After the death of his father, Mufasa James Earl Jones, young lion cub Simba Glover/JD McCrary is destined to become King of the Pride Lands, but is instead forced into exile by his evil and greedy uncle Scar Ejiofor, who tricks Simba into taking responsibility for his fathers death and claims the throne for himself. Away from his family, Simba befriends meerkat Timon Billy Eichner and warthog Pumbaa Seth Rogen and begins living a carefree life until his best friend Nala Beyonce/Shahadi Wright Joseph convinces him to return home and take his rightful place as ruler of the Pride Lands.