Disney have announced a new sequel to the universally adored 1994 hit, The Lion King, which will see the return of James Earl Jones as Simba’s father, Mufasa.
The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar will premiere on the Disney Junior channel in November and will act as a precursor to The Lion Guard series. According to an Disney executive, the movie follows Kion, the second-born cub of Simba and Nala, as he assumes the role of leader of the Lion Guard – a team of animals tasked with preserving the Pride Lands.
The announcement of the film makes it the third to come from the original. The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride was released in 1998, and followed Simba’s first born child Kiara as she fell in love with Kovu – the adopted cub of Simba’s sworn enemy, Scar. The second sequel, The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata, saw sidekicks Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella) explain their lives before Pride Rock.
Sabella will reprise his role as Pumbaa in The Lion Guard, while Rob Lowe is set to replace Matthew Broderick as the voice of Simba. Gabrielle Union also acts as Moira Kelly’s replacement for the role of Nala.
Watch a trailer for the new Disney channel film below.
