Disney's Live-Action Adaptation Of THE LION KING Casts Donald Glover As Simba & James Earl Jones As Mufasa

It's been a very busy Friday night, and it's about to get a lot busier as we've just received our first bits of casting news for Jon Favreau's live-action adaptation of The Lion King!

By RohanPatel - Feb 17, 2017 04:02 PM EST

Filed Under: Disney

"I just can't wait to be King."

Director Jon Favreau has just announced, via Twitter, that James Earl Jones and Donald Glover have both joined the cast of his upcoming live-action adaptation of The Lion King as the father-and-son duo of Mufasa and Simba, respectively.

It's unknown whether Glover will voice both adult lion Simba and young cub Simba, but considering he has previously voiced 14-year-old Miles Morales on Disney XD's Ultimate Spider-Man, it's probably not a stretch to assume he'll be pulling double duty when he steps into the role of one of Disney's greatest protagonists.

Jones will return to one of his most iconic roles, having previously voiced Mufasa in the original 1994 Disney animated classic of the same name.

Check out the announcement tweets below:

I just can’t wait to be king. #Simba pic.twitter.com/wUYKixMBJI
— Jon Favreau (@Jon_Favreau) February 18, 2017

Looking forward to working with this legend. #Mufasa pic.twitter.com/1LszbWrcYT
— Jon Favreau (@Jon_Favreau) February 18, 2017

The film was first announced last September, following the blockbuster success of Favreau's The Jungle Book, which managed to earn over $966.5 million at the worldwide box office. A production start date hasn't been given just yet, but with casting underway, we should start to hear more relatively soon.

Glover recently won a Golden Globe for his critically acclaimed FX series Atlanta. His past work includes well-received performances in Community, 30 Rock, The Lazarus Effect, Magic Mike XXL, & The Martian, and he can be seen next in Marvel's Spider-Man: Homecoming and the untitled Han Solo prequel film.

So, what do you guys think of the casting? Sound off with your thoughts below!
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156 Comments

1 2 3 4

JFerguson - 2/17/2017, 4:55 PM

James Earl Jones is apparently reprising his role of Mufasa as well. Not sure what to think about this movie still.

Yaf - 2/17/2017, 5:06 PM

@JFerguson - It means nothing is sacred to Disney anymore. That should've been clear when they announced a live action Beauty and the Beast... but this? Their most profitable animated movie? One of, if not the, most beloved animated film of all time? I just don't know man. If they're bringing back JEJ, why not Broderick as well? I get that there's a lot of Gambino hype but still...

I'll just say this, even if this movie is amazing, it'll still be 1/10 as good as The Lion King.

CaptainA - 2/17/2017, 5:13 PM

@JFerguson - Gambino is the man! Looking forward to this!

JFerguson - 2/17/2017, 5:17 PM

@Yaf - true, disney are really missing the point of keeping their classics sacred. Personally, I enjoy these movies for the visual appeal. The casting doesn't mind me either to be honest. Its really the aspect of making a remake with nothing much to add to the original.

Jimbob84 - 2/17/2017, 5:22 PM

@JFerguson - I hear they are making a live action Aladdin movie as well. Literally nothing is sacred these days, no original ideas coming out of Hollywood.

JFerguson - 2/17/2017, 5:23 PM

@CaptainA - I really like the casting as well. gambino is really getting some significant roles

Jaspion - 2/17/2017, 5:30 PM

@Jimbob84 -

Jimbob84 - 2/17/2017, 6:09 PM

@Jaspion - lmao-That is CLASSIC

BarryShitPeas - 2/17/2017, 6:22 PM

@Yaf - Sacred to Disney!?! Does not compute.

MRjordansurf - 2/17/2017, 6:47 PM

@JFerguson - I was kinda unsure at first, and glover as simba had never crossed my mind, but now that I see it on paper, makes a lot of sense. Glover has this pretty rad charisma, and his vocals are pretty decent in some of his songs, and COME ON, James earl MFing jones! You can never go wrong with him.

GAThrawnIGF - 2/17/2017, 7:52 PM

@Yaf - Frozen is Disney's most profitable animated movie. Followed by Zootopia. Lion King comes in 3rd.

CuddlyCereal - 2/17/2017, 8:16 PM

@JFerguson - I don't either. Let's remake an 100% animated movie as another 100% animated movie but this time it will be set in the uncanny valley!

That being said, if James is coming back for Mufasa you best get Nathan Lane back for Timon because who else?

DavidGray - 2/17/2017, 4:59 PM

Damn, I really wish they'd leave this one alone.

Kevwebsz - 2/17/2017, 5:03 PM

@DavidGray - Why?

GhostDog - 2/17/2017, 5:04 PM

@DavidGray - same

TheDayman - 2/17/2017, 5:00 PM

Nice casting.

StarlordsDad - 2/17/2017, 5:01 PM

Donald Glover getting that Disney money he's in Spider-Man, Han Solo, and the lion king. What's next Pirates 6?

BloodyBed - 2/18/2017, 5:00 AM

@StarlordsDad - live-action aladin?

Lol why not

Talontd - 2/17/2017, 5:01 PM

ODanil - 2/17/2017, 5:02 PM

Great cast! Donald has an amazing voice!

ODanil - 2/17/2017, 5:12 PM

Broderick might be bummed though

Luigi - 2/17/2017, 5:02 PM

I love Lion King and Jon Favreau, this movie is really going to be something special.

1 2 3 4

Disney's Live-Action Adaptation Of THE LION KING Casts Donald Glover As Simba & James Earl Jones As Mufasa

It's been a very busy Friday night, and it's about to get a lot busier as we've just received our first bits of casting news for Jon Favreau's live-action adaptation of The Lion King!

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