The First Reactions to Disney's The Lion King Remake Are Here

It sounds like The Lion King just can’t wait to be king of the box office. The first reactions to the CGI remake of Disney’s The Lion King are here, with critics praising the film’s visual effects and dynamic cast...although having photorealistic animals sing does seem to come with some caveats.

Directed by Jon Favreau, the remake stars the voices of Donald Glover, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, Billy Eichner, John Kani, and John Oliver—with James Earl Jones reprising his role as Mufasa. Inspired by the Shakespearean story of Hamlet, The Lion King is about a lion named Simba (Glover) who chooses to shun the world after suffering a personal tragedy. However, when the home he loved is threatened, he realizes he must return and face his destiny.

Here’s what the film critics have to say about Disney’s latest live-action (or, in this case, computer-generated) adaptation.

The Lion King arrives in theaters on July 19.

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