Disney+ has released a new (and somehow even more stunning) trailer forBlack Is King. The visual album comes fromBeyoncé, who wrote, directed, and executive produced.Black Is Kingis based on the music of her albumThe Lion King: The Gift, made for 2019’s live-actionThe Lion Kingwhich she co-starred in alongsideDonald Glover,Chiwetel Ejiofor,Seth Rogen,Billy Eichner,John Oliver, andAlfre Woodard.
The newesttrailer forBlack Is Kingcomes jam-packed with gorgeous visuals. This should come as no surprise as Beyoncé’s aesthetic has been fine-tuned in recent years to pack as powerful a punch as possible while rightfully centering Blackness as high art. More apparent in this trailer is how Beyoncé has adapted theLion Kingstory to her own creative eye. Familiar lines fromThe Lion Kingring out as we watch a young boy become a man as he travels far from his birthplace and into the unknown world. The trailer also reveals some of the famous faces recruited for theBlack Is Kingcast, including Beyoncé’s husband,Jay-Z, and mother,Tina Knowles-Lawson, as well asLupita Nyong’o,Naomi Campbell, andKelly Rowland.
With the arrival of this trailer comes exciting information about the release plans forBlack Is King. In addition to its Disney+ debut,Black Is Kingwill be made available across the African Continent. This distribution deal means Beyoncé’s visual album will be released in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Namibia, Cameroon, Liberia, Burundi, Senegal, Togo, Somalia, Benin, Congo, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Gabon, Cape Verde, and other countries through MultiChoice Group’s M-Net and Canal+ Afrique.
The team behindBlack Is Kingextends far beyond Beyoncé. With the Grammy-winning singer at the helm, the one-year shoot enlisted the talents ofDafe Oboro,JulianKlincewicz,DerekMilton,MejiAlabi,JoshuaKissi,AlexandreMoors, andDeonVanZylas co-directors and second unit directors. Filming locations for this epic visual album include New York, then Los Angeles, South Africa, West Africa, London, and Belgium.
Black Is Kingdebuts on Disney+ on July 31. Watch the gorgeous new trailer below. Get even more Disney+ updates righthere.
Allie Gemmill is the Weekend Contributing Editor for Collider. you may follow them on Twitter@_matineeidle.
Here’s the official synopsis forBlack Is King, plus the official poster:
This visual album from Beyoncé reimagines the lessons ofThe Lion Kingfor today’s young kings and queens in search of their own crowns. The film was in production for one year with a cast and crew that represent diversity and connectivity.
The voyages of Black families, throughout time, are honored in a tale about a young king’s transcendent journey through betrayal, love and self-identity. His ancestors help guide him toward his destiny, and with his father’s teachings and guidance from his childhood love, he earns the virtues needed to reclaim his home and throne.
These timeless lessons are revealed and reflected through Black voices of today, now sitting in their own power.Black Is Kingis an affirmation of a grand purpose, with lush visuals that celebrate Black resilience and culture. The film highlights the beauty of tradition and Black excellence.
