On Wednesday, Disney released the first full trailer for their remake of The Lion King and it has taken over the internet. But when the live-action film was first announced in 2016, there was some skepticism among fans of the 1994 original animated movie. It seemed a little odd to call it "live action" when it's 100 percent CGI.
But, for most social media users, those doubts melted away when they saw Simba (voiced by Donald Glover) running to the film's iconic soundtrack and heard Mufasa (voiced once again by James Earl Jones) say, "While others search for what they can take, a true king searches for what he can give."
First of all, Simba looks absolutely adorable.
simba is so precious, i just want to protect him from everything and everyone #TheLionKing #Disney pic.twitter.com/DoAyaN3Ypa
— seni (@irissbloom) April 10, 2019
Everyone can't wait to hear Nala, voiced by none other than Beyoncé.
And it's clear Disney has made a notable effort to stay true to some of the most iconic moments of the original movie.
YALL MIND IF I SCREAM#TheLionKing pic.twitter.com/QggZP2osk3
— josie (@emiliaheards) April 10, 2019
But there's one aspect of the trailer that's getting largely negative reviews. Scar looks...different.
The movie's villain seems a lot more genuinely terrifying and less comically debonair than he is in the original. And they didn't keep his fabulous mane, either!
I miss the designs, there ARE black maned lions why scar doesn't look like this? pic.twitter.com/KUAtsPcYWX
— ko 🧠 OPM HYPE (@SHSL_ANIMATOR) April 10, 2019
For many people whose childhoods were essentially defined by the animated Lion King, this new Scar just isn't making the cut. He seems a lot less expressive than the original.
One of the great things about the animated Scar is that even though you hated him because he was evil and cruel, he was also a fantastic villain. Some of the best parts of the movie consist of him looking exceptionally bored or throwing some serious side-eye. In comparison, the new Scar feels a bit more one-dimensional.
Then there's the voice. As an Academy Award nominee, Chiwetel Ejiofor is undeniably a brilliant actor. But it's hard to replace the silky glory of Jeremy Irons' timbre and modulation. He simply purred evil, and every one of his lines was somehow both menacing and enticing, which is a very difficult balance to strike.
No disrespect to Chiwetel Ejiofor but Jeremy Irons had the best Scar voice in #TheLionKing pic.twitter.com/wcjbVW35z3
— Iliesa (@mataiono) April 10, 2019
So, to summarize the overall reaction on social media:
That being said, perhaps the fact that Scar is so different is a good thing. It seems like the live-action version is going to retain his wrongdoing, but make him more of a sympathetic character. After all, the trailer begins with Scar saying, "Life's not fair....while some are born to feast, others spend their lives in the dark."
The best Disney films teach us compassion, and remind us that even villains have feelings and backstories, too.
One way or another, we can't wait to find out more about the new Scar when the new Lion King hits theaters on July 19! And for more Disney nostalgia, check out 20 Amazing Facts About Disney’s Most Iconic Characters.
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