There’s a Māori version of The Lion King in the works

To celebrate Matariki (Māori New Year), a Te Reo Māori version of The Lion King is in the works.

Chelsea Winstanley, a New Zealand producer who’s worked alongside Taika Waititi on his films Jojo Rabbit and What We Do In The Shadows, has opened up a public casting to find voice actors in the Māori community for her re-dub of the Disney classic.

As Deadline report, the production will feature an array of mita (dialects) through different characters, including: Lions (Tainui); Timon and Pumbaa (Te Tai Tokerau); Rafiki (Tūhoe); Zazu (Taranaki); Hyenas (Ngāti Kahungunu); and Chorus (open to te motu whānui).

Winstanley will work alongside Tweedie Waititi (aka, the charming police officer with a penchant for scroggin in Hunt for the Wilderpeople), who previously worked on the Te Reo version of Moana back in 2017. The team are set to call upon Te Reo Māori experts in each rohe and are considering non-experienced voice actors for the project.

“We are truly excited to bring the Māori versions of The Lion King and Frozen to Kiwi audiences following on from the successful release of Moana Reo Māori,” said Kylie Watson-Wheeler, Senior Vice President & Managing Director of The Walt Disney Company Australia & New Zealand.

“The launch of Moana Reo Māori was an incredibly special moment for our New Zealand-based team, and we know that continuing to celebrate the indigenous language with the addition of these cherished films will mean a lot to the local community,.”

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