At its recent showcase, National Geographic unveiled the first two episodes of LION, an emotional, real-life drama that chronicles the remarkable four-year journey of a tiny lion cub named Kio as he becomes a king. 

LION is executive produced by Disney Legend and “The Lion King” live-action director Jon Favreau and BBC Studios Natural History Unit’s Creative director Mike Gunton (“Planet Earth II,” “Dynasties”), with the score by legendary Academy Award^®-winning composer Hans Zimmer (“Dune” parts one and two, “Interstellar,” “The Dark Knight” trilogy, “Inception”), Niccolò Pacella and George Huston Warren for Bleeding Fingers Music.

The four-part event series debuts on National Geographic (DStv 181 and Startimes 220) and National Geographic Wild (DStv 182, StarTimes 221), on Sundays at 21:00 and 18:00 respectively, from Sunday 23 August, across Africa, with a double bill each week. The series will also be available on Disney+ in South Africa.

Based on what we were treated to at a media event this week. LION is much more than a nature documentary. It is a showcase for how poignant real life, masterfully told stories can be, with exquisite filming, a stirring score, and a story that grips you in the heart and doesn’t let go.

With narration by O.J. Lynch (Mufasa, “The Lion King” stage production), LION brings to life the extraordinary true story of the Maasai Mara's lion kings, queens and a new hero named Kio.

Zimmer leads the score alongside Bleeding Fingers Music’s Niccolò Pacella and George Hutson Warren, with additional vocals from the Nairobi Chamber Chorus. Drawing on recordings captured in the Maasai Mara, including local singers, instruments and even lion roars, the music blends the scale of a cinematic adventure with the emotional texture of the wild, while subtly weaving in rerecorded musical nods to “The Lion King.” The original series soundtrack will be released through Hollywood Records on 21 August and will be available wherever music is streamed.

Four years in the making and filmed in Kenya's Maasai Mara, this is the first natural history production to document a lion's complete journey from vulnerable cub to king. The crew, including local Kenyan filmmakers, logged nearly 1,400 filming days across 52 shoots, the most time ever spent in the field exclusively following a single pride.

"After tracking the lions in the field for four years, the pride never ceased to surprise us - what Kio endures and eventually becomes is extraordinary. Watching the hero's journey against the backdrop of nature was incredible to witness," says Favreau.

Echoing the themes that made the beloved animated film a classic, the series is a sweeping coming-of-age saga of family, hope and courage that, like The Lion King, succeeded at keeping the audience in attendance at the launch on the edge of their seats.

Rather than being a dry documentary, educational as that may be, LION’s first two episodes were filled with drama, heart and high-stakes adventure, offering a powerful co-viewing experience for animal lovers, families and anyone drawn to epic storytelling.

In celebration of National Geographic’s LION, Disney confirmed that it  is continuing the “Protect the Pride” campaign, supporting the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Lion Recovery Fund (LRF) and its partners working across Africa. The campaign shares the LRF’s vision to help double the number of lions in the wild by 2050. Since the launch of “Protect the Pride” in 2019, Disney has invested more than $5 million in LRF, whose network has helped support more than 400 conservation projects across 26 countries focused on stabilizing and recovering lion populations through locally led solutions.

It can be viewed on National Geographic on DStv at Channel 181 and on National Geographic Wild, Channel 182.

Watch the trailer here: