Cam Clarke provide the character's singing voice. Rob Lowe, who voices the character in The Lion Guard, served as Broderick's voice double.
- Pumbaa (voiced by Ernie Sabella) is the film's main deuteragonist. He is a naïve, but hearten common warthog, who becomes Timon's symbiotic partner, one of Simba's adoptive parents and Bunga's adoptive uncles. Though slow-witted, Pumbaa is very empathetic and willing to trust and befriend anyone. He is also claustrophobic and passes gas in crowds.
- Timon (voiced by Nathan Lane) is the film's secondary deuteragonist. He is a comedic meerkat, who becomes Pumbaa's best friend, one of Simba's adoptive parents and Bunga's adoptive uncles. Though somewhat selfish, arrogant, and withdrawn, Timon shows courageous loyalty towards his friends.
- Scar (voiced by Jeremy Irons) is the film's main antagonist. He is a lion, who is Mufasa's treacherous younger brother, Simba's uncle, Kiara and Kion's granduncle, and the former leader of his Lion Guard, overtaking the throne to take the mantle of king after his brother's death. David Oyelowo, who was originally set to provide Scar's singing voice, served as Irons' voice double.
- Sarabi (voiced by Alfre Woodard) is a lioness, who is the Queen of Pride Rock, leader of the lioness hunting party, Mufasa's devoted mate, and Simba's mother.
- Kovu (voiced by Jason Marsden as an adult, and Ryan O'Donohue as a cub) is 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. Kenny Lattimore provides the character's singing voice.
- Kiara (voiced by Eden Riegel as an adult, and Michelle Horn as a cub) is a lioness, the daughter of Simba and Nala, Kion's older sister, and Mufasa's granddaughter, who grows up to become future queen of the Pride Lands. Liz Callaway provides the character's singing voice. Neve Campbell, who originally voiced the character in Simba's Pride, served as Riegel's dialogue reader.
- Zira (voiced by Nika Futterman) is a lioness, who is the leader of the Outsiders, Scar's most loyal follower, and the widowed mother of Nuka, Vitani and Kovu.
- Nuka (voiced by Andy Dick) is an Outsider lion, who is Zira's son, Vitani and Kovu's older brother and the oldest male of Zira's family.
- Vitani (voiced by Lacey Chabert) is an Outsider lioness, who is Zira's aggressive and spunky daughter, Nuka and Kovu's sister, and the leader of her Lion Guard.
- Rafiki (voiced by Khary Payton) is 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 the shaman of the lion king to present newborn cubs of the king and queen to the animals of the Pride Lands.
- Zazu (voiced by Edward Hibbert) is a Tanzanian red-billed hornbill, who serves as Mufasa's, later Simba's majordomo.
- Tiifu (voiced by Sarah Hyland) is a lioness friend of Kiara and a member of Simba's pride, who is somewhat more sensible than her constant companion Zuri.
- Rani (voiced by Peyton Elizabeth Lee) is a slender built Asiatic lioness, who is the leader of the Night Pride, queen of the Tree of Life, Janna's grandaughter, Sãhasí and Ãnanda's daughter, Baliyo's older sister, Surak's niece, and love interest of Kion. Lana McKissack, who provided the character's singing voice in The Lion Guard, served as Lee's dialogue reader.
- Bunga (voiced by Joshua Rush) is an adolescent honey badger, who is the bravest member of the Lion Guard. He is also Timon and Pumbaa's adoptive nephew and Kion's best friend. Bunga's fearless and hot-headed nature is grounded in reality, as real honey badgers are aggressive and fearless.
- Fuli (voiced by Diamond White) is an adolescent tomboyish cheetah, who is the fastest member of the Lion Guard, Kion's friend and second-in-command.
- Mufasa (voiced by James Earl Jones) is a lion, who is Simba's father, Scar's older brother, Kiara and Kion's grandfather, and the former King of the Pride Lands. Gary Anthony Williams, who voiced the character in The Lion Guard, served as Jones' dialogue reader.
- Kion (voiced by Max Charles) is an adolescent lion, who is Simba and Nala's second-born son, Mufasa's grandson, Kiara's younger brother, Rani's husband, the Prince of the Pride Lands, the King of the Tree of Life, and the leader of the Lion Guard, as well as its fiercest member. As leader of the Guard, Kion possesses an intensely powerful ability known as the Roar of the Elders bestowed by the great lions of the past. At the end of the battle for the Pride Lands, Kion gets a scar across his left eye from Ushari.
- Azaad (voiced by Behzad Dabu) is an Asiatic cheetah, who refers to himself in the third person.
- Makini (voiced by Landry Bender) is a curious adolescent mandrill, who is Rafiki's apprentice, Rani's adviser, and Kitendo and Fikiri's daughter.
- Jasiri (voiced by Maia Mitchell) is an adolescent spunky, yet friendly spotted hyena living in the Outlands, who is the leader of her clan.
- Janja (voiced by Andrew Kishino) is a cunning, arrogant and vicious, later kind hearted and loyal hyena, who is the leader of his clan and Jasiri's enforcer.
- Anga (voiced by Bryana Salaz) is an adolescent martial eagle, who is a friend of Beshte, the keenest of sight of the Lion Guard and Ono's successor.
- Beshte (voiced by Dusan Brown) is a young hippopotamus, who is the strongest member of the Lion Guard and Kion's friend.
- Ono (voiced by Atticus Shaffer) is a young cattle egret, who is the smartest member of the Lion Guard and Kion's friend.
- Ma (voiced by Julie Kavner) is a female meerkat, who is the mother of Timon. She is overly protective and attached to her son, often trying to get him accepted amongst the colony, but never succeeding.
- Max (voiced by Jerry Stiller) is an aged meerkat, who is Timon's paranoid, eccentric but deep down kind-hearted uncle. He initially doubts Timon's ability, but warms up to him.
- Shenzi (voiced by Whoopi Goldberg) is a sassy and short-tempered hyena, who is the leader of her clan.
- Azizi (voiced by Eric André) is an unhinged hysterical hyena, who laughs a lot and is Scar's henchman. André reprises his role from the 2019 realistic remake.
- Kamari (voiced by Keegan-Michael Key) is an aggressive and hot-headed hyena prone to complaining and acting on impulse, who is Scar's henchman. Key reprises his role from the 2019 realistic remake.
- Makuu (voiced by Blair Underwood) is a Nile crocodile, who is the leader of his float.
- Mbeya (voiced by Howy Parkins) is an south-western old black rhinoceros, who is the leader of his crash.
- Ma Tembo (voiced by Lynette DuPree) is an African bush elephant, who is the leader of her herd in Kilio Valley.
- Basi (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson) is a hippopotamus, who is the leader of his pod in Big Springs, and Beshte's father.
- Muhimu (voiced by Kari Wahlgren) is a plains zebra, who is the leader of her herd in Mbali Fields, and Hamu's mother.
- Bupu (voiced by Michael Dorn) is a stubborn sable antelope, who is the leader of his herd, and values respective politely behavior.
- Vuruga Vuruga (voiced by Virginia Watson) is a cape buffalo, who is the leader of her herd.
- Mzingo (voiced by Greg Ellis) is a white-backed vulture, who is Janja's majordomo of the Outlands. He is the leader of a parliament of vultures that is allied with Janja's clan and Jasiri's clan.
- Pinguino (voiced by Jaime Camil) is a macaroni penguin, who is the leader of his rookery at the Tree of Life.
- Uroho (voiced by Sinbad) is a sneaky, later loyal yellow baboon, who is the leader of the Traveling Baboon show.
- Tamaa (voiced by C.J. Byrnes) is a fork-tailed drongo with a talent in imitating animal calls.
- Pua (voiced by Gerald C. Rivers) is an elderly Nile crocodile, who is the former leader of the Pride Lands' float.
- Cheezi (voiced by Vargus Mason) is an excitable hyena living in the Outlands, who is one of Janja's right-hand henchmen.
- Chungu (voiced by Kevin Schon) is an unintelligent hyena living in the Outlands, who is the other of Janja's right-hand henchmen.
- Kiburi (voiced by Common) is an arrogant crocodile, who is the leader of his float that defied their leader Makuu's orders and were exiled for their evil deeds.
- Ushari (voiced by Christian Slater) is an Egyptian cobra who often conflicted with Bunga and would get disturbed whenever the Lion Guard was near him.
- Ajabu (voiced by Ron Funches) is an okapi from the Back Lands, who came to the Pride Lands and made friends with Beshte.
- Swala (voiced by Tunisia Hardison) is a Thomson's gazelle, who is the leader of her herd.
- Twiga (voiced by Alex Cartañá) is a Masai giraffe, who is the leader of her herd and Juhudi's mother in Acacia Grove.
- Chama (voiced by Jacob Bertrand) is a young fun-loving elephant, who used to be part of Ma Tembo's herd. He, Mzaha, and Furaha are best friends and share a tree together near Big Springs.
- Furaha (voiced by Mekai Curtis) is a young happy-go lucky Zanzibar red colobus and former member of Tumbili's troop, who is one of Chama's friends.
- Mzaha (voiced by Cade Sutton) is a young fun-loving sable antelope, who used to be part of Bupu's herd and is one of Chama's friends.
- Baby Baboon (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) is a young playable baboon, who lives in Mapango Cliffs.
- Mtoto (voiced by Justin Felbinger) is an elephant calf, who is a member of Ma Tembo's herd. He looks up to Beshte as his personal hero.
- Kifaru (voiced by Maurice LaMarche) is a stubborn southern white rhinoceros with poor eyesight, who resists at Lake Matope.
- Hadithi (voiced by John O'Hurley) is a legendary African hawk-eagle, who faked having invented the Hadithi Spin.
- Shujaa (voiced by Christopher Jackson) is a massively strong gorilla warrior, who refers to himself in the third person.
- Boboka (voiced by Erica Luttrell) is a female sable antelope, who is a member of Bupu's herd.
- Imara (voiced by Rachel Crow) is an Outsider lioness, who is the strongest member of Vitani's Lion Guard.
- Zuri (voiced by Madison Pettis) is a sassy lioness friend of Kiara and a member of Simba's pride, who hates grubs and getting dirty.
- Askari (voiced by Michael Luwoye) is a lion, who is the deceased leader of the Pride Lands' first Lion Guard.
- Janna (voiced by Shohreh Aghdashloo) is an elderly lioness, who is the former queen of the Tree of Life and Rani's grandmother. Aghdashloo signed without a completed script, and erroneously said her character would be Scar and Mufasa's mother Uru.
- Shabaha (voiced by Fiona Riley) is an Outsider lioness, who is the bravest member of Vitani's Lion Guard.
- Reirei (voiced by Ana Gasteyer) is a clever, scheming and manipulative black-backed jackal, who is the matriarch of her family.
- Mwenzi (voiced by Rhys Darby) is a red-billed oxpecker, who is Kifaru's best friend and tickbird.
- Zito (voiced by Nick Watt) is an impatient and grouchy elephant, who is a member of Ma Tembo's Herd.
- Tazama (voiced by Sophie Reynolds) is an Outsider lioness, who is the keenest of sight of Vitani's Lion Guard.
- Kasi (voiced by Savannah Smith) is an Outsider lioness, who is the fastest member of Vitani's Lion Guard.
- Goigoi (voiced by Phil LaMarr) is a dimwitted jackal and Reirei's mate, who only thinks with his stomach and has the tendency to fall asleep.
- Madoa (voiced by Maisie Klompus) is a spotted hyena, who is Jasiri's skeptical sister.
- Sarafina (voiced by Penny Johnson Jerald) is a lioness friend of Sarabi and Nala's mother. Jerald reprises her role from the 2019 realistic remake.
- Surak (voiced by Lou Diamond Phillips) is an adult Asiatic lion, who is a member of the Night Pride, Janna's second born son, and Rani and Baliyo's uncle.
- Baliyo (voiced by Hudson Yang) is a young Asiatic lion, who is a member of the Night Pride and Rani's brother.
- Nirmala (voiced by Miki Yamashita) is a female Asiatic lioness, who is the Night Pride's healer.
- Mwoga (voiced by Cam Clarke) is a foolish vulture, who is a member of Mzingo's parliament.
- Sokwe (voiced by John Rhys-Davies) is a mountain gorilla, who is the leader of his troop, Majinuni and Hafifu's father, and the King of the Theluji Mountains.
- Majinuni (voiced by Dan Howell) is a gorilla, who is a prince of the Theluji Mountains and Hafifu's brother.
- Nduli (voiced by Jorge Diaz) is an optimistic crocodile loyal to Kiburi.
- Tamka (voiced by Nolan North) is an overconfident and unintelligent crocodile, who is a member of Kiburi's float.
- Astuto (voiced by Meghan Strange) is a Darwin's fox. She cameos at Kion's coronation.
- Dogo (voiced by Jacob Guenther) is a mischievous, yet adorable jackal pup, who is one of Reirei and Goigoi's sons, and Kijana's brother.
- Kijana (voiced by Amber Hood) is a jackal pup, who is Reirei and Goigoi's daughter, and Dogo's sister.
- Njano (voiced by Ford Riley) is a rainbow skink with a blue tongue, who is Shupavu's second-in-command.
- Ullu (voiced by Vyvan Pham) is an Indian scops owl, who warns the Night Pride whenever there is a potential threat to the Tree of Life.
- Fikiri (voiced by Heather Headley) is an adult mandrill, who is Kitendo's mate and Makini's mother.
- Heng-Heng (voiced by Tiffany Espensen) is a giant panda, who resides at the Tree of Life. She cameos at Kion's coronation.
- Kely (voiced by David S. Jung) is a gentle lemur, who is the leader of his conspiracy. He cameos at Kion's coronation.
- Hamu (voiced by Lyons Luke Mathias) is a young plains zebra foal, who is Muhimu's son.
- Juhudi (voiced by Mckenna Grace) is a young Masai giraffe calf, who is Twiga's daughter. Grace replaces Ivy Bishop, respectively, who formerly voiced the character in previous episodes of The Lion Guard.
- Hafifu (voiced by Phil Lester) is a gorilla, who is a prince of the Theluji Mountains and Majinuni's brother.
- Kiril (voiced by Danny Jacobs) is a Siberian musk deer. He cameos at Kion's coronation.
- Feliks (voiced by Henry Kaufman) is a Siberian tiger cub, who is Varya's son, and Pasha and Polina's brother. He cameos at Kion's coronation.
- Varya (voiced by Iris Bahr) is a Siberian tigress, who is the mother to Feliks, Pasha and Polina. She cameos at Kion's coronation.
- Pasha and Polina (voiced by Bluebelle Saraceno) are Varya's daughters and Feliks' sisters. They cameo at Kion's coronation.
- Wema (voiced by Fiona Hart) is a hyena cub, who is Tunu's sister.
- Tunu (voiced by Crimson Hart) is a hyena cub, who is Wema's brother.
- Nne (voiced by Beau Black) is a stout, but sly, and smart hyena.
- Kulinda (voiced by Elise Allen) is a hamerkop and the mother of Ona.
- Kenge (voiced by Kristofer Hivju) is an enormous and ferocious rock monitor.
- Hodari (voiced by Justin Hires) is an electric blue gecko.
- Gumba (voiced by Jacquez Swanigan) is a young baboon.
- Cek (voiced by Jeremy Ray Valdez) is an Arabian tahr, who resides at the Tree of Life. He cameos at Kion's coronation.
- Tangaagim (voiced by Rafael Petardi) is a polar bear, who resides at the Tree of Life. He cameos at Kion's coronation.
