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"Epilogue: An Important Coronation" is the eighth episode of the third and final season and the series finale of the American animated television series The Lion King Revisited, based on Disney's The Lion King franchise. The episode was written by Ford Riley and Jeff Nathanson, and directed by Jon Favreau, with original music by Hans Zimmer and John Powell.
This episode stars the voices of Matthew Broderick, Gabrielle Union, Eden Riegel, Nolan North, Ernie Sabella, Nathan Lane, Jaime Camil, Kevin Schon, Maia Mitchell, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Sarah Hyland, and Atticus Shaffer. The episode explores Kion and his friends returning to the Tree of Life where Kion marries Queen Rani, while the Lion Guard, the Night Pride, the Pride Landers and the Outlanders unite against hordes of their enemies to save their divided kingdoms. The episode serves as a conclusion to the story of Revisited up to that point, ending the story arcs for several main characters. The series began development by 2019, with many actors expected to reprise their roles from the Lion King franchise.
Unlike the previous episodes of Revisited, Epilogue: An Important Coronation received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the original premise, vocal performances of the cast (particularly Lane and Sabella), animation, action sequences, soundtrack, and Zimmer and Powell's musical score, but were polarized over the story, soulless tone, overuse of fan service, and lack of originality.
Plot[]
Kion marries Rani and becomes the king of the Tree of Life.
No longer the Lion Guard, Kion and his friends return to the Tree of Life as its protectors by becoming members of the Night Pride with Kion marrying Rani and becoming the king of the Tree of Life. Meanwhile, after Mama Binturong frames Kopa for murder,[1] Kopa grapples with negative animal protestors. In the Pride Lands, Vitani masters the Roar of the Elders aided by Askari, renews a peace treaty with Reirei, Kiburi and Madoa, and professes her love to Imara. Later, seeing a fire ravaged over the grasslands, Vitani saves Kopa, who authorizes a peace talk with the Lion Guard to proclaim his identity as the son of Simba and Nala.
During the night, Kopa is attacked and tempted by Zira, who was swept away by floodwaters.[2] They meet Banzai the hyena, Makucha, his army—consisting of Ora, Chuluun, Fahari and Jiona—and Shupavu, understanding that they have one victim in common: Kion. Because of Kopa's wish for the Evil Lions of the Past's return, the fiery ghost of Scar regains his original body vessel; Nuka is resurrected through the sorrow of Zira's breakdown over her son's death[3]; and Ushari (nicknamed "Warrior Ushari") is possessed in a cobra's body amplified by the Evil Lions of the Past. He unveils the Final Army of Scar—a pride of Outsider-esque lionesses—and orders Kopa to launch an attack on the Lion Guard. Vitani halts the fight, allowing Kopa to change sides. Vitani lets Kopa rest, before he experiences a vision of himself, Simba, Nala, Kiara, Timon, Pumbaa, Jasiri, Thurston, Pinguino and Ono attempting to reverse the Final Army of Scar's invasion across their African region.
Thurston and Pinguino reveal their plan to defeat the villains with Rafiki's cures.
Shocked awake, Kopa gets himself injured by Zira to save Vitani from Scar and Ushari, resulting the Lion Guard to retreat back to the Pride Lands. Ushari reconciles with the Final Army of Scar to disband the Lion Guard. In response, Simba and Nala proclaim Kopa's identity as no murder but as the rightful prince of Pride Rock, while Kopa stays out of action with Tazama, Shabaha and Kasi. Kiara flees to find the Chamber of the Night Pride. Simba, Nala, Timon, Pumbaa, Ono, Jasiri, Thurston and Pinguino follow Kiara by uniting Simba's pride of lions, Kion's faction of the Night Pride, Rafiki's troop of Royal Mjuzis, the Pride Lands' herds, the Outlanders, Timon's colony of meerkats and a pride of defected Outsiders for the humongous showdown against the Final Army of Scar. Hadithi, Rafiki, Tiifu, Zuri, Azaad, Binga, Bunga, Kion, Sarabi, Kovu, Beshte, Boboka, Vitani, Imara, Laini, Janja, Chungu, Cheezi, Reirei, Goigoi, Kiburi, Tamka, Makini, Ma Tembo, Makuu, Bupu, Anga, Ma, Shujaa, Mzingo, Kifaru, Mbeya and Fuli also return for the fight.
Rani, Surak, Baliyo and Nirmala are freed by Vitani and Imara from being out of commission in the Tree of Life. Rafiki vanquishes Ushari with his staff's magic, draining his spiritual capabilities; Banzai is crushed to death by falling rocks; and Zira falls to her demise in the lava. Simba summons the Great Lions of the Past to judge Scar for his actions, evaporating him and the Evil Lions' spirits into nothingness, at the cost of his life, while the remaining Final Army of Scar collapses through a sinkhole.
Kiara reclaims Pride Rock for Kovu and their pride.
Following Simba's funeral, Rani appoints Binga as a new member of the Night Pride; Zuri reveals to Nala that she was Scar's daughter; Timon remains to live with Janna in the heavens for his redemption of saving Vitani after failing to save Uncle Max from his death[4]; and Kiara and Kovu are coronated as the rightful queen and king of Pride Rock, fulfilling the Circle of Life prophecy. The spirits of Simba and Mufasa turn the Pride Lands green and fertile once again, restoring peace to all the kingdoms.
Cast[]
- Nathan Lane as Timon
- Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa
- Matthew Broderick as Simba
- Gabrielle Union as Nala
- Eden Riegel as Kiara
- Nolan North as Kopa and Tamka
- Jaime Camil as Pinguino
- Kevin Schon as Thurston and Chungu
- Behzad Dabu as Azaad
- Khary Payton as Rafiki
- Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Rani
- Alfre Woodard as Sarabi
- Maia Mitchell as Jasiri
- Diamond White as Fuli
- Ana Gasteyer as Reirei
- Landry Bender as Makini
- Shohreh Aghdashloo as Janna
- Rachel Crow as Imara
- Lacey Chabert as Vitani
- Jason Marsden as Kovu
- Sarah Hyland as Tiifu
- Nika Futterman as Zira
- Andrew Kishino as Janja
- Fiona Riley as Binga
- Joshua Rush as Bunga
- Bryana Salaz as Anga
- John O'Hurley as Hadithi
- Common as Kiburi
- Cheech Marin as Banzai
- Lynette DuPree as Ma Tembo
- Blair Underwood as Makuu
- Michael Dorn as Bupu
- Erica Luttrell as Boboka
- Vargus Mason as Cheezi
- Phil LaMarr as Goigoi
- Jeff Bennett as Zazu
- Nick Watt as Zito
- Maisie Klompus as Madoa
- Hudson Yang as Baliyo
- Miki Yamashita as Nirmala
- Lou Diamond Phillips as Surak
- Michael Luwoye as Askari
- Greg Ellis as Mzingo
- Kevin Michael Richardson as Basi
- Christopher Jackson as Kitendo and Shujaa
- Heather Headley as Fikiri
- Dusan Brown as Beshte
- Atticus Shaffer as Ono
- Julie Kavner as Ma
- Christian Slater as Ushari
- Madison Pettis as Zuri
- Jeremy Irons as Scar
- Max Charles as Kion
- James Earl Jones as Mufasa
- Justin Felbinger as Mtoto
- Beau Black as Nne
- Alex Cartañá as Twiga
- Dee Bradley Baker as Tano and the baby baboon
- Savannah Lee Smith as Kasi
- Sabrina Carpenter as Shabaha
- Sophie Reynolds as Tazama
- Andy Dick as Nuka
- Steve Blum as Makucha
- Dan Howell as Majinuni
- Sinbad as Uroho
- Phil Lester as Hafifu
- Meghan Strange as Shupavu
- Elise Allen as Kulinda
- Kari Wahlgren as Muhimu
- John Rhys-Davies as Sokwe
- Gerald C. Rivers as Pua
- Virginia Watson as Vuruga Vuruga
Production[]
Development[]
In this concept art, Ushari taunts Kion about Kopa's demise. Their duel was inspired by Green Goblin and Spider-Man's final fight from Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Epilogue: An Important Coronation was announced to celebrate the premiere of The Lion Guard series finale, Return to the Pride Lands. Following the episode's positive responses from television critics and fans, the filmmakers of Revisited have said that the episode would be more of an adventure story into the world first established in King of the Jungle (an early draft of The Lion King), as well as a continuing adaption of Return to the Pride Lands. Inspirations of the Books of Genesis, Exodus, Proverbs, and Revelation from the Bible, as well as Zack Snyder's original Justice League trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker were developed for the episode's additional ideas.
Casting[]
In March 2020, Max Charles, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, and Landry Bender were cast as Kion, Rani, and Makini, reprising their roles from The Lion Guard. The episode stars the Lion King trilogy actors Matthew Broderick as Simba, Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa, Nathan Lane as Timon, Lacey Chabert as Vitani, Jason Marsden as Kovu, Andy Dick as Nuka, Cheech Marin as Banzai, Julie Kavner as Ma, Jeremy Irons as Scar, and James Earl Jones as Mufasa; Epilogue: An Important Coronation is the last Lion King media to feature Jones as Mufasa, respectively. Alfre Woodard reprises her role as Sarabi from the 2019 photorealistic remake.
Voice actors reprising their roles from The Lion Guard includes Gabrielle Union as Nala, Eden Riegel as Kiara, Nolan North as Tamka, Jaime Camil as Pinguino, Kevin Schon as Thurston and Chungu, Behzad Dabu as Azaad, Khary Payton as Rafiki, Maia Mitchell as Jasiri, Diamond White as Fuli, Ana Gasteyer as Reirei, Shohreh Aghdashloo as Janna, Rachel Crow as Imara, Sarah Hyland as Tiifu, Nika Futterman as Zira, Andrew Kishino as Janja, Fiona Riley as Binga, Joshua Rush as Bunga, Bryana Salaz as Anga, Madison Pettis as Zuri, John O'Hurley as Hadithi, Common as Kiburi, Blair Underwood as Makuu, Erica Luttrell as Boboka, Vargus Mason as Cheezi, Phil LaMarr as Goigoi, Jeff Bennett as Zazu, Nick Watt as Zito, Maisie Klompus as Madoa, Hudson Yang as Baliyo, Miki Yamashita as Nirmala, Lou Diamond Phillips as Surak, Michael Luwoye as Askari, Kevin Michael Richardson as Basi, Greg Ellis as Mzingo, Christopher Jackson as Kitendo and Shujaa, Heather Headley as Fikiri, Dusan Brown as Beshte, Atticus Shaffer as Ono, Christian Slater as Ushari, Lynette DuPree as Ma Tembo, Michael Dorn as Bupu, Sophie Reynolds as Tazama, Dee Bradley Baker as Tano and the baby baboon, Alex Cartañá as Twiga, Beau Black as Nne, Justin Felbinger as Mtoto, Savannah Lee Smith as Kasi, Steve Blum as Makucha, Dan Howell as Majinuni, Sinbad as Uroho, Phil Lester as Hafifu, Meghan Strange as Shupavu, Elise Allen as Kulinda, Kari Wahlgren as Muhimu, John Rhys-Davies as Sokwe, Gerald C. Rivers as Pua, and Virginia Watson as Vuruga Vuruga.
Nolan North also reprises his Revisited role of Kopa, and Sabrina Carpenter reprises her role as Shabaha, from Return to the Pride Lands and Prince Kopa, in which she replaced The Lion Guard star Fiona Riley. Several characters from previous Revisited episodes appear in non-speaking roles and cameos, including Shingo, Johari, Mtoto's mother, Pasha, Polina, Feliks, Cek, Rama, Kiril, Tangaagim, Mwoga, Nduli, Chuluun, Fahari, Jiona, Ora, Varya, Mwenzi, Laini, Mbeya, Kifaru, Wema, Tunu, Asante, Fisi, Jake, Dogo, Kijana, Dogo's brothers, Fred, Zigo, Juhudi, Hodari, Mwevi, Mwizi, the baby baboon's mother, the baboon leader, Gumba's mother, Ona, and Hamu. Mama Binturong and Uncle Max are mentioned.
Music[]
Hans Zimmer, who composed the 1994 and 2019 versions of The Lion King, would return to compose the score for Revisited with Pharrell Williams as a collaborator and John Powell co-composing the score. Elton John also returned to rework his musical compositions from the original film before his retirement. Zimmer's score references themes from previous Lion King media by Nick Glennie-Smith, Don Harper, Christopher Willis, and Stephen James Taylor, as well as his own themes from the animated and photorealistic versions of The Lion King. A cover of Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 was composed by Taylor and Baby Einstein musician Bill Weisbach.
Track Listing[]
| # | Title | Performer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kion's Coronation ([5]) | Hans Zimmer John Powell |
| 2 | Kopa and the Lion Guard ([6]) | Hans Zimmer John Powell |
| 3 | Can You Feel the Love Tonight (Vitani and Imara) | Joseph Williams Sally Dworsky Lacey Chabert Rachel Crow |
| 4 | Zira's Return ([7]) | Hans Zimmer John Powell |
| 5 | The Evil Within The Cobra ([8]) | Hans Zimmer John Powell |
| 6 | Scar's New Army ([9]) | Hans Zimmer John Powell |
| 7 | Adventures of the Pride Lands' Past ([10]) | Hans Zimmer John Powell |
| 8 | Hakuna Matata | Nathan Lane Ernie Sabella |
| 9 | Be Prepared | Jeremy Irons Andy Dick Nika Futterman Steve Blum Christian Slater Meghan Strange Nolan North Andrew Kishino Cheech Marin |
| 10 | Sacrifice of Kopa ([11]) | Hans Zimmer John Powell |
| 11 | The Last Battle ([12]) | Hans Zimmer John Powell |
| 12 | Carry On In My Place ([13]) | Hans Zimmer John Powell |
| 12 | I Just Can't Wait to be King | Elton John |
| 14 | The Rightful Queen ([14]) | Hans Zimmer John Powell |
| 15 | Circle of Life / Nants' Ingonyama | Brown Lindiwe Mkhize |
| 16 | Never Too Late | Elton John |
Reception[]
At the time of the episode's workprint release, Epilogue: An Important Coronation received mixed reviews from critics, mainly because of the lack of a plan connecting to the Lion King saga (most notably retconning the events of The Lion Guard) and Prince Kopa, to which the episode had proved controversial. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 55% with an average rating of 6.30/10, based on 16 reviews.
Trivia[]
- The original draft of Epilogue: An Important Coronation was considered majorly different.
- The episode was meant to have the shortest runtime for only two scenes, that being the wedding and a planned union of the Pride Lands.
- Additionally, Tsah, Sasem, Ajabu, Tamaa, Swala, Chama, Mzaha, Furaha, Astuto, Heng-Heng, Kely, Mohatu, Ãnanda, and Sãhasí were to cameo at Kion's coronation, but their scenes were cut from the final version of Epilogue: An Important Coronation.
- Tauni, Vita, Njaa, and Kifo, the Four Lions of the Conquest-inspired by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse-were supposed to debut with Dee Bradley Baker voicing them. However, due to them silently debuting in Prince Kopa during its rewrites, they were dropped from Epilogue.
- Banzai was originally supposed to only cameo in a flashback with Shenzi and Ed.
- Mama Binturong and Smun were additional members of the Final Army of Scar.
- Kopa would have died from Zira scratching him.
- Mtoto, Zito, Zigo, Hodari, Mwenzi, Twiga, Shingo, Johari, Mtoto's mother, Dogo, Kijana, Dogo's brothers, Sumu, Madoa, Kenge, and Mwoga were considered for the Battle of the Chamber of the Night Pride sequence, but were ultimately scrapped.
- Badili and Mapigano reunited with Fuli and were introduced to Azaad.
- Rachel House, James Sie, Whoopi Goldberg, Meghan Strange, Howy Parkins, and Maurice LaMarche would have reprised their roles as Mama Binturong, Smun, Shenzi, Shupavu, Mbeya, and Kifaru from previous Lion King media.
- The episode was meant to have the shortest runtime for only two scenes, that being the wedding and a planned union of the Pride Lands.
- This episode contains the following references to previous Lion King media.
- The Outlands Summit is a collaboration between the Outlands' species for renewing their peace treaty with Vitani's Lion Guard. This is a reference to the Savannah Summit in The Lion Guard episode "The Savannah Summit".
- Vitani and Imara falling in love is staged identically to Simba and Nala developing romantic feelings in The Lion King.
- Scar unveiling the Final Army of Scar's pride of lionesses is a callback to Scar rallying the Army of Scar against Kion's Lion Guard in The Lion Guard episode "The Scorpion's Sting".
- In the episode's second act, Pumbaa receives his elephant-esque snout. It is a reference to the Timon & Pumbaa episode "Uganda Be An Elephant".
- Zira, Scar, and Ushari discuss their fates, as depicted in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, The Lion King, and The Lion Guard episode "Battle for the Pride Lands", respectively.
- When Kopa askes how the villains knew about Kion's Lion Guard, Ushari's response is "Every time I run into the Lion Guard, I'm the one getting run over. Someday, they'll regret it." Ushari originally said this to himself in The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar.
- Kovu meets a pride of Outsiders who defected Zira before his birth, just like he did in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride.
- Ma builds a sinkhole to defeat the Final Army of Scar, which calls back to her tunnel trap for Shenzi's clan in The Lion King 1½.
- After the Night Pride are free from being out of commission, Surak shouts "Jogina!" while defeating Makucha. Surak originated his catchphrase in The Lion Guard episode "The Tree of Life".
- Simba fighting Scar inside Mount Kilimanjaro is a callback to their showdown at Pride Rock in the original Lion King.
- Rani anointing Binga as the new member of the Night Pride is a callback to Kion using his paw to gift each of his friends with a special shoulder marking in The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar.
- Kiara becomes queen of Pride Rock, just as Simba became king of Pride Rock in the climax of The Lion King.
- After saving Vitani in the final battle and attending Simba's funeral, Timon decides to live in the heavens with Janna. In the Timon & Pumbaa episode "Timon's Time Togo", Timon died after eating a poison bug, and floated up to Meerkat Heaven, which turned out to be his dream.
References[]
- ↑ As depicted in "Prince Kopa."
- ↑ As depicted in "Love Will Find a Way."
- ↑ As depicted in "The Unwelcome Stranger."
- ↑ As depicted in "Battle for the Pride Lands."
- ↑ This track references Nick Glennie-Smith's "New Beginnings" from The Lion King II: Simba's Pride.
- ↑ This track references Zimmer's "Rafiki's Fireflies".
- ↑ This track Nick Glennie-Smith's "Zira's Death" from The Lion King II: Simba's Pride.
- ↑ This track references Zimmer's "Life's Not Fair".
- ↑ This track references Christopher Willis' "The Legend of Scar" from The Lion Guard.
- ↑ This track references Stephen James Taylor's "Beethoven's Whiff" from Timon & Pumbaa.
- ↑ This track references Zimmer's "Stampede" and "Mufasa Dies".
- ↑ This track references Zimmer's "This Land" and "Battle for Pride Rock", Don Harper's "Heroes Forge On" and "Shall We Run For Our Lives?" from The Lion King 1½, Nick Glennie-Smith's "Ambush" and "Crocodile Attack" from The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, Christopher Willis' "Call of the Guard" from The Lion Guard, and Stephen James Taylor's "Bumble in the Jungle" from Timon & Pumbaa.
- ↑ This track references Zimmer's "Reflections of Mufasa".
- ↑ This track references Zimmer's "The Rightful King" and "Remember".