Disney Sets ‘Lion Roar’ Film Premiere

Disney Channel will premiere its original animated movie The Lion Guard: Return Of the Roar on Nov. 22, the network said Friday.

The movie, a spin-off of Disney’s The Lion King film, will feature the voices of Rob Lowe, Gabrielle Union and James Earl Jones, who will reprise his role as Mufasa from the original film, said the network.

The Lion Guard, which will debut as a series in 2016, will premiere on the WATCH Disney Channel app as well as the WATCH Disney Junior app on Nov. 23, said network officials.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.