National Geographic has released the official trailer for Lion, a four-part natural history event series executive produced by The Lion King live-action director Jon Favreau and BBC Studios Natural History Unit creative director Mike Gunton. The series premieres August 19 on National Geographic at 9/8c, with all episodes streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
Four years in the making and filmed entirely in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, Lion chronicles the remarkable journey of a tiny lion cub named Kio from his most vulnerable days to becoming a king. It is the first natural history production to document a lion’s complete journey from cub to king, with the crew logging nearly 1,400 filming days across 52 shoots, the most time ever spent in the field exclusively following a single pride. Local Kenyan filmmakers were part of the crew throughout production.
The series blends Favreau’s cinematic storytelling with Gunton’s world-class natural history expertise to deliver what the team describes as a gripping, blockbuster drama rooted in documentary truth. Narration is provided by O.J. Lynch, known for Mufasa and the The Lion King stage production, and the score is composed by Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer alongside Niccolò Pacella and George Hutson Warren for Bleeding Fingers Music. Drawing on recordings captured in the Maasai Mara including local singers, instruments and even lion roars, the music subtly weaves in rerecorded musical nods to The Lion King. The original series soundtrack will be released through Hollywood Records on August 21.
“After tracking the lions in the field for four years, the pride never ceased to surprise us,” said Favreau. “What Kio endures and eventually becomes is extraordinary. Watching the hero’s journey against the backdrop of nature was incredible to witness.”
In conjunction with the series, Disney is continuing its Protect the Pride campaign supporting the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Lion Recovery Fund, which aims to double the number of lions in the wild by 2050. Since the campaign’s 2019 launch, Disney has invested more than $5 million in the fund, which has supported more than 400 conservation projects across 26 countries.
Lion is produced by BBC Studios Natural History Unit for National Geographic. Jon Favreau and Mike Gunton executive produce alongside Jane Atkins as series producer and Simon Blakeney as co-executive producer. Janet Han Vissering and Tom McDonald executive produce for National Geographic.
Lion premieres August 19 on National Geographic and streams August 20 on Disney+ and Hulu.