Hakuna Matata mania just reached full roar: Disney dropped its first full “The Lion King” trailer Wednesday.
The new extended clip for the live-action update of the 1994 cartoon classic should come with a disclaimer: live-action does not mean real animals were used. The movie, which hits theaters July 19, is still animated — though done in a moody CGI style.
Some pop culture critics are going so far as to describe the trailer as “disturbing” and “terrifying.” Others were just confused by the “hyper-realistic animals.”
While the trailer shows Simba and Nala, we’ve yet to hear them speak. We do know they’re being played by Donald Glover and, swoon, Beyonce Knowles Carter — but these popular casting choices might not be enough to satisfy some fans.
Though teasers for the highly anticipated film were previously released, in this new clip viewers get their first looks at Timon and Pumbaa, the jolly warthog and meerkat duo now voiced by Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen. The comedians can be seen singing “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” together. Fingers crossed we get to hear them sing “Hakuna Matata” before the film is released.
Alas, as with any beloved classic, there are members of the diehard fandom that aren’t pleased.
“Pumbaa look hideous,” griped one Twitter user, after seeing the new interpretation of the character. “It’s really weird seeing the iconic ‘Simba grows up singing along with Timon & Pumbaa as they bob their heads to the song while walking on a log’ but with realistic-looking animals,” wrote another.
On the plus side: The clip is the first time viewers get to see villain Scar, voiced by actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, known for his Oscar-nominated role as Solomon Northup in “12 Years A Slave.”
In this update, James Earl Jones reprises his role from the original film as the king of the jungle, Mufasa.
The all-star cast also includes John Oliver as bird Zazu, Keegan Michael Key as Kamari, a goonish hyena, and Alfre Woodard as Sarabi, wife to Mufasa and Simba’s mom.
