[53] Although a fan of the Lion King franchise, Union avoided watching previous Lion King films in preparation for the role because she wanted to "put [her] own stamp" on the character. "[38] Bacher believes that had The Lion King featured Nala as the Pride Lands' hero as opposed to Simba, the film could have avoided having a "patriarchal structure. Young Nala's speaking voice is provided by actress Niketa Calame, while singers Laura Williams and Sally Dworsky provide the singing voices of young and adult Nala respectively. [28] Because The Lion King is loosely based on William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet,[40][41][42] Nala is considered to be the film's "representative" of the Hamlet character Ophelia, Hamlet's love interest. But who plays the younger versions of the lions? [59] Joseph choose to work on the film because "[she knows] Nala inspires little girls because that happened to [her] when [she] was younger. Set within the time gap in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride,[52] the show revolves around Nala and Simba's son Kion who, being their second-born cub after Kiara, has been tasked with forming the next Lion Guard, a group responsible for protecting the Pride Lands. "[65] Kathryn LeBey Davidson of Her Campus believes that Nala's reputation is harmed by her limited screen time and role, ranking her the 19th greatest Disney heroine. In the original film, the adult Nala is voiced by American actress Moira Kelly. [73] In a 2014 interview, actor Eddie Redmayne admitted that Nala was his first "celebrity crush",[74] having been specifically attracted to the character's "sweet" face and singing voice,[75] referring to the experience as his "sexual awakening". Ella Ceron of Thought Catalog observed that "At [Simba's] return, she's not exactly the friendliest little kitten, either ... but is willing to overlook her own hurt ego in the spirit of their friendship. [14][50], Voiced by actress Gabrielle Union,[51] Nala reprises her role as Queen of the Pride Lands in the television series The Lion Guard, the 2016 premiere of which was preceded by the made-for-television film The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar (2015). Nala's role in the 2019 remake is slightly expanded. [15] Broderick was not informed that his original co-star had been recast, and only learned that Nala was voiced by Kelly at the film's premiere. In the Broadway musical adaptation of The Lion King, the role of Nala was originated by Trinidadian-American singer Heather Headley. [14] Actor Matthew Broderick, voice of Simba, had already begun recording alongside another actress who had been cast as Nala before that actress was replaced with Kelly. This leads Nala to sneak out of Pride Rock the following night so she can get help. "[27] However, as strong as she is, Nala has little impact elsewhere;[27] author Brian K. Pennington wrote in his book Teaching Religion and Violence that "Nala's assertions of gender equality are clearly groundless, since only a male lion can stop Scar. [26] Occupying the role of the film's female lead, Nala is The Lion King's most important female character,[27] who contributes to the film's "small romance element". [2] At one point, Nala also had a named father; the character was similarly abandoned. As an infant, she was betrothed to Simba, the prince of the Pride Lands. Playing one day, they literally tumble down a hillside in the jungle, and he ends up on top of her. Brandon Zachary from CBR Exclusive praised Nala's growth in the film is better than the original due to her unexpected rivalry with Shenzi. Simba invites Nala to visit the forbidden Elephant Graveyard with him, despite his father Mufasa's orders. [Show Non-English Actors] [Hide Non-English Actors] Sarit Vino-Elad. However, the character has garnered positive reviews as well. And in a new teaser we hear Beyoncé's voice as the character for the first time. Turns Out, Going Bulimic Will Not Help With Healthy Weight Reduction. Billy in his role as the comedic meerkat, Billy stated: ‘[Playing Timon is] stunning, it’s strange, it’s unnerving. It's all here: Beyonce Is Nala In Lion King And We Can’t Wait! ‘What’s more, I’ve heard her sing Can You Feel the Love Tonight? She believes in Simba, and doesn't understand why he wouldn't want to fight for his right to rule. [61] Director Julie Taymor felt that Nala's journey in the film was underdeveloped and among the story's weaker elements, and thus decided to "strengthen" the character's narrative for Broadway.[62]. Beyoncé voices Nala, Simba's childhood best … The artist is voicing adult Nala in … [13] Kelly would not officially be offered the part until several months after her audition; Disney's first choice for the role remains undisclosed. Disney just released new posters and publications for The Lion King, appearing and casting of the primary characters with credits to the character’s voice performers or actors in the notices and we can’t contain our energy. In addition, in another script, Sarafina (then named Naanda) was Sarabi's younger sister, and Mufasa was implied to be her mate, and thus Nala's Father. Nala's main animators were Bob Bryan and Gilda Palinginia and her supervising animators were Aaron Blaise (cub) and Anthony de Rosa (adult).During early production, Nala was given a younger brother named Mheetu. This implication was censored in the final draft as it would lead to incest between Simba and Nala as half siblings as well as first cousins. "[5] Matthew Roulette of TheFW believes that the scene was abandoned because of the significant age difference between Nala and Scar. "[22] Kelly's performance as Nala is responsible for introducing the actress to a younger audience. [78], Adult Nala as she appears in the first film, CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (, "The Same Woman Wrote Maleficent and Beauty and the Beast—Here's How They're Linked", "Mheetu, 'The Lion King' — Lost Disney Characters", "The 'Lion King' remake has a new scene that will make you see Scar's vendetta against his brother in a new light", "14 Unknown Facts About The Lion King That Will Change Everything You Ever Knew As A Kid", "The 16 Most Awesome Female Characters From Disney Movies", "Interview…'The Lion King' Star Moira Kelly", "20 Things You Didn't Know About "The Lion King, "Moira Kelly Interview: The Lion Queen - UltimateDisney.com Talks with the Voice of Nala", "NextMovie: Q&A: 'The Lion King' Lioness Moira Kelly", "Q&A: 'The Lion King' Lioness Moira Kelly", "Animated Children's Films: The Lion King: Just Good, or Feminist Good? [9][10] It has been observed that, unlike Disney's three previous animated efforts (The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991) and Aladdin (1992), the romantic relationship between Nala and Simba is not main plot of the film. "[33] Including Nala, The Lion King has only three major female characters in comparison to the film's total of nine male ones. She reunites with Simba at the jungle like in the original but leaves immediately after Simba refuses to return, only for Simba to follow her soon after changing his mind. [34] In her book Biblical Allusions, author Lindsay Bacher acknowledged that Nala is often depicted as a stronger and more responsible character than Simba, despite observations that The Lion King's female characters lack agency. "[36] Criticizing the film for "being merely distracting when it could have been both meaningful and instructive", Robert Humanick of Slant Magazine wrote, "Small potatoes, then, when Simba's former childhood friend and betrothed queen Nala ... unexpectedly reappears in his duty-free, protein-rich life, demanding he return to his kingly responsibilities and coaxing the lion to sleep tonight with arguably the most blatant 'fuck me now' face to ever appear in a PG-rated film. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. [56] The film marks the comeback of the singer since her pregnancy and her first musical film since Dreamgirls in 2006. [11] Responsible for introducing the seasoned actress to a younger audience,[23] Kelly's vocal performance as Nala has garnered critical acclaim. [45] The Daily Californian's Miyako Singer argued that "Nala is no poor, tragic Ophelia", instead resembling a "fierce princess warrior" similar to the strong heroines Disney introduced during the 1990s. It was recently announced that Beyonce is one of the main executive producers of The Lion King soundtrack and is composing away a unique tune with Elton John, who had the original lion king this music. Jeremy Irons as Scar 4. [13] After attending a series of callbacks, during which Kelly returned to Disney several times to re-read the character's lines, Kelly was selected as one of two finalists. Here & Now's Eric Westervelt speaks with JD McCrary and Shahadi Wright Joseph, who voice the young Simba and the young Nala in the new Disney remake of "The Lion King." Joseph had an advantage with her performance as Nala, as she played the role in the Broadway version of The Lion King from 2014 to 2015. [72] The blog also ranked Nala eighth on the website's "Definitive Ranking of Disney Cats" list. Her role in the musical remains the same as the film except for a scene where during the song "The Madness of King Scar", Nala comes to Scar to urge him to do something about the drought in the Pride Lands, only for Scar to try and seduce her into becoming his queen and mother of his children. I thought it was a little pricey at first but now I think is is a great value for the money because it is a good size toy, bigger than I thought it would be … What critics are saying about her Nala performance", Disney's Animated Storybook: The Lion King, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nala_(The_Lion_King)&oldid=989123896, Animated film characters introduced in 1994, Articles with dead external links from April 2020, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Unnamed lion (father; in some fan made versions he is named as Jasiri or Matoota), This page was last edited on 17 November 2020, at 04:51. Amid his appearance on Crooked Media’s Keep It digital broadcast, Billie prodded: ‘She’s certainly in the film since I’ve seen a shoot. "[26] Nala is also a more skilled fighter than Simba, proven by the character's ability to overwhelm him in battle,[35][36] which is reminiscent "of the physical power of lionesses in the real nature. Peter Debrug from Variety commented that Nala is an improvement from her animated version. Nala appears in the Broadway musical adaptation of the film, first played by singer Heather Headley. While critical reception towards Nala has been generally mixed, Kelly's vocal performance has been praised. Her personality is different since becoming queen. Beyoncé and Shahadi Wright Joseph voice the character in the 2019 CGI live adaptation of the original film directed by Jon Favreau. The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar (2015 Movie) Nala. Nala's role and demeanor during the film's romantic "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" sequence has drawn criticism in regards to her "submissive behaviour". The 37-year-old will star close by Donald Glover, who will play the lead job of Simba, and has recorded a two-part harmony of Can You Feel the Love Tonight? "[35] Leab concluded that "the main and most problematic aspects of the film" remain that The Lion King "boils down to the fact that an entire group of strong female characters are unable to confront a single male oppressor; to do so, they need to be led by a dominant male." [7] The character has a mother, whose name is never mentioned in the film;[8] however, she is credited as Sarafina during the film's end credits. [46] Unlike Ophelia, Nala does not succumb to insanity, nor does she eventually die. "[26] Lenka Křivánková of Masaryk University wrote in her thesis "1990s Hollywood Break-Away Hits: A Feminist Perspective" that she was not particularly surprised by the film's lack of strong roles for women because of its Shakespearean source material, dubbing the film "an old traditional fairy tale with all its traditional features", including patriarchy and monarchism. 5G Is Here, But Is It Bad For Our Health? She's a great role model". The Lion King will be released in cinemas on 19th July 2019 in the UK. The Lion King (1994) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Zazu uses himself as a diversion to allow Nala to leave without being caught by Scar and the hyenas. Your email address will not be published. Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa 7. [67] However, The Lion Guard identifies Nala's father as a red-maned unnamed lion who-in his youth-resembled his grandson (and Scar's great-nephew) Kion. Upon learning the truth, Simba forces his uncle to admit his crime to the pride, and a battle ensues between the pride and Scar's army of hyenas. The following day, however, Nala is devastated to learn from Scar that both Simba and Mufasa have perished during a wildebeest stampede. She is still young, being a whole generation younger than the villain named Zira. As Simba's queen, Nala has a son, Kopa, an adventurous cub in The Lion King: Six New Adventures, a daughter, Kiara, whose story is explored in The Lion King: Simba's Pride and another son named Kion, who serves as the protagonist of The Lion Guard. [Joseph] literally said that [she] wanted to be her. Leab continued, "It almost sucks more that Nala is such a strong ... female character and still ends up constrained by this plot device", accusing the film of depicting women as weak. More recently, the possibility of an incestuous relationship involving Simba, his mate Nala, Scar and Mufasa has surfaced. This time, she does not bear her teeth, but instead, shows 'bedroom eyes'". [66] Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Scar in "The Lion King." Nala (voice) (as Beyoncé Knowles-Carter) Phil LaMarr ... Impala (voice) J. Lee ... Hyena (voice) During the climax, Nala fights against Shenzi and emerges victorious. She then marries Simba and gave birth to a cub like in the original film. [16][17] According to Calame's official website, Nala remains the actress' "biggest role to date". A new Lion King featurette teases Beyoncé's Nala like you haven't seen her before, and gives fans a glimpse at what it was like to record the voices that make up the African animal kingdom. [44] While Ophelia is raised by a single father, Nala is raised solely by her mother, which inspired Allen to believe that Nala is a manifestation of how Ophelia would have turned out had she been raised by a woman instead of a man, concluding, "Nala is able to show the potential that Ophelia could have had.". Screenwriter Linda Woolverton conceived Nala "as part of a gradual progression ... which have driven recent public conversation about what young girls should be able to expect from their cinematic role models. [4] This idea was to have been further explored in Scar's song "Be Prepared (Reprise)", during which Scar demands that Nala become his queen, but the musical number was ultimately cut from the final film because the scene was considered too "creepy. [58] Joseph reprises her role from the Broadway production. ", "Eddie Redmayne Admits to "Sexual Awakening" During The Lion King, Says Nala Was "So Sweet" -- Watch", "Lion King Remake Turns a Minor Character Into a Major Villain", "Can Beyonce feel 'The Lion King' love? [14] Kelly believes the directors had been searching for a specific "quality of voice ... a sort of authoritative voice but with a lot of warmth" to complement Nala's sensible yet nurturing personality. The character also appears in the television series The Lion Guard, with Gabrielle Union replacing Kelly as the voice of Nala. "[71] Official Disney Blogs published an article entitled "We All Thought it… But Nala Actually Said It", which cites the character's most revered quotes. [26][27][63] James Berardinelli of ReelViews appreciated the fact that "after three animated motion pictures centered upon the love of two people from different worlds", the love story between Nala and Simba has been relegated to that of "a subplot. [28] Often identified as the film's second most important character,[29][30][31] Taylor Orci of The Atlantic felt that "Nala is really the agent of change in The Lion King", dismissing Simba as a "rich, lazy boyfriend. Madge Sinclair as Sarabi 13. And then, of course, there are these wonderful musical numbers that she can be involved with, and my God… she really lives up to her reputation as far as the beauty of her voice and talent". [27] Mouse Morality: The Rhetoric of Disney Animated Film author Annalee R. Ward wrote that Nala's role in The Lion King reflected "a 1990s feminist reversal". [28], Film critic James Berardinelli identified Nala as The Lion King's "sole significant female character. Mandalay To Dish Out New Cars From Their Newly Constructed Assembly Line, Payments Through Smartphones A Big No-No For Modern Teens, Continued Reduction Of Demand For Cosmetic Surgeries As More Non-Invasive Procedures Are Developed, Trump’s Racist Comments On The El Paso Shooting Doesn’t Sit Well With Big-Name Celebrities, Steady All-Time High Predicted For Market Shares Of Automobile Steel Plates For The Year 2025. [43] Additionally, Nala is a more stubborn character than Ophelia, the latter of whom is quite passive and obedient. Meet JD McCrary and Shahadi Wright Joseph. But at…. According to Johnson Cheu, author of Diversity in Disney Films: Critical Essays on Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Sexuality and Disability, the fact that Mufasa, Scar, and Simba appear to be the only male lions present in The Lion King suggests the possibility that either Mufasa or Scar is Nala's father, which would in turn make Nala either Simba's half-sister or cousin. Sara Franks-Allen of ScreenCrush wrote that "If being a Disney princess is about being a good role model for little girls, then Nala has a lot in her favor", elaborating, "She's strong enough to take down Simba, ventures out on her own to find help for her pride and calls Simba out for ignoring his responsibilities. By the end of season 3, Nala also gains Rani as her daughter-in-law after she marries Kion, who is becoming the king of the Tree of Life and retired as the leader of the Lion Guard. Coloring online has never been easier than it is with these purr-fect favorite characters. ‘You can’t generally show improvement over how Nathan lane did it, you can do what needs to be done your direction.’. Hear Beyonce as Nala in new ‘Lion King’ teaser trailer In a new teaser trailer for Disney’s live-action “Lion King,” we hear Beyonce’s voice for the first time as she plays Nala. "[1] In early versions of the screenplay, Nala has a younger brother named Mheetu, who enjoys accompanying her and her best friend Simba on their adventures. "[11], The speaking voice of adult Nala is provided by American actress Moira Kelly. Nala does not stand up to play she is walking around, the picture on the description is accurate. The Lion King: The new movie features a superb voice cast of singers and actors (Image: Disney) Who does Beyoncé play? Nala has been calm, mild-mannered, and motherly in the sequel.Simba and Nala now have a rebellious daughter named Kiara. "[37] New York's David Denbey dismissed Nala's athleticism as nothing more than Disney's attempt to "disguise [the film's] essential boss-daddy ethos. Pull In The Reigns! The superstar singer will take over the role of Nala, who was originally voiced by … Nala is the most significant female character in The Lion King. These Cars Are Virtually Intertwined With India! FOUR DIFFERENT ACTRESSES PLAYED NALA IN 1994. Isn’t Technology Moving Ahead A Bit Too Fast? The posters released as Beyonce, who plays grown-up Nala, has been perceptibly missing from The Lion King trailers so getting a more intensive take at how Nala resembles will definitely please the fans. Many early concepts first developed for Nala were eventually abandoned, including a brother and father for the character, as well as her being romantically pursued by Scar. Simba eventually defeats Scar and becomes king, with Nala ultimately becoming his queen. During Scar's reign, adult Nala develops a rivalry with Shenzi due to their first encounter. In the original film, the adult Nala is voiced by American actress Moira Kelly. Jim Cummings as Ed 12. [13] Additionally, the filmmakers would also film Kelly's performances in order to incorporate her own facial expressions into her character's design, the process of which impressed the actress. When Kiara befriends Zira's son Kovu, a young lion from an exiled pride of Scar's followers known as the Outsiders, Nala is much more tolerant of their relationship than Simba, and convinces him to offer Kovu a chance to prove himself trustworthy. [76], Review of Beyonce's Nala in 2019 remake is generally positive. [13] Vocally, Kelly decided to approach the role as though she were reading to a child, explaining, "it's kind of fun to play with different voices and try to color the lines for the child so they can imagine it more fully", which she admitted is different than how the actress would approach a live-action role. Cheech Marin as Banzai 11. Featuring the voices of Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala and Donald Glover as Simba, Disney’s “The Lion King” is directed by Jon Favreau. Niketa Calame as young Nala 3. [68] This lion was likely kicked out of the pride upon coming of age, as happens to real male lions, though not before impregnating Sarafina (Nala's mother). "[64] Jeremy Gerard of Variety commended Kelly for voicing the character "beautifully". [8] Candice Russel of the Sun-Sentinel believes that Nala contributes to the film's love story – "an indispensable factor in Disney cartoon features" – in addition to convincing Simba to return to Pride Rock. [56] Joseph said that, upon learning that Beyoncé would be voicing the grown-up Nala, she "really had to step [her] game up and think about what Beyoncé would want". Disney just released new posters and publications for The Lion King, appearing and casting of the primary characters with credits to the character’s voice performers or actors in the notices and we can’t contain our energy. He enjoys the final fight between Nala and Shenzi at the climax, commenting it "has more weight than any of the other nameless fights that happen in the frenzy" and gives bigger moment for Nala's character. Nala was presumably born sometime during Mufasa's reign. Your email address will not be published. 1. With Donald Glover and I’m letting you know, it’s so effing good.’, Billy has been cast as Timon and Pumba being the lovable Seth Rogen, while James Earl Jones is cast again as Mufasa, the character he voiced in 1994. I Just Can't Wait to Be King. Introduced in the animated film The Lion King in 1994, Nala subsequently appears as a less prominent character in the film's sequels The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998) and The Lion King 1½ (2004), and serves as a recurring character in The Lion Guard (2015–2019). Writing for The Washington Post, Desson Howe hailed Kelly's voice acting as "terrific. That’s What Sam Wallace Has To Say. Zoe Leader as Sarafina With Donald. ", "Lion King and Hamlet - Compare and Contrast", "EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Disney's The Lion Guard creator Ford Riley talks new Lion King sequel", "Disney to launch animated 'Lion King' spinoff 'The Lion Guard, "Gabrielle Union: 'The Lion Guard' is 'my dream come true, "Beyonce Will Voice Nala in Live-Action Adaptation of 'The Lion King, "What To Expect From The Characters In The Upcoming 'The Lion King' Adaptation - Entertainment Weekly", "How Jon Favreau's The Lion King landed Beyoncé", "Meet Shahadi Wright Joseph, the breakout horror warrior in Jordan Peele's 'Us, "The Lion King (1994) Review/Film; The Hero Within The Child Within", "A Definitive Ranking of Disney Heroines", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahDYZy4-yPU, "We All Thought it… But Nala Actually Said It", "Eddie Redmayne admits first crush was Nala from Disney's The Lion King", "So Anna Kendrick and Eddie Redmayne Used to Have a Thing for Animated Animals—and Liam Neeson Had the Hots for a Cartoon Too! Moira Kelly as Nala 1. Upon learning that Simba has eventually decided to return to Pride Rock and face Scar, Nala travels back to the Pride Lands to assist him. Robert Guillaume as Rafiki 8. [15], The film's entire recording process took approximately three years to complete, during which Kelly's sessions were held in both the United States and Canada, while her co-stars Broderick and Jeremy Irons, voice of Scar, were recording in the United States and England, respectively. [20] However, John lobbied in favor of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" being a love song performed as a duet by Nala and Simba, with which the filmmakers ultimately agreed. He was designed by Thom Enriquez.In an earlier draft of the film, there was to be a scene where Scar felt that to be a beloved rule… Irene began her association with Disney in March 1992, when she wrote Recycle Rex, the 1994 Environmental Media Award-winning animated short.Irene shares a screenplay credit on Disney’s animated features The Lion King, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Hercules.Along with co-author Roger Allers, she received a 1998 Tony® nomination for writing the book for The Lion King. [56][57] The same day Shahadi Wright Joseph was cast as young Nala in the film. Beyoncé plays Nala in Disney's remake of "The Lion King," due out in July 2019. Critical reception towards Nala has been generally mixed; both film and feminist critics have accused the film of lacking empowering roles for female characters, including Nala. [27] The New York Times' Janet Maslin cited the film's lack of a strong heroine among its weaknesses, dismissing Nala and Simba's interaction throughout "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" as "obligatory" and "gratuitous". Upon unexpectedly reuniting with a grown Simba, who she had long been tricked by Scar into presuming dead, Nala encourages him to return to Pride Rock, overthrow his uncle and ultimately become king. In 1994’s The Lion King, a total of four … [14] Elton John's official website cites Kelly among the film's cast of actors who "would grace any red carpet. Nala refuses since she's already been betrothed to Simba, prince of the Pride Lands as an infant by their parents, Sarafina, Mufasa and Sarabi and flees the Pride Lands to find help. The process of making The Lion King was unlike anything they — or any other actor — had ever experienced. [18], A classically trained pianist and chorister, Laura Williams provides the singing voice of young Nala, which can be heard in the song "I Just Can't Wait to Be King";[16] the singer was 15 years old at the time. [26], Alongside Faline from Bambi (1942) and Maid Marian from Robin Hood (1973) added, Nala belongs to a trio of Disney heroines who, after having been separated from their love interests for several years, eventually reunite with them. [48], In the film's first direct-to-video sequel The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998), Nala appears in a less prominent role as Queen of the Pride Lands and mother of Kiara, the spirited daughter of her and Simba. And they’re no strangers to the big screen: McCrary recently appeared in the Regina Hall comedy “Little,” while Joseph — who also played Nala in “The Lion … "[25], A straight woman character, Kelly described Nala as a sensible and nurturing yet authoritative character,[13] while Amber Leab of Bitch Flicks described her as strong, independent and intelligent. Beyoncé first joined the live-action Lion King movie in November 2017, signing on to play Nala, the love interest of Simba, according to CNN. Nala observes that Kiara, of whom Simba is very protective, has inherited her father's rebellious personality and love of adventure. She also suggests to Sarabi that they should fight back or leave Pride Lands, but Sarabi turns down both suggestions. Nala is introduced as the best friend of Simba, and ultimately becomes his wife by the end of The Lion King. In any case, don’t stress, the best is yet to come, as indicated by her co-star Billy Eichner who has prodded her foreseen presentation. What’s more, true to form, it sounds wonderful. [13] For The Lion King, a director would often take the place of another actor for Kelly to act opposite of. Nathan Lane as Timon 6. Our 2020 Octoverse report found that automation improves productivity and the developer experience. [2] Nala also had a fox friend named Bhati. While defending Pumbaa from Nala, Simba recognizes Nala, and the two finally reunite only to argue over why Simba is refusing to face his responsibilities and return to Pride Rock. In Simba's Pride, she has visibly aged and her frame is heavier, but larger. Martin ultimately accused the scene's "reversal of positions" of "establish[ing] male dominance. [14] Each main cast member recorded their dialogue separately,[14] which took Kelly some time to get used to because she had grown accustomed to working with several other actors at a time on the sets of her live-action films. When casting director Sarah Finn handed Favreau the list of possible actors for each role, in fact, Joseph’s name was the only one listed for young Nala. [12] Kelly (who rose her fame in Robert Downey, Jr. film Chaplin) learned that Disney was auditioning actresses for the role of Nala from her agent. ", "1990s Hollywood Break-Away Hits: A Feminist Perspective", "Nala From The Lion King Should Be a Disney Princess", "FSU's James Wilder Jr. to run with infant daughter as his purpose this year", "Comedian Ralphie May talks return to Muskegon, road life and societal issues", "Deconstructing Walt Disney's The Lion King", "Anti-Feminism in Recent Apocalyptic Film", "7 Fun Facts about Disney's "the Lion King" You Didn't Know ...", "Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff Interview – The directors of The Lion King talk 3D and re-releases (Part 1)", "Allers & Minkoff: The Legacy of The Lion King", "Lion King D-rectors Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff: 2D's for a 3D hit! Among the most anticipated aspects of the new Lion King movie are the elements that Beyoncé is contributing. [39] Stephens believes that Nala and Simba's separation allows the characters to fall in love "properly" upon reuniting as young adults. [16] The lyrics of the film's love theme, "Can You Feel the Love Tonight", were re-written approximately 15 times, according to lyricist Tim Rice, who wrote the song alongside composer Elton John.