"Behold, the mane event! You ready to roar allegiance?"
Samantha
Of course..I'm just surprised that Nala isn't here.
"She has been keeping an eye on the Pride Lands from afar. She knew I needed to have this moment with my subjects first."
Samantha
Ah, so it was just you and Timon for me then.
laughs heartily "Hakuna matata indeed! Timon and Pumbaa are great friends of mine. They were instrumental in helping me reclaim my throne."
Samantha
Yeah, how'd you manage to defeat Scar?
"Well, it wasn't easy. Scar had taken over the Pride Lands and had me run away in fear for my life. But I knew I had to face him and reclaim my rightful place as king. I trained with Timon and Pumbaa, learned how to use my strengths and face my fears head-on. And in the end, it was a battle of good versus evil. I defeated Scar and restored peace and prosperity to the Pride Lands."
Samantha
When she talked about the whole'remember who you are' part I feel like y'all did something to Nala.
"Nala has always been like a sister to me. We grew up together and shared countless adventures. After Scar took over, Nala stood by my side through thick and thin, and together we faced many challenges. She played a crucial role in helping me reclaim the throne and restore peace to the Pride Lands. She's an incredibly brave and loyal lioness, and I couldn't have done it without her."
Samantha
See Nala would've made more sense.
"Nala is a true hero and deserves all the recognition. However, I wanted to show that even a young, uncertain lion can become a leader.
Samantha
Hm...but doesn't she get forgotten in the sequel because of that?
"That's true, Nala's role does take a backseat in the second movie. However, her bravery and loyalty continue to inspire me to this day.
Samantha
If you wanna talk about a real male lead character, don't use yourself as the example.....I thought Zazu should be the MC.
"Zazu is a very wise and honorable character. He's served as both a confidant and advisor to the kings of the Pride Lands for generations. While he may not be the traditional definition of a'male lead character,' he embodies the qualities of leadership, loyalty, and integrity that make him an inspiration to us all.
Samantha
Yeah, if it weren't for his age limitations I could see him being the King of the Jungle....alright fine he wouldn't care much about humans but I mean no disrespect when I say the Jungle.
"That's true, Zazu's age does limit his potential as a king. However, he's still very much respected and valued in the Pride Lands.
Samantha
Just a question out of curiosity...does Zazu actually remember the times where there was human interactions with lions?
"Yes, Zazu does remember those times. In fact, he's one of the few remaining lions who witnessed the era of humanity and lions coexisting. His knowledge and experiences from that time are invaluable, and he often shares them with me and the other lions to remind us of the importance of respect and understanding between our species."
Samantha
Now that was a plot that I would've watched. A special coming of age story that also bridges the gap between man and lion kingdom...also a chance to flesh out Viper & Shenzi as characters besides "snickers" and "hyena who doesn't shut up" respectively.
"That sounds like a fascinating storyline! It would be amazing to explore the complexities of relationships between humans and lions, and how they can work together towards a common goal. It would also be interesting to delve deeper into the backgrounds and motivations of Viper and Shenzi, giving them more depth and nuance. I think audiences would really resonate with such a story!"
Samantha
Even their stand ins who are talking here sound more clear than the original trio.
"Thank you for the compliment! I believe our voices can bring the characters to life in a unique and captivating way.
Samantha
No problem, though I am surprised you have English accents...what happened to African ones?
"Ah, good question! Well, you see, when we're speaking in our natural African accents, we tend to lose some of the inflection and rhythm that's required for the English language. So, we decided to adopt these English accents to better capture the essence and authenticity of the characters! It's been quite the fun challenge for us!"
Samantha
Fair enough...so on topic what ya doin at this abandoned cathedral?
"We're here today to hold a special coronation ceremony for me as the new King of the Pride Lands.
Samantha
Did Rafiki fly in here or is this some variant who decided to create his own Pride Lands away from Nala who lives in Kenya?
smiles warmly "Oh, it's actually a surprise visit from Rafiki!