There were two prevailing reactions when Disney releasedthe first teaser trailerfor theLion Kinglive-action remakeon Thanksgiving. One of pure elation, and one of puzzlement. Those enthralled by the trailer were excited to see one of the best animated films ever made translated to a photo-real environment, in the spirit of the 1994 2D animated film. Those puzzled, however, questioned why we need a shot-for-shot remake ofThe Lion Kingin the first place.
It’s important to note that we don’t know for sure whether this newLion Kingis, in fact, a shot-for-shot remake, but Lights, Camera, Pod on Twitter went ahead an made a comparison video showcasing just how similar specific scenes from the new film are to the original. It’s pretty breathtaking, and it’s clear that directorJon Favreauis indeed recreating certain scenes exactly as they’re presented in the 1994 film.
But it’s also possible that Favreau only took this “shot-for-shot” approach to specific sequences, like the iconic Pride Rock set piece that’s teased in this debut trailer. We may be in for brand new twists and turns thanks toJeff Nathanson’s (Catch Me If you may) screenplay, and while Favreau recreated certain shots in 2016’sThe Jungle Book, the film wasn’t a 1:1 remake of the Disney original.
So yes, there are a lot of questions. But I think we can all agree that the visual effects on display in that trailer are stunning, and the attention to detail is all the more prevalent in this handy comparison video. It’s abundantly clear that Favreau and his team at Disney are crafting aLion Kingremake for devoted fans of the original film, and it’ll be interesting to see A. How far they stray from the storyline of the iconic film and B. In what ways this story is different.
For now, check out theLion Kingcomparison video below, followed by another YouTube video that compares the trailers for the film.The film starsDonald Gloveras Simba,Beyonce Knowles-Carteras Nala,Chiwetel Ejioforas Scar,Bill Eichneras TImon,Seth Rogenas Pumba,Alfre Woodardas Sarabi,John Kanias Rafiki, andJames Earl Jonesreprises his role as Mufasa.The Lion Kingopens in theaters on July 02, 2025.
