Disney is currently developing on two different live-action remakes, Aladdin and Jon Favreau's The Lion King, so basically every day it's some new piece of perfect casting. We've said it before here, but when Disney hires an actor for something, they are never far away from the next gig. If you sign on for Marvel, it's like an open door to something else for the Mouse House. And we're seeing that again now as two Marvel vets have joined the cast of The Lion King.
THR reports that Alfred Woodard, who had a small role as Miriam Sharpe in Captain America: Civil War, and then played villain Mariah Dillard in Luke Cage, has been cast as Sarabi, the mother Simba. Meanwhile, The Wrap adds that John Kani, who played Black Panther's father T'Chaka in Captain America: Civil War, will play royal mandrill adviser, Rafiki, who everyone knows is a key character in the movie. Somebody's got to hold baby Simba up and complete the Circle of Life! Rafiki also has some boss martial arts skills. Rafiki was voiced by Robert Guillaume in the animated classic, the late Madge Sinclair voiced Sarabi.
They join Donald Glover as Simba, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner as Pumbaa and Timon, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, John Oliver as Zazu, and possibly Beyoncé as Nala. The Lion King opens July 19th 2019.
