Disney's new "Lion King" has been confirmed. "Community" and "Atlanta" alum Donald Grover has been signed on to play Simba in the reboot of the classic 1994 animated film.
The film's director, Jon Favreau, who also helmed Disney's "The Jungle Book" remake, announced the news on his Twitter account. Favreau also revealed that James Earl Jones will reprise his role as Mufasa, Simba's father, whom he voiced in the original.
Disney also officially confirmed the casting in on Feb. 17, Friday, adding that in the film, "Disney and Favreau will build on the groundbreaking technology used in 'The Jungle Book' to bring the story of Simba to photorealistic life," according to Vanity Fair. The project was first announced in September after Disney's growing list of successful re-imaginations including "Maleficent," "Cinderella" and "The Jungle Book."
Grover's casting does not come as a surprise. The actor's role in "Atlanta" has created a lot of buzz and also earned him a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a TV Series or Musical. Grover is not only the show's creator but also serves as a co-writer on the FX series, which has already picked up for a renewal.
In October, Grover was cast as a young Lando Calrissian in the highly anticipated young Han Solo movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The actor will star alongside Alden Ehrenreich, who has been tapped to play Han Solo in the "Star Wars" spin-off, which is slated to hit theaters in 2018.
"The Lion King" is one of the most successful titles in Disney's portfolio and one of the biggest animated films in history. When it was released in 1994, the movie earned a jaw-dropping $968 million worldwide on a $45 million budget. A release date for the upcoming remake has not yet been set but it is among Disney's slew of upcoming live-action adaptations like "Mulan," "Aladdin," and "The Little Mermaid."
Disney's "Beauty and The Beast" live-action remake, starring Emma Watson, Dan Stevens and Luke Evans," is slated to hit theaters on March 17. Watch the upcoming film's trailer below:
