The Lion King cast: 1994 original and live-action remake voice stars

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Disney (2)

Disney‘s photorealistic remake of 1994’s The Lion King hits theaters this month. Although the story and songs remain nearly unchanged, the beloved characters have all-new looks and new big-name voices behind them (well, except for one — we see you James Earl Jones!). Let’s take a look at how the characters and actors have changed between the animated classic and the current version.

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Donald Glover as adult Simba

D Dipasupil/FilmMagic; Disney

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Matthew Broderick as adult Simba

David M. Benett/Getty Images; Disney

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Beyoncé as adult Nala

John Lamparski/WireImage; Disney

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Moira Kelly as adult Nala

Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Disney

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JD McCrary as young Simba

Jesse Grant/Getty; Disney

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Jonathan Taylor Thomas as young Simba

J. P. Aussenard/WireImage; Disney

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Shahadi Wright Joseph as young Nala

ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty; Disney

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Niketa Calame-Harris as young Nala

Jesse Grant/Getty; Disney

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James Earl Jones as Mufasa

; Disney

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James Earl Jones as Mufasa

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images; Disney

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John Oliver as Zazu

Gary Gershoff/WireImage; Disney

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Rowan Atkinson as Zazu

ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images; Disney

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Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar

Karwai Tang/WireImage; Disney

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Jeremy Irons as Scar

Jordi Vidal/WireImage; Disney

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Seth Rogan as Pumbaa

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Disney

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Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa

Walter McBride/WireImage; Disney

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Billy Eichner as Timon

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images; Disney

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Nathan Lane as Timon

Bruce Glikas/WireImage; Disney

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Alfre Woodard as Sarabi

; Disney

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Madge Sinclair as Sarabi

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images; Disney

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John Kani as Rafiki

Robbie Jack/Corbis via Getty Images; Disney

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Robert Guillaume as Rafiki

Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage; Disney

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Whoopi Goldberg, Jim Cummings, and Cheech Marin as the hyenas

Buena Vista Pictures/ Everett Collection; Gary Gershoff/Getty; Taylor Hill/Getty; Jeff Spicer/FilmMagic

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Eric Andre, Keegan-Michael Key, and Florence Kasumba as the hyenas

Disney (2)

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See The Lion King characters and cast in the remake vs. the original

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Donald Glover as adult Simba

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Matthew Broderick as adult Simba

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Beyoncé as adult Nala

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Moira Kelly as adult Nala

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JD McCrary as young Simba

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Jonathan Taylor Thomas as young Simba

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Shahadi Wright Joseph as young Nala

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Niketa Calame-Harris as young Nala

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James Earl Jones as Mufasa

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James Earl Jones as Mufasa

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John Oliver as Zazu

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Rowan Atkinson as Zazu

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Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar

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Jeremy Irons as Scar

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Seth Rogan as Pumbaa

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Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa

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Billy Eichner as Timon

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Nathan Lane as Timon

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Alfre Woodard as Sarabi

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Madge Sinclair as Sarabi

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John Kani as Rafiki

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Robert Guillaume as Rafiki

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Whoopi Goldberg, Jim Cummings, and Cheech Marin as the hyenas

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Eric Andre, Keegan-Michael Key, and Florence Kasumba as the hyenas

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