‘I felt a tremendous responsibility not to screw it up’, Jon Favreau on ‘The Lion King’ remake
While fans eagerly wait for the release of the live-action take on Disney’s The Lion King, filmmaker Jon Favreau shares the film which has become a deep part of our culture, and felt a tremendous responsibility while re-imagining the world of Disney’s classic with the use of technology.
The director claims that he has tried his best to stay true to the classic story of Simba and used pioneering filmmaking techniques to bring the iconic characters to the big screen in a whole new way.
“It’s such a beloved property. Disney has had tremendous success with the original animated version and then the Broadway musical. I knew that I had to be very careful with it. I felt a tremendous responsibility not to screw it up,” Favreau said in a statement.
“I wanted to demonstrate that we could be respectful of the source material while bringing it to life using mind-blowing techniques and technologies,” he added.
Director has also shared that it was a trip to Africa that pointed him in the direction of The Lion King.
“I went on a safari to Africa six months prior to first talking to Disney about doing this film,” recalled Favreau.
“I remember when a warthog ran by our safari vehicle, one of the people in our group started singing Hakuna Matata. And then when we saw lions upon a rock, they all said, ‘Oh, look, it looks like Lion King’. This story has become a frame of reference that everybody now knows and accepts.
“It pops up in music, on TV shows, in comedy routines, as part of sketches. It’s continually referenced. It’s such a deep part of our culture that it felt like there was a tremendous opportunity to build on that and to retell the story in a different medium.”
So far the early reactions appearing on social media suggest the upcoming live-action is a “wonderful” remake.
#TheLionKing is a visual effects spectacular. @Jon_Favreau uses new age tools and techniques to tell beloved story in a new way. @donaldglover and @Beyonce make a perfect voicing pair. Prepare to be wowed by this live-action adaption of a Disney animated classic. pic.twitter.com/Y4FUMo4I8A
— Malevolent Lee (@IamMichaelJLee) July 10, 2019
So the new #thelionking is a visual work of art. Favreau is becoming a master of this type of filmmaking. The story is pretty much the same, no real changes from the 1994 animated but the emotion is still all there. Cast crushes it. Such a talented cast and a lot of new laughs.
— Kristian Harloff (@KristianHarloff) July 10, 2019
#TheLionKing is visually and audibly astounding! I’ve never seen anything like that on an animation level. It’s so beautiful.
Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner really steal the show. Chiwetel Ejiofor is brilliant as Scar! It is so much fun. Great movie. pic.twitter.com/v62LHFIM7W
— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) July 10, 2019
Been lucky to have attended a number of world premieres but not sure I've ever heard as much clapping during a movie as I did tonight at #TheLionKing . Was like being at a rock concert. Movie is going to make so much money. pic.twitter.com/rnU4qf92mt
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) July 10, 2019
I just got out of #TheLionKing and really dug it. My fear was realistic animals wouldn’t have the charisma of the cartoon, but they’re very good. Timon and Pumba steal the show. Some of the song/choreo arrangements don’t work as well as the original but still a really fun flick. pic.twitter.com/mOrODQ0vHI
— Chris E. Haynerween H20: 20 Years Later (@ChrisHayner) July 10, 2019
The Lion King is a wonderful adaptation of an iconic classic. It has a few small changes which enhance what was already great and everything else is right on point. The CG can be slightly distracting at times but the emotion quickly covers that. Loved it. pic.twitter.com/9QmsP3PmNh
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) July 10, 2019
The film opens in theaters on July 19th.
