Reimagined The Lion King confirmed

[Nit]

I knew it! I always though that the new "The Jungle Book" is just a safe test ground before making a serious move and doing the same with "The Lion King". :irule:

September 28, 2016
Disney and Jon Favreau Joining Forces on “The Lion King”

We can officially confirm that The Walt Disney Studios and director Jon Favreau are putting a new reimagining of The Lion King on the fast track to production. The project follows the technologically groundbreaking smash hit The Jungle Book, directed by Favreau, which debuted in April and has earned $965.8 million worldwide.

The Lion King builds on Disney’s success of reimagining its classics for a contemporary audience with films like Maleficent, Cinderella, and The Jungle Book. The upcoming Beauty and the Beast, starring Emma Watson as Belle, is already one of the most anticipated movies of 2017. Like Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King will include songs from the animated film. Disney and Favreau are also in development on a sequel to The Jungle Book. No release date has been announced for either film.

The Lion King (1994) is one of the biggest animated films of all time with a lifetime global box office gross of $968.8 million, including $422.8 million domestically. It won Academy Awards for the original song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” (Elton John, Tim Rice) and original score (Hans Zimmer), plus two Grammy Awards, with the soundtrack selling over 14 million copies. In 1997, the stage production The Lion King made its Broadway debut, winning six Tony Awards; 19 years later, it remains one of Broadway’s biggest hits alongside several other productions running around the world, including London, Hamburg, Tokyo, Madrid, Mexico City, Shanghai, and North America. Translated into eight different languages, its 23 global productions have been seen by more than 85 million people across every continent except Antarctica. The Lion King’s worldwide gross exceeds that of any film, Broadway show or other entertainment title in box office history.

https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-jon-favreau-the-lion-king/

I'm excited. And a little bit worried, but mostly optymistic! :D

Now I wonder... what about "Brother Bear"? :hmm:

[KanuTGL]

Oh gods. No. Please no ;__;

This really makes me so, so sad. :cs_sad_3: I know it was probably inevitable, but... somehow I hoped that they would leave TLK alone.

[Leorgathar]

I almost had a heart attack when I heard the news:cs_yikes_1: and I had prepared for it beforehand, it would come eventually ><

I have very mixed feelings about this. I am partly excited for the news, and I'm glad Favreau is helming the project. But this isn't The Jungle Book, unlike that one, TLK is timeless and a groundbreaking success, and it doesn't feel dated like TJB. It would be like remaking Jurassic Park, crazy.

But I guess we'll have to accept it, so I look forward to hear more news

[Vidan]

Jon Favreau and team did a good job with The Jungle Book, so the news that he'll be involved with the re-imagined TLK also makes me optimistic. I doubt any of us feels like a remake is necessary, but if it inspires a new generation of fans, who am I to argue.

[Falconsfan22]

I thinking because they fast tracking the production it will be released at the earliest holiday season 2017 latest early 2018. I can't wait to see who they cast for the roles

[Guntur]

IMO this would be interesting instead of being a disaster. :confused:

and I would definitely agree with Woes' statement.

[This Land]

My opinion ? ill quote what i wrote on FB

"I knew this was going to happen sooner or later..... xD. I'm actually quite excited in a way, and before you hate me.

1. Jungle book was like 80% CGI and animals and was brilliant.
2. If the stage show never existed and someone told me "what if they made a stage show" I would of laughed in their face and said it would be terrible and no way they could pull it off, but yet they did.
3.I'm not saying its going to be better then the original. I'm not expecting it to be amazing in it self (though if it were to be, it would be a bonus) I'm excited in the sense of a different take on how the story is told and the visual effects capability (First ever Animated to full CGI "live action" film to be made). How the animators are going to portray lifelike versions of the characters and of course how the soundtrack is going to sound like.

I'm never a big fan of re-makes but i always give them a chance if they show effort and love for the film, not just a cheap production for quick cash. Im hoping this film wont be the latter"

May i also add that im sure that no matter what happens, nothing will change the original and that will stay exactly how it is, we can go back and enjoy any time we like cant we ?. Like jungle book they twisted it around, added things and taken stuff away and it worked very well. I will always see the animated and live action as 2 completely different films in different "universes".

As long as they do it with realistic looking lions (look how old Lion witch and the wardrobe is now and how amazing Aslan looked back then), set in realistic looking settings with its own unique charm then im looking forward to how they pull it off. Also if Hans Zimmer returns for the soundtrack i will most defiantly have a fanboy squeal moment xD

[cleargreenwater]

My first thought was and still is "I hate everything." Followed by writhing on the floor foaming at the mouth and lowing like a dying beast.

Since I've had all afternoon to realize I have not died, my only thought now and the light at the end of the tunnel, (that I am being dragged towards like a hooked fish being pulled to it's inevitable doom at the surface,) is that at least the hyenas will now finally look like actual hyenas.

But mostly still wishing I could leap into a cage of them and end it. :P

[Dare]

...

*writes the word "DENIAL" on a giant cardboard box*

*sits in the giant cardboard box*

*pulls the cardboard box lid closed*

[s-tlk]

That shouldn't come as a surprise after the success of the Jungle Book. A few years ago I would be very skeptical, but now I'm more curious of how this will look like. Don't forget, it will not make the original movie any less adorable, although I think it happens way to soon. At the 30th or even 40th anniversary of TLK, when all the hypes of TLG and the re-releases of TLK long vanished, it would imho have much more effect. They developed the technology and the framework now to accelerate the production and since D$ is a profit-oriented company they make the best of it. I'm only a bit concern about the "on the fast track" statement. Part of the story development they can save now, which took a long time in TLK, for almost four years they were refining the story until we saw the end result we all love. I hope they take at least some time to rethink the story and adapt it to the new technology, exploring its new possibilities without stupidly adding random action sequences.

I'm wondering if they can put a part of the original voice cast back together? That in conjunction with Hans Zimmer doing the score and Lebo M. the singing would increase the probability of a large success by 1000 percent. ;)

[nathalie]

I don't know ... just leave it alone, lol.

But indeed, I told him first, lol, if they can make them look like Aslan ...

And voices, oh God ... I know you need to leave the original alone when watching something new, but this'll be extra hard, and no one will be able to beat the original animated movie voice cast :p

[KanuTGL]

I agree that if they had to do this, doing it for the 30th or 40th anniversary would have made more sense... On the other hand, sure, now's a good time to ride the TLG hype too I guess.

Argh, I just can't see how a "reimagined" Lion King is going to look much different from this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-BX1Eak6M4), but with more CGI. There's an amount of expressive stylisation in TLK that, I think, just isn't suitable for photo realism. They're gonna have to do some really groundbreaking work and improve a lot from Jungle Book to make this work...

Also like I saw DJ88 say, now we're going to have people say "Did you see The Lion King? No, no, the original. The cartoon." and that for some reason makes me really sad :C

[nathalie]

Also like I saw DJ88 say, now we're going to have people say "Did you see The Lion King? No, no, the original. The cartoon." and that for some reason makes me really sad :C

Now that you mention this ... yeah :/

[Nit]

Same could be said about the musical years ago and noone seems to have the problem with that. ;)

[KanuTGL]

The musical is not a movie though :p

[nathalie]

Oooh, when I first heard about the musical, I was also "please God no!" haha

And to be very honest, I'm still not a very huge fan of the musical.
Yes, I've seen it 4 times now, but the first time was just *because* you know ... hehe.
The other times have very much more to do with the actors and their live performances (as in = the songs mainly)

[cleargreenwater]

The musical is not a movie though :p

This, musicals are entirely different art forms. Plus a few other things that feed in to it.

1.) There's this obnoxious smugness about all of these remakes. Like, look how shiny and advanced our CG technology is now and aren't those old ones just so quaint? Let's show them up or redo them because we're soooooo much better.

2.) "Share them with the next generation! " How about letting the next generation have their own s--- instead of giving them ours whether we want you to or not? Everyone I know if they want to share something with the next generation has done or will do so of their own volition, in it's original form.

3.) I don't think it coincidence that the demise of traditional animation goes hand in hand with the democratization and household use of digital art technology. Suddenly anyone with a scanner and photoshop can draw and stack layers, so quick, let's change formats to something infinitely more technologically arcane that people can't do on their own so they don't start to think they can do this stuff themselves! One of the most passionate rants I ever heard at a concert was a musician pleading the same thing to their audience--don't think of music as something only other people can do! CG and 3D animation makes animation a specialist arena again.

4.) These dumb big baby Millennials! They're just overgrown arrested children and stupid with their money with their living at home with their parents selves, throw some no$talgia at them and those fools we love to complain about being immature so much will just *pour* their money into it! Lets exploit their childhoods for a quick buck some more! How easily manipulated are they!

It isn't just a Lion King remake for me, although its the biggest straw. Why the f--- do we need a new Jumanji. WHY? Robin Williams is barely cold yet, WTF. Is the old one really that unrelatable?

I've just reached a point where I want to tell all of them to eff off. My younger years weren't always great. These movies were my happy place and refuge from that. I'm too invested in them and they're all being run rough-shod over. It's become friggin predatory.

And that's my tantrum/rant, lol.

[Guntur]

My only concern is only how they will beat up the original voice acting in the new movie, I really really love and admire Moira Kelly's voice, I just want someone who vulnerable and shaken how Pride Rock turned into a wasteland like in Broadway and in the movie. Nala is still my go to personality for a partner. Matthew is really great as Simba and also Taylor who did justice as a cub. But for me for what I am concern is voicing Nala, Simba, Rafiki, Scar and Mufasa. They can't replace Vader at all in all Star Wars game and I don't think someone could ever match up James Earl Jones' voice. Jeremy Irons could jump in again to become Scar. I'm afraid that they would hire Kevin Hart as the Hyenas or something.

[Dare]

*peeks out of her cardboard box*

Far be it for me to be optimistic or seek a theoretical silver lining, but perhaps this remake could bring some new folks to the forum? Maybe...? I can hope...maybe it won't be terrible...



And to be very honest, I'm still not a very huge fan of the musical.


Same here - I'm an ex-stage tech, so I did appreciate the execution and the set design, but that's as far as it goes. I've only seen it once, and that was only because someone else paid for the ticket.

...or maybe I have seen it twice? I can't remember...bah, stupid brain.


Why the f--- do we need a new Jumanji.

Wait, whut?! Nyet.

[HasiraKali]

I am still going to sit here and hope that they don't go the CGI animal route. Who knows what "reimagined" means anymore. I also still just want a film of the musical. Well... an official film. :p

[Leorgathar]

I doubt they'll ever make a film of the musical, as awesome as that sounds :uhno:
Like I said, I have mixed feelings, but I guess I can be excited and curious about what new perspective will they give to TLK. The original will always be around anyway, as long as they don't touch it I'm good.

My concern is that many people are saying they're confident since the animals looked alright in The Jungle Book, when it's just simply not the same case. In TLK they'll have to do more than make realistic lions move their lips. Not even Aslan in the Narnia series looked very expressive, and I can't imagine how they'll make Zazu, Timon or Pumbaa (herbivores in The Jungle Book were barely expressive at all). But I'm also confident that they have these things considered and will come up with a solution. Maybe they won't be as realistic as in Jungle Book, who knows.

As for the cast... Mufasa is the hardest one, James Earl Jones is irreplaceable, so I'm hoping they're considering bringing him back. Jeremy Irons would also be very hard to recast, I wouldn't like anyone else, but Benedict Cumberbatch gets pretty close :p

[Falconsfan22]

Casting wise for it Nathan Lane is the only choice for timon
Mufasa: James earl jones or Keith David
Sarabi: Angela Bassett
Adult simba: Jason deruelo
Adult Nala: brandy
Zazu: Hugh Laurie
Scar: pierce brosnan
Rafiki: idris Elba
Shenzi: whoopi Goldberg
Banzai: George Lopez
Ed: Jim Cummings
Pumbaa: Kevin James
As far as young simba and young nala they can always get actors who played them on Broadway

[Guntur]

Hugh Laurie would be a good candidate as Zazu or Scar. I'm still see Jeremy Irons as Scar in every movie he starred.

[nathalie]

Someone even mentioned John Cleese as Zazu.

[Leorgathar]

Well, John Cleese was considered for Zazu in the original, I don't see why not xD

Anyway, an artist (George Evangelista) made this after the announcement of the remake was made, it's his idea of what the movie might end up looking like. I personally like the art itself, it's pretty cool, but for an entire movie to look like this? I don't think so :P they better come up with something looking much better than this, otherwise it'll be a movie with many Aslans, which I think would look boring ><

http://orig08.deviantart.net/40db/f/2016/274/9/7/it_doesn_t_matter_it_s_in_the_past_by_vshen-dajjbow.jpg

[Kirauni]

I'd love to have a score like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLIOLGTfbjI&feature=youtu.be

It's so awesome! :D

[Azerane]

Finally getting around to commenting on this :p

I am highly apprehensive, but also excited about this. Is it too soon? Yes, I think so. That doesn't mean that it can't be awesome though. I think that the Lion King is quite fortunate that a re-imagening in CGI of the original story can be built upon using songs and music from the musical in addition to the movie. I kinda hope it's actually going to be quite dark, at least the parts that should be. More of the Pridelands during Scar's reign etc. I think there's a lot of potential for a truly beautiful movie, but obviously loving the original so much, it will be much easier to judge harshly.

Like Kirauni, I also have very high hopes for the score. If we end up with anything like the Bare Neccesities Theme OST then I shall be highly pleased. A good score gives me chills! :D

I'm interested to see how they handle Mufasa's death. His on-screen death was a pretty big deal and I would hate for the lasting impression that makes to be taken away for the sake of sensitivities. They better be animating some damn good emotions into those characters, I want to be bawling my eyes out!

[Leorgathar]

Here's a new article with Jon Favreau talking about how they'll use VR technology to develop the movie. This is certainly interesting :ooo:
http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/790753-jon-favreau-to-use-vr-tech-for-live-action-lion-king#/slide/33

Also, the screenplay is going to be written by Jeff Nathanson (Catch Me If You Can, The Terminal, Tower Heist)

[Keso]

As a die-hard fan I'm terrified of what this might be like!

Part of me agrees with Azerane, in that I hope it's 'dark'. I guess TLK was considered 'dark' by early 1990's Disney standards because it made most kids bawl their eyes out half way through (and it still gets met even now!).

There's something subtly profound about TLK, more so than any other film (Disney or otherwise) and it's very hard to quantify. When I look at the picture by George Evangelista (posted by Leorgathar) and listen to the epic orchestral cover (posted by Kirauni) I feel this would be the perfect tone for a remake! Sigh...if only!

I just hope they remain true to the spirit of the original when thinking about a re-make.

[Leorgathar]

GUYS! GUYS!!!!

Big news on this, Jon Favreau just tweeted that James Earl Jones will be back as Mufasa!! :D

And that's not all, he also tweeted who will be the new voice for Adult Simba, and it's Donald Glover!!! :simbahappy3: That's a very good choice I think. He'll also play young Lando Calrissian in the upcoming Han Solo movie

Link (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lion-king-live-action-movie-casts-donald-glover-as-simba-977488)

[Azerane]

Already mentioned that I'm very excited about this. Very pleased that Mr Earl Jones will be returning, I just don't think the character would be the same without him as his voice is just far too distinct. Donald Glover is also a good choice I think, a nice strong voice that should carry the character well :)

[Kopa]

I'm actually excited for this adaption! I was also very pleased to learn that James Earl Jones is returning as Mufasa! There is simply no other voice for him inmy opinion! :cheese: I believe they chose a great voice for Simba too. I can't wait to see what he brings to the character. I've seen him in Community and that's about it, but I'm still eager to see his voice acting talents as a beloved character!!! :)

[Guntur]

I'm actually excited for this adaption! I was also very pleased to learn that James Earl Jones is returning as Mufasa! There is simply no other voice for him in my opinion! :cheese:

I'm thinking another deep voice or Vader's clone, Jonathan Adams, who play Tyrael in Diablo 3. He would be cool if he tried to audition.

[Falconsfan22]

If they didn't get James earl jones as mufasa which I am happy they did I would have loved to have seen Keith David as mufasa. Love the choice of Donald glover as simba. Can't wait to see who else will be cast especially who they get as scar

[KanuTGL]

I am still just freaking p***ed off at this "reimagination" :p I don't even care that James Earl Jones is back.

Why are they doing this. Whyyyy.

[nathalie]

I listened to a clip where this Donald person speaks. At first I thought "hmm, he sounds kind of like Matthew but a bit more sharper".
Then I kept listening to him, and I thought "what's he gonna be, young or adult Simba?"

No, not impressed so far. Just like I thought I would be, haha.

I'll try and not form opinions anymore untill it actually comes out :lol:

[Kossu]

I am still just freaking p***ed off at this "reimagination" :p I don't even care that James Earl Jones is back.

Why are they doing this. Whyyyy.

I feel the same way this far. I just don't feel like such a remake was necessary. I like the Lion King as it is. You could say I'm a purist I guess.:p

The one thing that sparked my interest when it was first announced was the potential extra depth and maturity to the story...still not enough to make me feel hyped for this though...I feel a little sad about it.:rafikisad:

[Vidan]

All I know is: Do we need it? No. Do we want it? Maybe. Will we watch it? Heck yes! :lol:

I'm curious if they're going to ask Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella to reprise their roles. I feel like Sabella would, since he's still voicing Pumbaa on The Lion Guard. At the same time, another comedy duo who already get along well could also provide some fresh comic relief. (My mind immediately goes to the guys from Flight of the Conchords for comedy duos, but I have no idea if they'd be appropriate; or would even do it, other than Jemaine Clement having done some Disney voices.)

[Azerane]

All I know is: Do we need it? No. Do we want it? Maybe. Will we watch it? Heck yes! :lol:

That exactly! :D

[nathalie]

Very well said indeed, haha

[Falconsfan22]

http://variety.com/2017/film/news/beyonce-lion-king-remake-nala-1202019931/#respond

[nathalie]

Hell no!

[Kirauni]

Is this an eraly April Fool's joke?... :woe:

First, let me say that I'm not able to judge Beyonce's voice acting talent, because I've never heard her doing it before.
However, this is just what feels so wrong with it. I don't know about other countries, but here in Germany there's a kind of "trend" to use popular people (singers, podacasters, youtubers...) as voice actors for certain movies. They don't necessarily have to be professionals. The fact that they even hired a famous German football/soccer player (Lukas Podolski) for the porcupine in the Lion Guard shows this quite well.
Some might think it's cool to have celebrities do the voice acting, but in my opinion it's rather problematic.
You see, the problem is that some people imply that just because your using your voice everyday (more or less) in a professional way, you're automatically able to do voice-acting. Can't be that hard, right?
Well, my experience shows that many of these "stars" tried really hard to do a good job. I don't blame them, but most of the failed miserably.
I can tell pretty well if someone is a professional voice actor or if somebody just got hired because they were famous.

In short: being able to sing doesn't automatically qualify you to voice a character. Maybe Beyonce is a good voice-actress. I can't tell yet, but I'd prefer a professional voice-actor to be Nala's voice.
I really hate it if you're trying to watch a movie and you're constantly reminded that the person who voices a character is no professional. Voice-acting is so much more than just reading some text or singing... That kind of destroys the "immersion" and it really bugs me sometimes.
I've also talked to Janja's German voice actor about this whole "let's-hire-a-star"-issue and he as a professional also gets quite frustrated by this. It also shows that there is only little respect to the hard work they all do which makes me kind of sad.

Let's wait and see... I still hope they'll come up with fine voices in the end :)

[KanuTGL]

^ I agree with everything Kirauni said.

I feel like they'd cast Beyonce for the sole purpose of selling more tickets, because she's famous, not necessarily because she's a good pick for Nala... I mean, Beyonce was great in Dreamgirls and I don't doubt that she can act. But Nala? Just... no thank you. It feels wrong...

[Leorgathar]

This made me cringe, and cringe, and cringe a lot :cs_yikes_1:
I agree with everything said. I hope it's just a rumor and nothing more xP

[nathalie]

Can she sing? Sure, I like her voice, I like some of her songs.

But I don't like it at all when she speaks, I feel it's "made", and her voice crackles, I don't know how to say that in English, lol, I feel that when she speaks she doesn't speak fluent, which bugs me so much when I listen to her talk.

[Azerane]

It's certainly an interesting choice if it is the one they've made. I can't say I'm thrilled. But if they had cast her, and I didn't know who it was, I would probably never know because I'm not familiar enough with her voice to pick it out.

At the very least, the quality of Beauty and the Beast, and the new songs they wrote for that, have given me a lot more hope for TLK.

[cleargreenwater]

Oh no. And the circus rolls on.

[Leorgathar]

Guys...

Simba will be gay in the upcoming live-action The Lion King remake. (http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/04/01/simba-will-be-gay-in-upcoming-live-action-lion-king-remake-disney-confirms/?utm_source=ET&utm_medium=ETFB&utm_campaign=portal&utm_content=inf_10_60_2&tse_id=INF_35da12b016e711e798fc7bd31dd7c3e2)

It's been confirmed, and it's the best news I've seen all day :lol:

[Vidan]

Nice one, Leor :lol: There's probably already fan art of Naji out there somewhere, in the depths of the internet.

[KanuTGL]

Hahaha :lol: Well, then we know that Beyonce is out ;D

Naji is a nice name!

[cleargreenwater]

Well, then we know that Beyonce is out ;D

They actually wanted Jay-Z :lol:

[Guntur]

I believe Nala should have a very warm strong motherly voice like Moira Kelly, If they use Beyonce as a singing voice I'm down with that, nothing wrong with that.

I'm really up for Jill Scott for Nala, Don't know her acting background but at least this one is a diamond in a rough.

[Azerane]

I was actually talking with Pat the other day about whether or not they'll make Timon and Pumbaa gay. One could argue that they already are, but I never saw them that way. He doesn't think they would, but who knows.

[Leorgathar]

We got a release date!! :D

July 19th, 2019 (https://twitter.com/Jon_Favreau/status/856930957365977088)

And it's pretty close to TLK's 25th anniversary too. It'll be a great year to be a TLK fan!
So with that knowledge in mind... Maybe we could plan a meeting? :cs_happy_3:

[KanuTGL]

Oh, goodie... :scarrolleyes:

I just came across this article as well: http://movieweb.com/lion-king-disney-live-action-remake-jon-favreau-approach/

CGI TLK á la Jungle Book sounds confirmed (as if it was ever in doubt). Also still freaking Beyoncé.

The more I hear, the more I resent this remake. After Beauty & the Beast I must say I have no faith at all. I'll still go and see it of course, which I guess is the whole point of it, so Disney has already won anyway...

Meet-up would be great though c:

[Leorgathar]

Ah well, you know me, I'm just a bit too optimistic at times xP I still have very mixed feelings though.

I haven't seen Beauty and the Beast yet, but the work on character redesigns there certainly makes me cringe, despite the positive reviews, I don't think the magic feels the same, and I do worry that the same will happen in TLK.
On the other hand, I recently got around to watch the Making-Of featurettes from The Jungle Book and... I was very impressed. I'm thinking that while Favreau's team won't succeed in giving TLK the same appeal of the original, they might still do something really impressive in a different way, and I'm hoping it'll be at least much better than Beauty and the Beast.
So for now I'm clinging to that thought xD

Still baffled about Beyoncé, though, I hope it's just a rumor >_<

[nathalie]

The whole thing baffles me, haha!

Ill go see it 'just because', but I'm pretty sure I need to be dragged to the movies, instead of going out of free will.

[Leorgathar]

In other weird casting news, apparently Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen are set to voice Timon and Pumbaa.
http://www.thewrap.com/seth-rogen-billy-eichner-play-pumbaa-timon-lion-king-exclusive/

I... don't know :scarconfused: I'm disappointed they didn't get Ernie Sabella, he's been Pumbaa in everything that ever came after TLK, why the combo breaker?
I guess Seth Rogen sounds a little like a warthog though, if not Pumbaa.

And Billy Eichner from "Billy on the Street" as Timon?... Ugh no, I don't really see it. He's way too annoying xP

[Falconsfan22]

Billy eichner is a good actor he did a great job in a small part in hairspray live. Just wondering can Seth Rogen and billy eichner sing?

[KanuTGL]

^ Indeed. Pretty sure we don't want another Beauty and the Beast autotune-fest here...

I think Seth Rogen could do a decent enough Pumbaa, at least if Mantis from Kung Fu Panda is anything to go by. I agree I'm disappointed Ernie Sabella won't be on board (or Nathan Lane for that matter), but maybe he, too, thinks it's a stupid idea and doesn't want to be part of it? :'D

[cleargreenwater]

The more I hear, the more I resent this remake. {...}
Meet-up would be great though c:


Ill go see it 'just because', but I'm pretty sure I need to be dragged to the movies, instead of going out of free will.

I just got this mental picture of about a dozen of us all standing in front of a movie theater like, "DARE YOU" and then someone having to resort to carrying Nathalie, LOL.


Back on topic, the only way I will ever accept this remake and acknowledge it's existence is if they make my one and only wild hope for it a reality and cast Wanda Sykes as Shenzi. Otherwise it just gets more & more unforgivable, lol.

[nathalie]

Good one CGW, haha

[KanuTGL]

We seem to have a Zazu!?
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lion-king-john-oliver-voice-zazu-live-action-movie-1019837

And I'm... really quite okay with this choice 8O I feel like John Oliver actually could do a great, super sassy Zazu, haha.

I wish they'd quit referring to the film as "live action" though. For all we know, it's going to be entirely CG animated, ie not live action in any way :zazugo_on:

[Leorgathar]

John Oliver sounds like a great choice, I think he fits the role very well :)

There's also a rumor going around that Scar will be played by Hugh Jackman! (it has yet to be confirmed, it seems)
http://screenrant.com/lion-king-remake-hugh-jackman-scar-cast/?utm_source=SR-TW&utm_medium=Social-Distribution&utm_campaign=SR-TW&view=list

Somehow I'd be pleased with this, he may not be Irons, but... he's totally Scar :wicked:

[nathalie]

Right, now I'm interested! Haha
I like Hugh Jackman.

[s-tlk]

It seems on the D23 Disney revealed a first teaser of the movie:
http://uk.ign.com/articles/2017/07/15/first-footage-of-live-action-lion-king-perfectly-captures-the-animated-classic

Unfortunately it didn't appeared online yet. But the description sounds promising. :)

[KanuTGL]

So, if I was the least bit excited for this remake before it's all gone now...

The Lion King first footage reveal was close to a frame-for-frame recreation of the "Circle of Life" opening of the animated movie. We see the sun rise over the African savanna, though of course this time it actually is a real sunrise over the horizon. The film is shot to match up with the same shots of the animals you see during that opening sequence in the cartoon, and they look photo-realistic despite being CGI. It's especially powerful when you see them running by a realistic shot of Mt. Kilimanjaro in the background.

Y'know, this actually makes me really, really mad. Because what the actual *bleep*. This does not sound like a "reimagining", it sounds like a straight-up remake that is absolutely intended to "replace" the original with fancy-pants CGI because CGI is gritty and grown-up and shiny and cool and not childish like that old rubbish 2D animation that we used to make hahahaha 8D :roar: There is literally no reason at all to be remaking this movie (and the others) if you're just going to recreate it shot by shot, other than as a "cheap" money-grabbing scheme. Plain and simple. It's really hurting my animator heart to see this happening to the Disney classics *sigh* If they wanted to develop the new cool tech that they are developing for this movie, because I don't doubt that it'll be very advanced visually, write your own damn script.

"We love this movie"... No, you do not, Favreau and crew. If you did, you'd have known to leave it alone.

Am I overreacting right now? You bet I am! Am I sorry? Nope! :stick:

[Azerane]

I hate to admit it but you're right. While I love that it was well received and people loved the look of it, the frame for frame recreation does not impress me either. My only hope is they did so for CoL sequence because it is so iconic and the rest of the movie will be altered more. But it's so hard to say. I loved Beauty and the Beast, but that wasn't close to my heart in the first place.

While I'm a sucker and may love the new version no matter what they do (unless they completely destroy it of course), I was really hoping for some in-depth recreation. More darkness, more character etc. Will have to wait and see I suppose. Pat has been trawling the net looking for a copy of the footage, while I refuse to watch it until the movie actually comes out :D

[Leorgathar]

Honestly, I think the frame-to-frame recreation thing was an exaggeration by media (what, did they have the original movie there with them to compare?), and even if it was a frame-to-frame recreation, I'm pretty sure that was just fan service for that sequence only, I highly doubt they'll do the same to the rest of the movie.
It wouldn't make sense anyway, that would make the VR filmmaking they're hyping so much quite unnecessary, I mean, as far as I know, they'll use motion capture in a virtual environment using live-action camera techniques (not saying it'll be live-action of course, just that the camera movement will make it feel like it rather than a typical CGI movie). That would be entirely pointless if they really wanted to remake it frame-to-frame, it'd be lazy filmmaking at its worst. There are things that only work in 2D animation, and there are things that only work with live-action camera techniques, you can't do a frame-to-frame recreation just like that.
They'll also want a longer running time than the original's 88 minutes, so you bet there'll be new/extended content anyway.

[nathalie]

Rumour has it Beyonce will write music for the movie aswel.

I can post a link, but it's all in Dutch.
Might be in English somewhere on the internet.

[Falconsfan22]

So much for that rumor of Hugh jackman as scar. they are in talks with someone else who I think is a way better choice. http://www.thewrap.com/chiwetel-ejiofor-in-talks-to-voice-scar-in-lion-king-remake-exclusive/amp/
He can sing which is my requirement for scar.

[KanuTGL]

Rumour has it Beyonce will write music for the movie aswel.
Oh, for *bleeps* sake. Not sure why, but I want Beyoncé as far away from this thing as possible :headache:

And follow-up on "shot for shot remake", did you see the new Beauty & the Beast? It is, essentially, a shot for shot remake and they still managed to mess it up :'D Even if they did make a special clip for D23, I stand by my previous post...
*still way too angry about this*

[Leorgathar]

And follow-up on "shot for shot remake", did you see the new Beauty & the Beast? It is, essentially, a shot for shot remake and they still managed to mess it up :'D

Fair point :p I didn't like Beauty and the Beast either, mainly for character design reasons (and the toned down colors to make it look more 'mature' xP), I didn't think it was an exact replica of the story, but I see what you mean, and if TLK receives that same treatment then I'll most certainly be disappointed ><

The only thing still making me hopeful is that it's another creative team entirely, and they did a fine job with Jungle Book, so I think I'll wait until I've seen a trailer at least to really judge.

Well, at least we can agree about Beyonce, I don't want her in this either :naladisappointed:

[KanuTGL]

Nathan Lane was a guest on Stephen Colbert's show the other day and they actually talked Lion King! I'm not sure how serious Nathan Lane is in his commentary but I freaking loved it :p

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCOy7jrVD5g

[Leorgathar]

Hahahahaha that was great!! :lol:

[Kossu]

Do you suppose there's going to be a major Lion King announcement any time soon? I mean the anniversary day is coming...and it's been awfully quiet as for updates. No teasers or trailers so far. And in a few days it'll be exactly a year from the release day. :go-on:

[nathalie]

June was the anniversary for the animated movie, if that's what you meant? There was no big reveal.

[Kossu]

Oh right, stupid of me. :embarassed:

I do wonder about the period between 17-19 of July though, since it's going to be exactly a year from the announced release days for the "live action" version.

[HasiraKali]

I'm going to guess we'll get something in September or October. I have no idea, but the Dumbo teaser was released last month and it comes out in March. So that's ten months before release. Who knows though? Whatever they do, I kind of hope they do what the original did for its teaser and just release the whole Circle of Life sequence.

[s-tlk]

At least we get some pictures from the model of Mufasa now:
https://twitter.com/nerdy_basement/status/1016370333413191680

When you click on the image, there are some more, among others where they painting him.

[Leorgathar]

Those news are confirmed to be fake, I'm afraid. They just went viral because they supposedly came from a trustworthy source (whichever that is xP).
The movie will be all CGI, so there's no need for animatronics or real life sized lion models.

[s-tlk]

Yes, it seems to be a fake.

But I think in modern CGI they still create models of complex characters, maybe not in 1:1 size.

[HasiraKali]

I think those are from Ghost and the Darkness. Such an underrated movie with great music, btw. :p