When Disney announced Beyoncé would voice Nala in the 2019 remake of The Lion King, the internet basically hit a collective "pause" button. It made sense. You have the biggest pop star on the planet joining the most beloved animated story of all time. But looking back from 2026, it's clear this wasn't just a simple casting choice or a way to sell more tickets. It was a massive, multi-year cultural pivot that fundamentally changed how we think about "movie tie-ins."
Honestly, most people focus on her voice acting. Some loved the gravitas she brought to Nala; others felt she sounded a bit too much like... well, Beyoncé. But that's missing the point. The real story isn't just about a lioness on a CGI rock. It’s about how she used a Disney paycheck to fund a global tribute to African culture that still resonates today.
Why Beyoncé and The Lion King Almost Didn't Happen
It’s easy to forget that back in 2017, when Jon Favreau was putting this together, Beyoncé was actually pregnant with her twins, Rumi and Sir. She was notoriously private at the time. Favreau has since admitted she was his top choice, but he wasn't sure if she’d go for it. He even said he was willing to accommodate her schedule in any way possible just to get her on board.
She didn't just show up to read lines.
She treated the project like a research mission. Favreau recalled her being incredibly curious about the virtual reality tech they used to "film" the animals. She wasn't just a celebrity in a booth; she was an artist looking for her next evolution. While the 2019 film eventually pulled in over $1.6 billion at the box office, for Beyoncé, the movie was just the appetizer.
The real work was The Gift.
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The "Sonic Cinema" of The Gift
If you search for the soundtrack, you’ll find the standard Disney one with the classics like "Can You Feel the Love Tonight." But Beyoncé also produced a standalone "companion" album titled The Lion King: The Gift. She called it "sonic cinema."
This is where the partnership got interesting. Instead of just filling an album with American pop stars, she insisted on featuring African artists and producers. We’re talking about Wizkid, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, and Shatta Wale.
- Authenticity: She wanted the heartbeat of the continent in the music.
- Narrative: Every song was written to reflect a specific moment in the movie's plot, but through a modern, Afrobeats lens.
- The Hit: This album gave us "Brown Skin Girl," which didn't just win a Grammy; it became a global anthem for self-love.
People often argue about the 2019 remake being "soulless" because of the hyper-realistic CGI. I get it. It’s hard to feel emotion when a photo-real lion doesn't change its expression. But the music Beyoncé brought to the table gave that world the soul the visuals lacked.
Black Is King: The Visual Transformation
By 2020, the partnership evolved again with Black Is King. This was a visual album released on Disney+ that reimagined the story of The Lion King through the lens of the Black experience.
It was filmed across three continents.
It featured 12 different cinematographers.
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The film turned the "Circle of Life" into a story about a young African king reclaiming his throne in a modern world. It was a massive undertaking that proved Beyoncé wasn't just "in" a Disney movie—she was using the Disney machine to tell a deeper, more radical story about heritage. The fashion alone was enough to keep the internet talking for months, from the cowhide Burberry suit to the intricate headpieces.
The 2024 Prequel and the Next Generation
Fast forward to the release of Mufasa: The Lion King in late 2024. This film, directed by Barry Jenkins, served as both a prequel and a sequel. Beyoncé returned as Nala, but the real headline was the debut of her daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, voicing Kiara (Simba and Nala's daughter).
Director Barry Jenkins mentioned that they started recording as far back as 2020. He described the film as a "time capsule" of their relationship. Having the real-life mother and daughter play the on-screen mother and daughter added a layer of realism that the CGI usually struggles with.
Critically, the 2024 film was a bit of a mixed bag, but it grossed over $720 million. It cemented the idea that the Carter-Knowles family and the Pride Lands are now permanently linked.
What We Get Wrong About This Partnership
The biggest misconception is that this was a "sell-out" move. In reality, it was a leverage play. Beyoncé took a commercial juggernaut and used it to:
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- Mainstream African music genres like Gqom and Afrobeats in the U.S.
- Provide a platform for African filmmakers and stylists on a Disney-sized budget.
- Create a legacy project that her children could literally be a part of.
Is her voice acting as iconic as the original 1994 Nala? Probably not. Moira Kelly's version has a nostalgia that's hard to beat. But Beyoncé's contribution wasn't about the dialogue. It was about the cultural architecture she built around the movie.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you’re looking to dive back into this era of her career, don't just watch the movies. You’ve got to see the whole picture to understand why it matters.
- Listen to "The Gift (Deluxe Edition)": Focus on the African producers like P2J and Northboi. That’s where the real magic is.
- Watch "Making The Gift": This ABC documentary shows the actual studio sessions in Africa. It’s a masterclass in creative direction.
- Look for the Parallels: When watching Black Is King, keep the 1994 original plot in mind. The way she translates "The Stampede" or "The Ghost of Mufasa" into modern visuals is brilliant.
The partnership proved that a "movie star" role can be much more than just a credit on a poster. It can be an entire ecosystem of art, fashion, and music that outlives the film itself.
To truly appreciate the depth of this work, go back and watch the "Spirit" music video. Pay attention to the choreography and the natural landscapes of Havasu Falls. It bridges the gap between the fictional Pride Lands and the real beauty of the world, which was always the point.