Beyoncé provided her fans with a happy surprise today (June 28, 2020) with the reveal of a trailer for “Black Is King,” a visual album inspired by The Lion King. Written, directed and executive produced by Beyoncé, the film will premiere globally on Disney Plus on July 31, 2020.
The date marks the one year anniversary of the release of Disney’s The Lion King remake, for which Beyoncé provided the voice for Nala.
In production for a year, “‘Black Is King” is a celebratory memoir for the world on the Black experience,” Disney and Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment said in a press release 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.”
The visual album will take the lessons of The Lion King and retell them for “today’s young kings and queens in search of their own crowns.” Specifically, the film tells the story of a young king’s “transcendent journey through betrayal, love and self-identity.”
According to the press release, “These timeless lessons are revealed and reflected through Black voices of today, now sitting in their own power. ‘Black Is King’ is an affirmation of a grand purpose, with lush visuals that celebrate Black resilience and culture. The film highlights the beauty of tradition and Black excellence.”
Check out the trailer below.
