Beyoncé has gifted us the full trailer for Black is King, her new visual album.
Black is King is based on The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack for the 2019 film, in which Bey voiced Nala. The visual album, which she worked on for a year, reimagines the lessons from the childhood favourite for today’s young kings and queens in search of their own crowns. It was originally supposed to be a companion piece to The Gift, to celebrate Black ancestry, but the film turned out to be so much bigger than that.
Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o casually appears in the trailer as does Kelly Rowland and Naomi Campbell.
“You, who were formed by the heat of the galaxy, what a thing to be. Both unique and familiar. To be one and the same. And still unlike any other,” Beyoncé says in the utterly stunning trailer. “Life is a set of choices. Lead or be led astray. Follow your light or lose it.”
Bey’s mum, Tina Knowles-Lawson will also appear in the film as will husband Jay-Z, Pharrell Williams, and other artists.
In a presser, Beyoncé said her only goal for the film is for people to watch it with their families and feel pride.
“With this visual album, I wanted to present elements of Black history and African tradition, with a modern twist and a universal message, and what it truly means to find your self-identity and build a legacy,” she said.
Black is King will stream exclusively on Disney+ on July 31, two weeks after the one-year anniversary of The Lion King premiere. Feels like forever ago, to be honest.
Both versions of The Lion King are available to stream on Disney+ now, as are The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride and The Lion King 1½. I had no idea a third Lion King existed.
And, if you hop on over to Netflix, you can find Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé.
There is only one way to conclude this yarn.
