Lion King: New trailer called ‘disgusting; and ‘terrifying’

Hakuna Matata mania just reached full roar: Disney dropped its first full The Lion King trailer.

The new extended clip for the live-action update of the 1994 cartoon classic should come with a disclaimer: live-action does not mean real animals were used. The movie, which hits theatres July 17, is still animated — though done in a moody CGI style.

Some pop culture critics are going so far as to describe the trailer as “disturbing” and “terrifying”. Others were just confused by the “hyper-realistic animals”.

 

While the trailer shows Simba and Nala, we’ve yet to hear them speak. We do know they’re being played Donald Glover and, swoon, Beyonce Knowles Carter — but these popular casting choices might not be enough to satisfy some fans.

Though teasers for the highly anticipated film were previously released, in this new clip viewers get their first looks Timon and Pumbaa, the jolly warthog and meerkat duo now voiced by Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen. The comedians can be seen singing The Lion Sleeps Tonight together. Fingers crossed we get to hear them sing Hakuna Matata before the film is released.

Alas, as with any beloved classic, there are members of the diehard fandom that aren’t pleased.
 

I'm all for the lion king remake, (mostly because of Donald Glover), but these two pictures highlight how having live action cartoon characters restricts the portrayal of emotion, I mean just look at the picture of scar in the original photo compared to the new one #TheLionKing pic.twitter.com/aFpREnNzY3

— Alistair (@alip1118) April 10, 2019

“Pumbaa look hideous,” griped one Twitter user, after seeing the new interpretation of the character. “It’s really weird seeing the iconic ‘Simba grows up singing along with Timon & Pumbaa as they bob their heads to the song while walking on a log’ but with realistic-looking animals,” wrote another.

The all-star cast also includes John Oliver as bird Zazu, Keegan Michael Key as Kamari, a goonish hyena and Alfre Woodard as Sarabi, wife to Mufasa and Simba’s mum.

This article originally appeared on The New York Post and was reproduced with permission