These National Geographic filmmakers spent four years following the journey of a single lion cub – I can’t wait to watch!
National Geographic’s ‘Lion’ promises to be a real-life Lion King story – and the trailer footage looks incredible
National Geographic has premiered a groundbreaking new series, Lion, directed by Jon Favreau, the filmmaker behind Disney's 2019 CG remake of The Lion King. The series offers an unprecedented, four-year-long journey of a single lion cub named Kio, filmed over a thousand days on Kenya's Masai Mara savannah. Favreau, a newcomer to documentary filmmaking, collaborated with veteran BBC producer Mike Gunton, who suggested using drones for aerial shots, a novel approach in this genre.
The team relied on local Kenyan talent, including aerial cinematographer Anthony Njuguna, to capture breathtaking footage. Initially, the crew filmed 50 lions without a clear narrative in mind, but their focus shifted to Kio, who battled adversity to become the pack's leader. Favreau's decision to prioritize authenticity over CGI appealed to him, especially given the rise of AI-generated content.
Composed by Hans Zimmer, the series' score adds to its realism. Lion is now available on Disney Plus and Hulu.
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