BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Disney’s press conference for its live-action reimagining of “The Lion King” kicked off Wednesday afternoon with a live performance of “The Circle of Life” by soundtrack performers Clydene Jackson and Lebo M., plus a choir accompaniment composed of members of the film’s voice cast. (Jackson replaces Carmen Twillie on the new soundtrack while Lebo M. returns from the 1994 film.)
The junket, held at Beverly Hills’ Montage hotel, was attended by a star-studded yet incomplete roster of the film’s cast and crew, including Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, Keegan Michael Key, Eric Andre, JD McCrary, Shahadi Wright Joseph, John Kani, Florence Kasumba, director Jon Favreau, composer Hans Zimmer and Lebo M.
Beyonce Knowles-Carter, James Earl Jones and John Oliver were the key cast members not in attendance.
Here are some of the best quotes from the hourlong conference:
DONALD GLOVER DIDN’T TELL HIS SON HE WAS IN THE MOVIE
“I didn’t tell him anything, I really didn’t,” he said. “It’s his favorite movie so I was like ‘I’ll just wait until he gets there.’ But somehow he found out about it, but still didn’t know I was in it. He was just like, ‘Oh, the one with Beyonce.’ And then during the movie, ‘Oh, dad’s in it too! This is great! A bonus.'”