Be Prepared! Will Scar Sing In THE LION KING Reboot
Pat Cerasaro
The hotly anticipated big screen live action reboot of one of Disney's most popular properties arrives in theaters later this year and the original film's most nefarious number may make the final cut after all according to a new report.
DisInsider's Skyler Shuler took to Twitter this week to report that Scar's epic Elton John/Tim Rice showstopper - to be performed by Chiwetel Ejiofor - will likely be reprised in the new feature film adaptation of THE LION KING.
Shuler reports, "I get this question a lot, but I've heard 'Be Prepared' will indeed be in THE LION KING remake."
Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons originally performed the tune in the 1994 animated film.
Loosely based upon Shakespeare's HAMLET, the 32nd animated feature film in Disney's formidable canon of family classics achieved worldwide acclaim in its debut, amassing nearly $1 billion in its original theatrical run. Showcasing an Academy Award-winning score by Elton John, Tim Rice and Hans Zimmer, THE LION KING boasts one of the most powerful soundtracks of any Disney film - certainly, no small feat given the ubiquitous catalog the company has amassed. Subsequently, the innovative 1997 stage adaptation of the tale of Pride Rock denizens directed by avant garde theatre artist Julie Taymor managed to have an even bigger impact, eventually becoming the most financially successful musical in Broadway history, taking home the Tony Award for Best Musical and packing audiences in to this very day in productions around the world.
Director Jon Favreau's 21st century take on THE LION KING features the voice talents of Donald Glover, Beyonce, Seth Rogan, Chiwetel Ejiofor, John Oliver, Billy Eichner, Keegan-Michael Kay, Alfre Woodard and James Earl Jones, the latter reprising his iconic role from the first film. The songstack will include many musical chestnuts from the original big screen version and stage show as well as newly-composed material by John, Rice and Zimmer. With the teaser trailer having already amassed nearly 250 million views since its debut on Thanksgiving - already one of the most-viewed movie trailers in history - it seems fair to wager that Disney has a hit of massive proportions in its paws.
THE LION KING will be released on July 19, 2019, marking the 25th anniversary of the original film's release.