New ‘The Lion King’ trailer scores record 224.6 million global views in 24 hours

Numbers don't lie: excitement around the upcoming film is tremendous

Disney’s live-action The Lion King teaser dropped over the Thanksgiving holiday and it's officially the studio's most-viewed trailer debut ever, with over 224 million views in the first 24 hours.

Ny Magee

Nov 25, 2018

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Disney’s live-action The Lion King teaser dropped over the Thanksgiving holiday, and it’s officially the studio’s most-viewed trailer debut ever, with over 224 million views in the first 24 hours.

Jon Favreau’s upcoming remake of the 1994 animated classic features Donald Glover leading the voice cast as adult lion Simba, while Beyoncé voices Nala, a childhood friend and love interest to Simba. The Hollywood Reporter reports that they are joined by James Earl Jones, who reprises his role as the voice of Simba’s father Mufasa; Chiwetel Ejiofor as Simba’s Uncle Scar; and Alfre Woodard as Simba’s mother Sarabi.

“To our entire pride: Thank you for helping the teaser trailer for #TheLionKing become the most-viewed Disney trailer debut ever as it reached a record-breaking 224.6 million global views in 24 hours!” Disney Studios wrote on Instagram.

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To our entire pride: Thank you for helping the teaser trailer for #TheLionKing become the most-viewed Disney trailer debut ever as it reached a record-breaking 224.6 million global views in 24 hours!

A post shared by Walt Disney Studios (@disneystudios) on Nov 24, 2018 at 11:30am PST

The only film that comes near this record is the first trailer for Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War.

Speaking with Scarlett Johansson at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year, Favreau — who previously directed the remake of The Jungle Book (which grossed $966 million globally) — dished about his approach to The Lion King:

“The Jungle Book was 50 years ago, Lion King was 20, and people grew up with it in an age of video where they watched it over and over again. So, I have to really examine all of those plot points,” Favreau said. “Also, the myths are very strong in it, so you’re hitting something even deeper than the movie sometimes. What I’m trying to do is honor what was there… There are certain expectations people have.”

The original Lion King grossed more than $968 million worldwide.

Favreau’s Lion King will be released in theaters July 19, 2019.

The film marks another remake that Disney has slated for next year, which includes Lady and the Tramp and Tim Burton‘s Dumbo, which is set to open March 29.