In a surprise, Disney Plus announced a new visual album from Beyoncé — Black Is King, inspired by The Lion King; is coming to the streaming service next month.
Black Is King, written, directed and executive produced by Beyoncé; will premiere globally on Disney Plus on July 31, 2020. That’s just after the one-year anniversary of the theatrical release of Disney’s The Lion King remake; for which Queen Bey voiced Nala. The movie launched on Disney Plus in January).
A one-minute teaser trailer for Black Is King dropped Saturday night on beyonce.com.
Watch the trailer below:
The film is based on the music of The Lion King: The Gift, released last year in conjunction with the Disney pic, and stars the album’s featured artists and some special guest appearances.
The Beyoncé-produced album features Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell, 070 Shake, Tierra Whack, Jay-Z, Blue Ivy Carter and Jessie Reyez, as well as African artists including Wizkid, Shatta Wale, Burna Boy, Mr Eazi, Tiwa Savage, Tekno, Yemi Alade, Busiswa and Salatiel.
“Black Is King is a celebratory memoir for the world on the Black experience,” Disney and Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment said in announcing the visual album.
“The film is a story for the ages that informs and rebuilds the present. A reunion of cultures and shared generational beliefs. A story of how the people left most broken have an extraordinary gift and a purposeful future.”
According to the companies, Beyoncé’s visual album reimagines lessons of The Lion King for “today’s young kings and queens in search of their own crowns”. The film was in production for one year with a cast and crew that represent “diversity and connectivity.”
