The Lion King finally hits SA screens
JOBURG – The Lion King premiere takes us back to our childhoods as South Africa comes out for a night under the stars.
After what seemed to be ages, The Lion King has finally hit the big screens following the official South African premiere. On 18 July, the young and old alike were treated to a special screening of The Lion King under the stars.
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Opening to a packed outdoor cinema at the Johannesburg Country Club, the film still holds the record as the animated film with the highest attendance in South Africa. Christine Service, senior vice president and country manager for The Walt Disney Company Africa, said the success of the film is not only due to the storyline but also its endearing humour and music.
The film’s storyline resonates the world over and through all ages and the live-action film adaptation is directed by Jon Favreau and journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba idolises his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.
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“The film is very true to the original Lion King, but, what is does is really show the power of combining world-class creativity with the latest in technology,” Service said.
Lending his timeless voice to Rafiki’s character, legendary stage and screen actor, writer and director, Dr John Kani said it was very rare for an actor and performer to do something they fully believe in and are absolutely proud of it.
“My love, my passion and everything is this continent of Africa. I have always celebrated African humanity,” Dr Kani said.
In the 25 years since the film was first released, the world has lost half its population of lions. In June, The Walt Disney Company launched a global conservation campaign to raise awareness of the crisis facing lions and other wildlife across Africa. The Lion King Protect the Pride campaign focuses on protecting and revitalising lion populations and the habitats they need to thrive.
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In celebration of the film’s release, The Walt Disney Company Africa launched The Lion King Screening Programme which will see up to 10 000 high school learners from under-served communities across the country experiencing the ground-breaking new film.
“We are thrilled to be launching this screening initiative with our partners and creating access for thousands of learners to see this exciting new film that is so rich with heritage and connections to this continent, be it through the characters and landscapes depicted or through the iconic music,” said Service.
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The film features the voices of Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Dr John Kani as Rafiki, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon, and officially opens in cinemas on 19 July.
