News Round-Up: July 18, 2019

Rugby legend and LGBTQ ally Ben Cohen

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunks: LGBTQ ally Ben Cohen is inviting supporters of his anti-bullying foundation to come out and join him for cross-training. I'll go, but only if I can follow Ben :)

• New York Times: A federal judge on Thursday denied bail for Jeffrey Epstein, the financier facing sex-trafficking charges in Manhattan, rejecting his request to await trial under home detention at his Upper East Side mansion.

• NPR: Some of Puerto Rico’s biggest stars rallied a crowd of many thousands in San Juan on Wednesday, calling on the island’s governor, Ricardo Rosselló, to resign. It was the fifth day in a row of protests in the U.S. territory, following a leak of hundreds of pages of misogynistic and homophobic texts between the governor and his main advisers.

• Washington Post: The House passed a bill by a vote of 231-199 that would raise the federal minimum wage for the first time in a decade. However, don't expect the legislation to be taken up in the Republican-controlled Senate.

• AFP News: Donald Trump asked Nobel laureate Nadia Murad how she won the Nobel Peace Prize after she explained how she won the Nobel Prize. Murad survived in the aftermath of her mother and six brothers being killed by ISIS and that 3,000 Yazidis remained missing. Trump asked, “And you had the Nobel Prize? That’s incredible. They gave it to you for what reason?” Murad paused, then repeated her story.

• The Lion King: Check out Beyoncé's musical contribution to the upcoming live-action remake of Disney's The Lion King.

Titled "Spirit," I find the video gorgeous. I'm on the fence about the melody. Let me know what you think.

Disney Releases Official Trailer For Live-Action 'The Lion King'

Young Simba in the upcoming live-action film 'The Lion King'

Hakuna Matata!

Disney has released the first full-length trailer for the upcoming live-action remake of The Lion King, due in theaters this summer.

Jon Favreau, who helmed the successful live-action The Jungle Book, is once again on directing duties.

Practically every Lion King character fans have come to love since the animated film was released in 1994 make an appearance in the trailer. Zazu (John Oliver), Simba (Donald Glover), Nala (Beyoncé), Rafiki (John Kani), and Sarabi (Alfre Woodard) all show up on the savannah.

First glimpse of Beyoncé in 'The Lion King'

“While others search for what they can take, a true king searches for what he can give,” we hear James Earl Jones (reprising his role as Mufasa) tell young Simba as father and son look out over their animal kingdom from Pride Rock.

The new live-action film not only includes dialogue and songs from the award-winning animated feature, but Favreau also recreates some of the most famous scenes from the original shot by shot.

Side-by-side of the famous clip of Simba growing up in the 2019 'The Lion King' vs. the original 1994 movie. #TheLionKing pic.twitter.com/nMY0fCm6Li

— Lights, Camera, Pod (@LightsCameraPod) April 10, 2019

The official synopsis reads:

Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own.

The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.

One of the highlights of the trailer is a few moments near the end as Pumbaa (Seth Rogen) and Timon (Billy Eichner) offer up the first few notes of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”

Disney’s The Lion King roars into theaters July 19, 2019.

First Look At Disney's Live-Action Remake Of "The Lion King"

(screen capture)

Disney has released the first trailer for the much-anticipated remake of The Lion King, and it's pretty amazing.

Hit the play button below to return to Pride Rock, Simba’s birthplace, as the Elton John classic, “Circle of Life,” rings across the African plains.

Directed by Jon Favreau, the cast of the new film includes Beyoncé as Nala, Donald Glover as Simba, James Earl Jones (that voice!), reprising his role as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Alfre Woodard as Sarabi, John Oliver as Zazu, and Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner as Pumbaa and Timon.

You may recall Favreau directed the 2016 live-action remake of The Jungle Book, which won an Oscar for its visual effects and garnered almost $1 billion at the worldwide box office.

The Oscar winning soundtrack of the 1994 film, by Tim Rice and Elton John, sold over 10 million copies, scoring an Academy Award for “Can You Feel The Love Tonight.”

According to reports, Beyoncé is collaborating with John on updated versions of the classic songs for the upcoming remake.

The new film arrives in theaters July 19, 2019.

Broadway: Cast of THE LION KING serenades subway car with "Circle Of Life"

Riders on the New York subway system got a surprise recently when the Broadway cast of the hit musical THE LION KING took a ride and broke out into an a cappella performance of "Circle of Life."

You've got to live NYC to get it.

Broadway's Tony Award winning musical comes to life 8 times a week in the heart of Times Square at The Minskoff Theater.  Find out more at www.lionking.com.