'Lion King' cast announced, Beyonce to play Nala
The film is slated for a July 2019 release.
— -- The cast of Disney's forthcoming live-action musical remake of "The Lion King" was already packed with A-list stars, and it just added arguably the biggest music star on the planet.
Beyonce rounds out the all-star cast. The singer will voice Nala, Simba's childhood friend who later becomes his wife.
Disney announced the news Wednesday night, as did Beyonce, in a Facebook post.
Beyonce had been rumored to be in talks for the part since spring. Donald Glover will voice Simba, with James Earl Jones reprising his role in the animated version as the voice of Mufasa and Chiwetel Ejiofor voicing Scar.
Alfre Woodard, Seth Rogen, Keegan-Michael Key, Eric Andre and John Oliver are also cast in the film, which will be directed by Jon Favreau, who directed Disney's 2016 hit live-action remake of "The Jungle Book."
"The Lion King" is scheduled for release in July 2019 from Disney, the parent company of ABC News.