Donald Glover can add yet another epic role to his acting résumé.
The actor has been tapped to play the rambunctious cub-prince Simba in Disney’s live-action reimagining of The Lion King, EW reports. On Friday, Feb. 17, director Jon Favreau revealed the casting via social media, along with the news that James Earl Jones will reprise his role as Mufasa, also known as the ruler of Pride Rock from the 1994 animated movie.
I just can’t wait to be king. #Simba pic.twitter.com/wUYKixMBJI
— Jon Favreau (@Jon_Favreau) February 18, 2017
Disney first announced the concept in September of last year, shortly after Favreau revealed that his box-office smash, The Jungle Book, would film a sequel. As for the new Lion King, it is expected to use performance-capture technology and computer-generated imagery to bring its animal characters to life. We also anticipate a lively update of popular songs from the original movie.
Looking forward to working with this legend. #Mufasa pic.twitter.com/1LszbWrcYT
— Jon Favreau (@Jon_Favreau) February 18, 2017
A multifaceted actor, award-winning writer, Grammy-nominated artist, and comedian, Glover has garnered critical acclaim for both writing and starring in the overnight sensation series, “Atlanta,” on FX. Following two cousins, with different views on art versus commerce, the series tracks “Earnest ‘Earn’ Marks,” an ambitious college dropout and his estranged cousin, as they navigate their way up through the Atlanta rap scene to stardom — for one.
Glover’s other credits include Marvel’s upcoming Spider-Man: Homecoming and the untitled Star Wars movie about a young Han Solo; where he’s poised to play the part of Lando Calrissian, “in his formative years as a scoundrel on the rise in the galaxy’s underworld — years before the events involving Han, Leia, and Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back and his rise to Rebel hero in Return of the Jedi,” reads a statement about the film..
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