My Lion King Forum

As a note, since this is going to be a big budget theatrical movie we can expect a lot of big stars, either new to the franchise or returning voice actors.

Its highly likely that james earl jones and ernie sabella will return. Madge Sinclair and Zoe Leader won't be returning because they are dead, and it is very unlikely that niketa calame and jonathan taylor thomas will reprise their roles as young simba and nala.

I predict that lupita n'yongo and chadwick bosman will be in it. Both are comfy-cozy with Disney right now. If I had to have a replacement for James Earl Jones, maybe Denzel Washington?

Maybe Samuel L Jackson too? He was in The Incredibles, and he seems to be on good terms with disney as well.

I would like Lupita as Adult Nala and Chadwick as Zazu. If they don't get back Nathan Lane, Sam can be Timon.

I think Jon Favreau will go for an all-new cast, but who knows at this point? I can definitely see Favreau and the producers going for a cast of mostly actors of African descent. Similar to the casting mostly actors of Polynesia and Samoan descent in Moana, Disney doesn't want to catch criticism from social-justice warriors for not casting enough black actors in a film set in Africa. (Which I can understand but regardless of skin color, character comes first.)

Here's my list:

Lupita N'yongo - a strong possibility for adult Nala
Chadwick Boseman - a strong possibility for adult Simba
John Boyega - a possibility for adult Simba
David Oyelowo - a possibility for adult Simba
James Earl Jones - an early toss-up for Mufasa
Morgan Freeman - a toss-up for Mufasa or Rafiki
Dennis Haybert - an alternative to Jones, Freeman, and Elba
Idris Elba - an alternative to Jones, Freeman, and Haybert
Viola Davis - a strong possibility for Sarabi
Angela Bassett - a likely possibility for Sarabi

I have no idea if they will cast another white Englishman for Scar, bring back Jeremy Irons, or re-cast him with a black actor. I would like to see Ernie Sabella reprise Pumbaa because he's in the perfect in the role, has never been recast, and his voice hasn't gotten older over the years. I'm not sure about Timon, Zazu, or the hyenas. All their original voice actors are still alive, but who knows?

Samuel L Jackson would probably be my pick for Mufasa as well I think. I'm not very good with name of actors and stuff to be honest but I definitely think that James Earl Jones should voice Mufasa again.
Zazu I think will need a change in voice to be honest because being a "real" bird means that I don't think he will be quite as bubbly as he was in TLK, I feel like a new voice will be needed to match the shift in his character that will be required to make Zazu work in a live action remake.

I hadn't even thought about voice actors! Augh!

I think Ernie Sabella has a pretty good history of being happy to reprise his role wherever possible. If anyone from the original cast would be returning, it'd probably be him.

Lupita N'yongo as Nala

I don't dare to give names but I would rather divide the characters in three groups:

1) Scar and Zazu should both have a Brittish accent, with Scar being played by a stage actor as Shakespearian as the character is.
2) Mufasa and Rafiki have some mysticism and are the characters that most heavily remind the African culture behind the film, so I think only an African or African American actor with a deep (Mufasa) or really histrionic (Rafiki) voice can do a great job. Certainly I would not take a Brittish actor for Mufasa! As some sugested Liam Neeson.
3) Timon and Pumbaa should be played by funny comedians of the Broadway showbiz.
4) Simba, Nala and the hyenas could be any of the latter.

[quote="TheLionPrince"]Here's my list:

Lupita N'yongo - a strong possibility for adult Nala
Chadwick Boseman - a strong possibility for adult Simba
James Earl Jones - an early toss-up for Mufasa

I would like to see Ernie Sabella reprise Pumbaa because he's in the perfect in the role, has never been recast, and his voice hasn't gotten older over the years.[/quote]

I like these choices, although I would be O.K. with Heather Headley voicing adult Nala.

Also if this character is included in this movie. I have always liked the Idea of Keith David as Nala's Father.