The Legend of The Lion King
Disney Princess Anika Noni Rose (The Princess And The Frog) Performs The Vocal Presence of Afia – Musafa’s Mother @anikaaroundtheworld
The Living Legend That Is Keith David Performs The Vocal Presence of Masego – Musafa’s Father @silverthroat
Tragically, Shortly After Learing of The African Pride Lands Called Miele From His Parents, Musafa’s Life Takes A Turn Due To An Extreme Climate Catastrophy And So His Journey Through Life As An Orpan Begins. But Destiny Beckons. He Learns of Fear, Sacrifice, Survival, Friendship, Rivalry, Courage, Leadership, Love And Destiny. Heartbreak And Happiness. Meanwhile, As Rafiki Shares The Legendary Story, His Grandaughter, Kiara, Learns of Her Historical Legacy. It’s A Story Well Told, Worth Hearing, Very Inspiring And of Great Pride To The African Continent.
The Lion King Film (1994): Directed By Roger Allers This Original Is The Highest-Grossing Traditionally Animated Film Ever. Starring The Late Great James Earl Jones As Musafa (To Whom The 2024 Prequel Is Dedicated, The Acor Having Died In The September Before Its December Release), It Tells The Story of Simba The Lion And His Struggle With Jungle Destiny As His Uncle ‘Scar’ Tries To Steal His Rightful Place. Scar Is Played By Jeremy Irons (Chariots of Fire). Another Late Great Actor, Robert Guillaume (Who Starred In The Iconic 1970s & 80s ‘ABC’ TV Series ‘Benson’) Voiced The Wise Mandrill Rafiki.
The Lion King 1997 (Broadway Musical And International Theatre Phenomonon): Roger Allers Wrote The Musical Based On The Original Film, Although This Time He Left The Direction To Julie Taymor (Who Became The First Woman To Win A Tony Award For Best Director As A Result). It Is Produced By Disney Theatrical Productions. South African Songwriter Lebo M @thereallebo_m Was Involved In The Songwriting Alongside Sir Tim Rice And Sir Elton John @eltonjohn. (For The 2024 Film He Worked Alongside Lin- Manuel Miranda @lin-manuel).
The Extensive Stellar Cast
There Is A Stellar Cast of Supporting Animals Who Add To The Comical, Magical And Dramatic Adventures. These Include Highly Revered Veteran South African Actor, John Hani, Who, Aged 81 Stars As The Wise Guiding Light, And Colourful Counsel ‘Rafiki’ The Mandrill, Who Has Family Dramas of His Own, We Later Discover.
Seth Rogen Voices The Affable Waterhog And Billy Eichner Is His Meerkat Playmate In This Comedy Duo Timon And Pumbaa. @sethrogen @billyeichner
A Brief Overview of The Different Lion King Incarnations
The Orpheum Theatre In The Twin City of Minneapolis And Minnesota Debuted The Musical On July 8th 1997 And Then The New Amsterdam Theatre Premieried On Broadway That October. In Both Incidences It Was An Immediate Success. In Summer 2006 It Moved To The Minskoff Theatre And Is Broadway’s Highest-Grossing Production of All Time (Having Grossed Over Two Billion Dollars).
It Opened At The Lyceum Theatre October 19th 1999 And Is Still There Today. It And ‘Wicked The Musical’ Are Broadway’s Third And Fourth Longest Running Musicals Ever. It Has Grossed $8 Billion Worldwide. And Has Been Seen By Over 114 Million Theatre-Goers Worldwide. Disney Had Four Movies In The Top Ten Grossing Movies of 2024. Grossing $723,060,982 Musafa The Lion King Was The Fourth of Them And Came In At No.6 In The Top Ten Overall (Just Behind Wicked By Universal).
Zazu The Hornbill Comes Along As Lioness Sarabi Meets Musafa And His Brother Taka Whilst Searching For Her Own Lion Pride And Family Members Having Somehow Became Seperated From Them. The Little White Bright Beaked Bird Is Her Trusty Protective Companion, Appointed By Her Father Before He Lost Touch With Her. As Befits A Hornbill He’s Mouthy And Wiley. But Not Very Brave. However, Always Loyal To His Charge Come What May, His Ability To Swoop In And Out of Different Situations Usually Saves The Day. Hakuna Matata! No Worries! (Photo, End of Page 1)
The Lion King Film (2019): British Nigerian Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor OBE CBE (Twelve Years A Slave And Kinky Boots) Voices Scar @chiwetelejiofor. Classy Veteran Actress African-American Alfre Woodward @realalfrewoodard Voices Queen Sarabi, Simba’s Mother. Simba Fights His Own Conscience And His Uncle Scar In Order To Honour His Mother And Father, The Late King, Mustafa.
Scar’s Sense of Greed Is Greater Than His Sense of Family Loyalty And He Conspires With The Hyenas To Murder His Royal Succession Rivals. The Power of Ancestry Is Envoked As Mustafa Pays His Son A Spiritual Visit And Rafiki Also Urges Him To Face His Past, Not Run From It. His Courage Is Needed To Complete ‘The Circle of Life’.
Beyonce Debuts As His Love Interest Nala, And Beyonce’s Real Life Daughter, Blue-Ivy, Makes Her Film Debut As The Voice of Their Daughter, Kiara. @beyonce [Jayz Was Visibly A Proud Husband And Father At The Premiere.]
The Film Went On General Release July 2019, Headlined At The Dolby Cinema In LA, Showing On RealD, 3D And IMAX Format. It Grossed Over $1.6 Billion Worldwide And Was Both BAFTA Nominated And Oscar Nominated For Best Visual Effects. @disneyplus
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