The Lion King (and Beyoncé) Takes Hollywood by Storm
Hollywood was transformed into Pride Rock Tuesday evening, as Disneys remake of The Lion King had it..
Hollywood was transformed into Pride Rock Tuesday evening, as Disneys remake of The Lion King had its world premiere. Hundreds of fans flocked to Hollywood Boulevard and gathered around a life-size replica of the animated rock formation, made famous in the original 1994 film that introduced Simba, Mufasa, and their friends and enemies.
Beyoncé, who voices the role of lioness Nala, arrived on the red carpet holding hands with her seven-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, and the two stole the spotlight in their coordinated ensembles. The iconic singer wore a custom diamond-encrusted Alexander McQueen tuxedo dress, while Blue matched her mom in a black bedazzled tuxedo dress also designed by McQueen. The Lion King marks Beyoncés first feature-film role since 2013s animated film Epic. She took the role after director Jon Favreau reached out and spoke to her about three years ago.
“She has this persona that is bigger than life, but really shes very down to earth,” said Favreau on the carpet. “Shes engaging and curious and incredibly committed. I have to say, she really lives up to her reputation—she is the hardest worker. When I was working with her, she was making Lemonade, directing Homecoming, and having kids, and still she was extremely well prepared when we were together.”
In the new film the role of Nala is expanded. Beyoncé even wrote a new song called “Spirit” for her character, which is featured during a pivotal scene with Simba, voiced as an adult by Donald Glover. She also has a duet with Glover, covering Elton Johns beloved ballad “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.”
“To be singing that song with Beyoncé is crazy. I never thought Id be singing any song with her. It was really cool to learn from her on how she approaches songs and her work with her soul,” said Glover, also known as the rapper Childish Gambino. “Shes incredible and she has so much love for everybody. Its such an iconic song. It was really nice not to have to learn the words because I heard it so many times when I was a kid. You dont get that a lot. I felt really close to that song, and it was very emotional. You try and do it the way you feel, and how it felt to you when you were a child.”
For Glover, portraying king-in-waiting Simba is a full circle moment. The Atlanta Emmy winner watched the animated feature as a kid; it inspired him to become an artist, he said. Now he can share the film with his own young son Legend.
“This is my sons favorite movie. He loves the cartoon and is a big fan of animals. Its an amazing feeling to be in this movie and to be able to show him my work,” said Glover. “This moRead More – Source
