'The Lion King' Returns! Disney Announces 'The Lion Guard' TV Movie and Series
Hakuna matata, everybody! "The Lion King" is returning -- it's the circle of life after all -- with a primetime TV movie this November on the Disney Channel. Disney/ABC just shared details on "The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar," which will follow Kion, the second-born cub of Simba and Nala, as he assumes the role of leader of the Lion Guard, a team of animals tasked with preserving the Pride Lands. This movie event will lead into "The Lion Guard" TV series, premiering in early 2016 on Disney Channels and Disney Junior channels.
A special preview of "The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar" will be presented at Disney's D23 Expo on Sunday, August 16.
Here are more cast and plot details from Disney:
James Earl Jones and Ernie Sabella reprise their roles from "The Lion King" as Mufasa and Pumbaa, alongside Rob Lowe ("The Grinder") as Simba and Gabrielle Union ("Being Mary Jane") as Nala. Max Charles ("The Strain") stars as Kion. The voice cast also includes Joshua Rush ("The Adventures of Puss in Boots") as Kion's best friend, Bunga, a fearless honey badger; Atticus Shaffer ("The Middle") as Ono, an intellectual egret; Diamond White ("Sofia the First") as Fuli, a confident cheetah; and Dusan Brown ("Blaze and the Monster Machines") as Beshte, a friendly and good-spirited hippo.
Additional cast members include: Eden Riegel ("All My Children") as Kiara, Sarah Hyland ("Modern Family") as Tiifu, Madison Pettis as Zuri and Jeff Bennett as Zazu (both from "Jake and the Never Land Pirates"); Andrew Kishino ("Star Wars: The Clone Wars") as Janja, Vargus Mason ("Sofia the First") as Cheezi, Greg Ellis ("Star Wars Rebels") as Mzingo, Khary Payton ("Teen Titans") as Rafiki, and Kevin Schon ("The Lion King's Timon and Pumbaa") as Chungu and Timon.
Set in the African Savanna, "The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar" follows Kion as he assembles the members of the Lion Guard. While traditionally the Lion Guard has been comprised of lions known to be the fiercest, bravest, fastest, strongest and keenest of sight in the Pride Lands, Kion breaks tradition by instead calling upon some of his friends who he believes best exemplify these heroic qualities. Throughout the movie and the series, the diverse team of young animals will learn how to utilize each of their unique abilities to solve problems and accomplish tasks to maintain balance within the Circle of Life, while also introducing young viewers to the vast array of animals that populate the prodigious African landscape."
Look for more details to come out this weekend at D23 and pencil "The Lion Guard" into your schedule for November.
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