Credit: Inside the MagicThis June, The Lion King (1994) celebrates a 30-year reign as Disney royalty, and the House of Mouse is already honoring it with a star-studded concert at the Hollywood Bowl set to hit Disney+. That’s all well and good, but that’s not the only jewel in Simba’s crown.
Not only has The Lion King kept its title as the most successful traditionally animated film of all time, but it also bears the historical achievement of being one of the longest-running musicals on the Broadway stage. Sitting just under Chicago and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic Phantom of the Opera, Julie Taymor’s African-inspired adaptation of the Disney film has delighted audiences around the world for years.
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Be that as it may, while The Lion King remains one of Disney’s most successful stage musicals, very few can afford a ticket to see the show in New York City or even on the touring circuit. Since Disney has brought stage productions of Beauty and the Beast, Hamilton, and Newsies to its magical streaming service, why hasn’t its golden child passed the auditions?
The Lion King: From Stage to Stream
@The Lion King For 25 years, The Lion King has touched hearts & inspired imagination. Share the Show of a Lifetime.
Likely in honor of the film’s upcoming anniversary (or maybe even hyping up Mufasa (2024)) promos for the Broadway show celebrating 25 years on stage like the one above have been circulating TikTok. As majestic and stunning as the stage production is, it’s still the only Disney theatrical event that has achieved such a sense of immortality. So why not bring it onto Disney+?
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The decision to film a production of Hamilton with Lin-Manuel Miranda undoubtedly did wonders for both the show and Miranda’s careers, generating a whole new sea of fans for the Ten-Dollar-Founding-Father. Given the generations of fans that already love The Lion King, it would easily be one of the most-streamed features on the platform in no time.
What’s The Hold Up?
Apart from bootlegs on YouTube, there is currently no filmed version of the Broadway show, which is truly a disservice on Disney’s part. While no recording, no matter how vivid, could ever replace the experience of seeing the performance live on stage, making the musical more accessible for a general audience could generate some good publicity in Disney’s favor.
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In the age of streaming services, many classic Broadway shows have become readily available for the public to enjoy. BroadwayHD, for example, has dozens of filmed versions of iconic stage productions such as Godspell, Pippin, Gypsy, and even Phantom of the Opera. At this point, there is practically no reason that The Lion King hasn’t been given the same routine.
The Lion King might be one of the most successful shows on stage, but what happens when the production inevitably has to close? Hopefully, as Disney brings the Hollywood Bowl celebration to Disney+, it will pave the way for an eventual filmed variant of the beloved musical version.
Do you think Disney needs to bring the show from stage to screen? Tell Inside the Magic in the comments below!