What do you get when you mix The Lion King with Rob Lowe?
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Characters from the 1994 Walt Disney movie “The Lion King” have not been seen in new settings since a direct-to-video sequel appeared more than a decade ago.
Then, in 2016 a new series, ‘The Lion Guard, ‘ will premiere on Disney Junior. It follows Kion, the second-born cub of Simba and Nala, as he assumes leadership of a team of animals (The Lion Guard) tasked with preserving the Pride Lands. The movie, as well as TV episodes that are scheduled to follow, will find the Guard learning to solve problems.
A special preview of The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar will be held at the D23 Expo this Sunday, August 16. This group includes Kion’s best friend Bunga, a fearless honey badger (Joshua Rush); Ono, an intellectual egret (The Middle’s Atticus Shaffer); Fuli, a confident cheetah (Diamond White) and Beshte, a friendly and good-spirited hippo (Dusan Brown).
Just look at his little fauxhawk?
The cast also includes Eden Riegel (“All My Children”); Sarah Hyland (“Modern Family“); “Jake and the Never Land Pirates” duo Madison Pettis and Jeff Bennett; Andrew Kishino (“Star Wars: The Clone Wars”); Vargus Mason (“Sofia the First”); Greg Ellis (“Star Wars Rebels“); Khary Payton (“Teen Titans“) and Kevin Schon (“The Lion King’s Timon and Pumbaa“). The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar is a Disney Television Animation production.
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In a nice bit of corporate synergy, experts from Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park served as consultants on the series and movie, which aim to educate young viewers about African wildlife.
