Lion Queen! Beyonce Steals The Spotlight In New 'Lion King' Cast Photo
By Peyton Blakemore
July 9, 2019
On Monday (July 8), Disney released the first cast photo for its highly-anticipated remake of Lion King. While the photo marks the first time the entire cast, excluding James Earl Jones, has been photographed together, the only thing people could talk about was Queen Bey.
Effortlessly slaying in black, matching her cast-mates, Beyonce's presence in the picture is almost tangible as she's both literally and figuratively at the center of the star-studded photo. The only way to describe it, as Vulture so eloquently put it, is to state the obvious: On one side of Queen Bey "is Donald Glover, Florence Kasumba, JD McCrary, Seth Rogen, Shahadi Wright Joseph, and Billy Eichner. On the other side of Beyoncé is Alfre Woodard, Chiwetel Ejiofor, John Oliver, Keegan Michael Key, and Eric André."
As fans know, Bey stars in Lion King as Nahla. The role of the lioness was reportedly expanded after Bey was cast as the Queen of the jungle. The 37-year-old singer opened about her excitement for the film's release while at her mother Tina Knowles Lawson’s third annual Wearable Art Gala last month. "I'm so excited for my kids to see it, but it means even more to share this experience and this culture of The Lion King with my mother and my family," she shared.
Lion King arrives in theaters July 19.
Check out how Bey's fans reacted to the new Lion King cast photo below:
someone said “Beyonce probably took her own photo & had Blue send it to Disney with the caption (Edit in the Middle) “ I am DEAD BRO! 😂💀 https://t.co/nHnECv4B0c
— PAPI CHULO (@princetonperez) July 9, 2019
John Oliver's internal monologue is like OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD IS THAT BEYONCÉ OH MY GOD IT'S REALLY HER HOW IS SHE REAL OH MY GOD JOHN ACT NATURAL DON'T STARE AT HER pic.twitter.com/FCLZIIDBqo
— just say they (@indiosyncratic) July 8, 2019
a) I'm pretty dang sure none of these people were in the same room when this photo was taken b) if they were I would have EXACTLY the same expression as John Oliver if Beyoncé were positioned to my right. "IS SHE LOOKING AT ME OH GOD SHOULD I LOOK AT HER WHAT DO I DO?" pic.twitter.com/lRmwrzzh1l
— Joanna Robinson (@jowrotethis) July 8, 2019
I’m thrilled to be a part of this cast and to be in a picture with Beyoncé. #TheLionKing is coming! pic.twitter.com/jUuyQ6YtV7
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) July 8, 2019
My favourite thing about the #LionKing cast picture is how John Oliver is exploding on the inside for being sat that close to Beyoncé. pic.twitter.com/qc1hDGFjdk
— Zara Jones 🏳️🌈 (@ZaraIsEarly) July 9, 2019
OK, @beyonce, there are going to be other #LionKing cast members with you, so try not to hog the limelight.
— Hits at Breakfast with Dan Morrissey (@hitsatbreakfast) July 9, 2019
Beyonce: pic.twitter.com/prsBPrIxYU
Locals: "Don't make The Lion King about Beyoncé"
— Nalá (@boricuabeyhivee) July 8, 2019
The Cast: https://t.co/vJ3bb8Mv9X
*Beyonce and the cast of the Lion King...there, I fixed it. https://t.co/Yu4Mf6K8Qf
— Frances 🌻 (@FrancesZenobia_) July 8, 2019
Photo: Getty Images