Beyoncé Will Star In The New ‘Lion King’ Movie, And This Is Not A Drill

Sometimes we can have nice things!

After teasing us all year, Walt Disney Pictures finally confirmed that Beyoncé will play Nala in its upcoming live-action Lion King remake. The news came as part of a larger full cast announcement on Wednesday, per The Hollywood Reporter.

#TheLionKing. 2019. 🦁👑 pic.twitter.com/UMJo18FwDt

— Disney (@Disney) November 1, 2017

Beyoncé joins previously announced cast members like Donald Glover (Simba), James Earl Jones (Mufasa), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Scar), and Alfre Woodard (Sarabi). You know what that means? That means that Beyoncé will do some mid-tempo Elton John with Childish Gambino. I can feel myself hyperventilating into a half-eaten box of Dots now

Rounding out the cast are JD McCrary (young Simba), Shahadi Wright Joseph (young Nala), John Kani (Rafiki), John Oliver (Zazu), Seth Rogen (Pumbaa), Billy Eichner (Timon), Florence Kasumba (Shenzi), Eric André (Azizi), and Keegan-Michael Key (Kamari).

“It is a director’s dream to assemble a talented team like this to bring this classic story to life,” director Jon Favreau told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement.

Beyoncé had been rumored to be Favreau’s top pick for the role for months nowbecause obviously. Less obvious is why the movie won’t come out until July 19, 2019. Feels kinda cruel and unusual, universe!

Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TIDAL)