Jon Favereau’s New Series ‘Lion’ Premieres on Nat Geo, Disney+, and Hulu

I first saw The Lion King in a theater when it released back in 1994. Over the years my family enjoyed watching it over and over on VHS and then DVD. When Jon Favereau directed the live-action version of the story in 2019 I again went to see it in the theater, this time with my youngest child. I was very impressed. I recently learned that Jon Favereau was returning to the savanna with a new National Geographic series Lion that follows a real life lion cub and was excited to have an opportunity to preview the series.

What Is Lion?

Lion is a four-episode nature documentary series from “The Lion King” director Jon Favreau and BBC Studios executive producer Mike Gunton. It tells the extraordinary true story of a lion cub named Kio on his epic journey to become a king. Filmed over four years, this sweeping saga of family, hope and courage follows Kio as he grows from a vulnerable cub into a powerful leader. Along the way, he faces loss, exile and fierce rivals in a fight to survive. Combining cinematic storytelling with groundbreaking natural history filmmaking, this series captures the complete coming-of-age story of a lion — and the remarkable making of a king.

Let’s take a look at the four episodes:

CHAPTER 1. A Prince is Born

Born to Summer, queen of a powerful pride, timid lion cub Kio enters a world where every lesson comes at a potential price. One day he may rule a kingdom of his own, but first he must learn to survive. When a buffalo hunt ends in tragedy, Kio gets his first glimpse at how unpredictable life on the savannah can be. As he slowly grows braver, each new challenge pushes him further from the safety of the pride until one solo adventure brings him directly into the path of the pride’s greatest enemy: the buffalo.

Members of Summer’s Pride rest, panting in the heat of the day. (National Geographic/Joe Treddenick)

CHAPTER 2. A Band of Brothers

Against all odds, Kio survives a buffalo attack, but his troubles are far from over. At 12 weeks old, he is the youngest and most vulnerable member of the pride. To have any hope of one day becoming king, he must earn the respect of his older brothers and find his place among them. Just as he is finally able to gain their acceptance, the dry season sets in, and food becomes scarce. This leaves Summer to make an extraordinary decision to protect Kio’s future.

Orkitok, Olepolos, and Osapuk move together through the grassland, the three males clearly reinforcing their dominance over the territory. (National Geographic)

CHAPTER 3. The Greatest Sacrifice

After a desperate search, Kio and Summer reunite with the brothers — but life on the fringes of the pride’s territory is unforgiving. As Summer struggles to hunt for her inexperienced sons and prepare them for independence, the demands of survival begin to take their toll. When an easy meal proves too tempting to resist. The consequences change Kio’s life forever, forcing him into independence far sooner than expected. Now, Kio and his brothers must learn to survive on their own.

A young male lion balances precariously on a small gardenia tree, surrounded by a seemingly relaxed herd of buffalo. (National Geographic/Sophie Darlington)

CHAPTER 4. To Be King

Kio and his brothers have entered a dangerous new world. As the youngest, Kio is the most vulnerable. When he discovers a lush marshland rich with prey and a pride of lionesses, it seems they have found their new home. But this marshland already has kings. A brutal attack scatters the brotherhood and forces Kio to flee. Lost and alone, Kio’s chances of survival are slim, but he finds the courage to call out and reunites with his brothers. Together, they face a series of trials, from buffalo hunts to clashes with rival males, forging an unbreakable bond. Finally, as a confident male lion, almost fully grown, Kio returns to the marshland to face the old kings. Victory will secure a kingdom, a pride and a new family. Defeat means exile. Will Kio fall, or rise and finally claim his place as king?

A male lion stands in the grassland as the sun sets behind him. (National Geographic/Sophie Darlington)

Why You Should See Lion

Lion is an incredible series. I have been very impressed with many of National Geographic’s series and Lion is no exception. The cinematography is beautiful and viewers feel like there are right there on the savanna with Kio. The cameras not only focus on one of the largest prides of lions in Africa, they also capture much of the surrounding life as well. There are scenes of large elephants, herds of zebra, and even little birds taking flight from the grass. This really rounds out the scenes and illustrates the diversity of life. Lion is much more than a nature documentary. It brings viewers in by telling a story about a lion cub and his struggle to gain acceptance and then leadership of his pride. Along the way, viewers learn about some of the wonderful wildlife of Africa. As a high school science teacher, I appreciate how entertainment helps people to engage in education and learning. I will admit, a nature documentary is not high on my list of things to watch. However, after several years of previewing productions by National Geographic, I now actually look forward to viewing their latest. As a result, I have learned a lot about the world in which we live and share it with my students.

If you are a fan of National Geographic productions, then you will not want to miss Lion. If you have not watched any of their series before, then Lion is a great place to start. Jon Favereau is a masterful storyteller and his influence is apparent. I thoroughly enjoyed Lion and look forward to sharing it with my students later in the school year when we cover higher forms of life such as mammals.

Be sure to watch Lion when it premieres Wednesday, August 19 at 9/8c on National Geographic and begins streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. Here is a trailer for the series.