The upcoming Disney film has tapped 'Luke Cage' actress Alfre Woodard to voice Simba's mom and John Kani to voice the royal advisor.
- Aug 8, 2017
AceShowbiz - Disney's live-action "The Lion King (2019)" has found its Sarabi and Rafiki. The upcoming remake of the 1994 animated film has cast Oscar-nominated actress Alfre Woodard as the voice of Simba's mom and John Kani as the voice of the wise baboon.
The Hollywood Reporter is the first to report Woodard's involvement in the upcoming live-action film to be directed by Jon Favreau. In the original "The Lion King", Sarabi was voiced by Madge Sinclair.
Meanwhile, TheWrap is the first to report the casting news of Kani. Rafiki, who is the advisor to the royal family, was voiced by Robert Guillaume in the animated film which was directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff.
63-year-old Woodard most recently appeared on Netflix's Marvel series "Luke Cage", while 73-year-old Kani is known for his portrayal of T'Chaka in "Captain America: Civil War". The actor is reprising the role in "Black Panther", which is due out in the U.S. on February 16, 2018.
In the upcoming "Lion King" film, the two new voice cast members join Donald Glover, James Earl Jones, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Billy Eichner, Seth Rogen and John Oliver. Set to arrive on July 19, 2019, the live-action film will be directed by Jon Favreau from a script by Jeff Nathanson.
