Jon Favreau’s Lion Trailer Follows One Cub’s Four-Year Journey to Become King

National Geographic’s new natural-history event series, scored in part by Hans Zimmer, premieres August 19 before streaming on Disney+ and Hulu the following day.

National Geographic has released a new trailer for Lion, the four-part natural-history event series executive produced by Jon Favreau and BBC Studios Natural History Unit executive Mike Gunton. Unveiled on August 6, the preview introduces Kio, a lion cub whose life was documented over four years as he grows from a vulnerable youngster into a contender for leadership of his pride.

The Jon Favreau Lion documentary will premiere on National Geographic on August 19 before all four episodes arrive on Disney+ and Hulu on August 20. Disney previously confirmed the streaming date in its official August programming schedule, describing the series as a coming-of-age story built around survival, family, exile and rivalry. This highly anticipated series focuses on the intricate lives of lions and their environment, showcasing the journey of Kio. Don’t miss the Jon Favreau Lion documentary.

Lion turns one animal’s life into a continuing story

Rather than treating individual animal encounters as self-contained sequences, Lion follows Kio across an extended period of his life. National Geographic says the production was filmed over four years, allowing its cameras to document how his place within the pride changes as he matures.

The resulting story follows Kio through periods of vulnerability, separation and competition as he navigates the pressures that shape life within and around a lion pride. Disney’s description says the series combines cinematic storytelling with natural-history filmmaking while tracing the cub’s progression toward becoming a powerful adult.

That long-term approach gives the filmmakers something unavailable to productions assembled primarily around isolated wildlife spectacles: the opportunity to build recognizable relationships and consequences across multiple stages of one animal’s development.

The Walt Disney Company had previously identified Lion as an upcoming National Geographic project connected to Favreau, noting the series during its 2026 D23 programming announcement earlier this year.

Jon Favreau reunites creatively with Mike Gunton

Favreau’s involvement gives the project a notable connection between Hollywood filmmaking and high-end natural-history production. He directed Disney’s 2019 version of The Lion King, a technologically ambitious reimagining of the animated film that used photorealistic digital environments and animals.

His collaboration with Gunton also continues a creative relationship established on Apple TV+’s Prehistoric Planet. That series paired Favreau with the BBC Studios Natural History Unit to present prehistoric wildlife using natural-history storytelling techniques and visual effects.

Gunton is one of the most established producers in the field, with credits across major BBC wildlife productions. BBC Studios previously described the pair as executive producers when detailing their work together on Prehistoric Planet.

With Lion, however, the focus shifts away from digitally reconstructed animals and toward a real lion whose development could be documented over several years.

Hans Zimmer contributes to the series’ music

The production also carries another connection to Favreau’s earlier work. Hans Zimmer, whose credits include the original animated The Lion King and its 2019 adaptation, is among the composers associated with the series.

Zimmer contributes to the score alongside Niccolò Pacella and George Huston Warren through Bleeding Fingers Music Group. The music supports a format that appears designed to bring some of the scale and emotional structure associated with feature filmmaking into a factual wildlife production.

That crossover is increasingly familiar within premium natural-history television. Large-format cinematography, serialized storytelling and prominent composers have helped wildlife programming compete alongside scripted dramas and documentaries on major streaming platforms.

Lion joins a crowded August streaming lineup

The series arrives during a busy August for Disney+ and Hulu. Disney’s schedule includes new franchise programming, returning series and documentaries across the combined services, while Lion serves as one of National Geographic’s headline factual releases for the month.

MarketWatch’s August streaming preview also highlighted the Favreau project among Disney’s major releases, noting its multiyear focus on a lion cub and his pride.

The release strategy gives the project two distinct openings. National Geographic viewers can watch its television debut on August 19, while streaming audiences will be able to access the complete event the following day.

Kio becomes the center of the story

The trailer places Kio’s development at the center rather than presenting the project simply as a broad survey of lion behavior. That distinction may ultimately be what separates Lion from more conventional wildlife programming.

Four years of filming give the production a built-in timeline, beginning with a dependent cub and following the consequences of the relationships, dangers and rivalries around him as he matures.

With the trailer now released, the next major milestone is the National Geographic premiere on August 19, followed by the complete four-part streaming release on Disney+ and Hulu on August 20.

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Malin Rasmussen

Malin Rasmussen is a flight attendant with a zest for travel, culinary adventures, and wine. When she’s not soaring through the skies, Malin enjoys attending concerts and exploring new destinations. Her love for cooking and fine wines adds a rich, flavorful touch to her life. As a contributor, Malin shares her unique experiences and passion for travel and gastronomy, bringing our readers a delightful mix of stories and insights