Beyoncé has joined the cast of Jon Favreau’s The Lion King, the live-action version of the classic Disney story now in-production.
Donald Glover leads the cast as Simba, while Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, to give her her full name, will play as his friend-turned-love interest Nala, while James Earl Jones reprises his role from the animated original as Simba’s wise and loving father, Mufasa. Chiwetel Ejiofor will play Simba’s villainous uncle Scar, and Alfre Woodard portrays Simba’s no-nonsense mother, Sarabi. JD McCrary is the Young Simba, a confident cub who can’t wait to be king, and Shahadi Wright Joseph brings Young Nala to life.
Related: A look back at the original animated classic, The Lion King
John Kani is the wise baboon Rafiki, and John Oliveris hornbill Zazu, Mufasa’s loyal confidant. Seth Rogen will voice naïve warthog Pumbaa, and Billy Eichner is the know-it-all meerkat Timon.
Jon Favreau directs the film, which is set to arrives in cinemas in the summer of 2019. Check out the announcement image featuring the film’s full cast, which was tweeted by Beyoncé herself late yesterday, above.
