Synopsis
“The Lion King” follows the epic adventures of a young lion cub named Simba as he struggles to accept the responsibilities of adulthood and his destined role as king of the jungle. As a carefree cub, he “just can’t wait to be king,” and spends his days frolicking with his pal, Nala. His father, King Mufasa, the revered ruler of Pride Rock and the lands that surround it, teaches him about the “Circle of Life” – the delicate balance of nature which bonds all animals together – and cautions him to prepare for the day when he will be called upon to lead. Mufasa’s evil brother, Scar, hopes that day will never arrive and schemes to do away with the king and Simba so that he can assume the throne for his own tyrannical purposes. He and his hyena henchmen – Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed – lure Simba into the path of a wildebeest stampede in which Mufasa is killed trying to save his son.
Scar convinces Simba that he is responsible for his father’s death and urges him to run far away from the Pride Lands and never return. A frightened and guilt-ridden Simba flees into exile where he is befriended by a wacky but warmhearted warthog named Pumbaa and his free-wheeling meerkat companion, Timon. Under the dubious guidance of this nature’s odd couple, Simba adopts their “Hakuna Matata” (no worries) attitude towards life, living on a diet of bugs and taking things one day at a time. The cub matures into a young adult and is able to put his past behind him until a beautiful young lioness, who turns out to be his childhood friend Nala, arrives on the scene. She tells him of the hard times and suffering that have come to the Pride Lands under Scar’s reign and beseeches him to take his place as king. With the help of Rafiki, a wise shaman baboon, Simba realizes that his father’s spirit lives on in him and that he must accept the responsibility of his destined role. In a climatic battle with his uncle and an army of hyenas, Simba attempts to reclaim his rightful place in the “Circle of Life”.
Latest Info:
- October 7th, 2003: The Lion King is released on DVD in the US. Release for the EU is set for October 30th, 2003.
- August 20th, 2002: The Lion King is due to be released in a special IMAX version on December 25th, 2002 in major cities all over the world.
- August 19th, 2002: According to various sites, “The Lion King” is due to be released on DVD October 2002, as a part of Disneys Platinum Collection. Disney have allready released “Show White
and the Seven Dwarfs”, and “Beauty and The Beast” is due to be released on October 8th, 2002.
Trailers:
The Circle of Life
Lion King Montage:
Note: The trailers above requires that you have the QuickTime Player installed.
You can download it Here
The Cast and Crew:
- Roger Allers: Director
- Rob Minkoff: Director
- Irene Mecchi: Writer
- Jonathan Roberts: Writer
- Rowan Atkinson as Zazu the Hornbill
- Matthew Broderick as Adult Simba the Lion
- Niketa Calame as Young Nala the Lioness
- Jim Cummings as Ed the Hyena, Gopher, Additional Scar Singing Voice Match, Additional Voices (singing voice)
- Whoopi Goldberg as Shenzi the Hyena
- Robert Guillaume as Rafiki the Mandrill
- Jeremy Irons as Scar the Lion
- James Earl Jones as King Mufasa the Lion
- Moira Kelly as Adult Nala the Lioness
- Nathan Lane as Timon the Meerkat
- Zoe Leader as Sarafina the Lioness
- Cheech Marin as Banzai the Hyena
- Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa the Warthog
- Madge Sinclair as Queen Sarabi the Lioness
- Jonathan Taylor Thomas as Young Simba the Lion
Links:
For Sale:
- DisneyStore.com
- Disney’s Lion King (Special Platinum Edition) @ Amazon.Com
- Disney’s Lion King (Special Platinum Edition Collector’s Gift Set) @ Amazon.com
- The Lion King Special Edition @ Amazon.co.uk
- Der König der Löwen – Special Edition @ Amazon.de
- Lion King, The (Special Edition Gift Pack) @ Blackstar.co.uk
Other Movies by director Roger Allers
- Emperor’s New Groove, The (2000) (story)
- Aladdin (1992) (story)
- Beauty and the Beast (1991) (story)
- Little Mermaid, The (1989) (story)
Other Movies by director Rob Minkoff:
- Stuart Little 2 (2002)
- Stuart Little (1999)
- Best of Roger Rabbit, The (1996)
- Lion King, The (1994)
- Roller Coaster Rabbit (1990)
Other Movies by writer Irene Mecchi:
- Fantasia/2000 (1999) (host sequences)
- Annie (1999) (TV)
- Hercules (1997)
- Hunchback of Notre Dame, The (1996)
- Lion King, The (1994)
- Recycle Rex (1992)
Other Movies by writer Jonathan Roberts:
- Monsters, Inc. (2001)
- Jack Frost (1998)
- Hunchback of Notre Dame, The (1996)
- James and the Giant Peach (1996)
- Lion King, The (1994)
- “Beverly Hills, 90210” (1990)(4 episodes: 1991-1992)
Watching Rowan Atkinson:
- Rat Race (2001) as Enrico Pollini
- Bean (1997) as Mr. Bean
- Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) as Father Gerald
- Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993) as Dexter Hayman
Watching Matthew Broderick:
- Inspector Gadget (1999) as Officer John Brown/Inspector Gadget/Robo Gadget
- Godzilla (1998) as Dr. Niko Tatopoulos
- Cable Guy, The (1996) as Steven M. Kovacs
Watching Jim Cummings:
- Tarzan & Jane (2002) (V) (voice) as Tantor
- Shrek (2001) (voice) as Captain of Guards
- Tigger Movie, The (2000) (voice) as Tigger/Winnie the Pooh
- Tarzan (1999) (voice) as Additional Voices
- Small Soldiers (1998) (voice) as Ocula
- Hercules (1997) (voice) as Nessus the River Centaur/Pot Maker/Tall Thebian/Elderly Thebian
- Hunchback of Notre Dame, The (1996) (voice) as Misc. Guards and Gypsies
Watching Whoopi Goldberg:
- Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) as Guinan
- Rat Race (2001) as Vera Baker
- Girl, Interrupted (1999) as Valerie Owens R.N.
- In & Out (1997) as Herself
- Boys on the Side (1995) as Jane Deluca
- Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) as Deloris Van Cartier/Sister Mary Clarence
- Loaded Weapon 1 (1993) as Sergeant Billy York
- Sister Act (1992) as Deloris Van Cartier/Sister Mary Clarence
- Clara’s Heart (1988) as Clara Mayfield
- Color Purple, The (1985) as Celie
Watching Jeremy Irons:
- Time Machine, The (2002) as Uber-Morlock
- Dungeons & Dragons (2000) as Profion
- Man in the Iron Mask, The (1998) as Father Aramis the Priest
- Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995) as Simon
Watching James Earl Jones:
- Star Wars: Episode III (2005) (voice) as Darth Vader
- Fantasia/2000 (1999) as Host (segment “Carnival of the Animals”)
- Primary Colors (1998) (voice) as CNN Voiceover
- Judge Dredd (1995) (voice) as Narrator
- Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994) (uncredited) as Himself
- Patriot Games (1992) as Admiral James Greer
- Hunt for Red October, The (1990) as Admiral James Greer
- Coming to America (1988) as King Jaffe Joffer
- Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) (voice) as Darth Vader
- Conan the Barbarian (1982) as Thulsa Doom
- Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)(voice) as Darth Vader
- Star Wars (1977) (voice) as Darth Vader
Watching Nathan Lane:
- Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) as Foxy Cleopatra’s Decoy
- Stuart Little 2 (2002) (voice) as Snowbell
- Titan A.E. (2000) (voice) as Preed
- Stuart Little (1999) (voice) as Snowbell ‘Snow’, the Little’s house-cat
- Mouse Hunt (1997) as Ernie Smuntz
- Addams Family Values (1993) as Cameo appearance (Desk sergeant)
Watching Madge Sinclair:
- Coming to America (1988) as Queen Aoleon
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) as Saratoga Captain
- Convoy (1978) as Widow Woman