As The Lion King on Stage prepares to enter its eleventh West End year at the Lyceum Theatre, rumours of a 3D movie remake are in the air. The success of 3D films, notably Avatar and Toy Story 3, has seen the format surge ahead and Disney is now keen to give their animated masterpiece a visual makeover.
As The Lion King on Stage prepares to enter its eleventh West End year at the Lyceum Theatre, rumours of a 3D movie remake are in the air. The success of 3D films, notably Avatar and Toy Story 3, has seen the format surge ahead and Disney is now keen to give their animated masterpiece a visual makeover.
Speaking to Empire Magazine in June, Disney Producer Don Hahn (Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King and Who Framed Rodger Rabbit) revealed that he had big plans up his sleeve:
“I’m actually trying to work out a 3D conversion of The Lion King. I’ll be doing that when I go back to the States … It’s going to be spectacular – we will do a good job for ya! The technology is tremendous”.
Could the 3D Experience Upstage the Musical?
Love it or loathe it, the new wave of 3D looks here to stay – especially with audiences prepared to pay a premium on their cinema tickets. But, even with the latest technology, it would take an incredible reworking for the movie to upstage the fabulous Lion King musical.
Whilst Hahn explained that we shouldn’t expect to see Simba, Timon and Pumbaa on the big screen soon – as the Disney boffins take time to work their 3D magic – fans can still enjoy an original show that goes from strength to strength.
With energetic contributions from over 40 performers, the Lion King musical is one of theatre’s greatest spectacles. From the magnificent opening, with all manner of wild beasts stalking the aisles of the auditorium, to the exuberant sets, colourful costumes and stirring African rhythms that bring the savannah to life, the production has been treating fans to an immersive Lion King experience without the need for those ridiculous red and blue glasses!
With box office records tumbling at the turn of 2010, including house records for the Lyceum Theatre, it will be interesting to see what the boffins come up with.
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Uktickets is the author of this article on Lion King London.
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