Due on Blu: The Lion King

Disney’s live-action take on The Lion King will be released here on 4K-UHD and Blu-ray on November 13 — three weeks later than in the US and just days before the Disney+ streaming service goes live.

The press release promises more than an hour of extras that “showcase the cutting-edge technology behind the stunning savanna”.

“These extra features include a potentially fascinating commentary track by director Jon Favreau, and a section covering – hopefully in plenty of depth – the creation of the film’s amazing special effects,” writes a/v commentator John Archer in Forbes.

“There are, though, also a couple of disappointments to digest. Namely that as usual with recent Disney releases, there will be no support on The Lion King 4K Blu-ray for either the Dolby Vision dynamic HDR format, or the IMAX resources used during the film’s run in IMAX theatres.”

Here’s the full list of extras:

• Perfecting the Pride – Join the filmmakers on their research trip to Africa as they immerse themselves in the real world of “The Lion King.” From the animals in the pride, to the smallest of insects and the grasslands in the savanna, experience the attention to detail that brought the film to life.
• The Journey to The Lion King –
  • The Music – Go inside the studio with the cast and crew as they work to honor and elevate The Lion King’s beloved music.
  • The Magic – Discover how the filmmakers blended the traditional filmmaking techniques with virtual reality technology to create amazing movie magic.
  • The Timeless Tale – Filmmakers and cast reflect on the story that has moved generations and share how this Lion King carries a proud legacy forward.
• More to Be Scene – Recording studio and layer-by-layer progressions of some of most iconic moments in The Lion King.
  • “Circle of Life” – Peel back the layers of effects and go behind the scenes of this iconic musical moment from the film
  • “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” – See all the effects, talent and fun that went into creating this vibrant version of “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” for the movie
  • “Hakuna Matata” – Join Donald Glover (Simba), Seth Rogen (Pumbaa) and Billy Eichner (Timon) in the studio for the making of this memorable scene.
• Music videos:
  • “Never Too Late” (lyric video) by Elton John
  • “Spirit” performed by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
• Filmmaker introduction.
• Director’s commentary.
• Song Selection:
  • “Circle of Life”
  • “I Just Can’t Wait to be King”
  • “Be Prepared”
  • “Hakuna Matata”
  • “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”
  • “Spirit”
  • “Never Too Late”.