Disney fans across the globe are roaring over news The Lion King is getting a remake.
The beloved 1994 animated classic is getting the CGI-created, live action treatment rendered unto last year’s The Jungle Book under the direction of Jon Favreau.
Today it was announced that James Earl Jones’ rich bass shall once again bring Mufasa to life (albeit briefly – spoiler alert) while Atlanta star Donald Glover has been crowned the voice actor for Simba.
READ MORE: James Earl Jones to reprise classic Lion King role in remake
This got us to thinking, what if the Lion King was voiced by Glaswegians?
What Scots speech would oversee the savannah? Is there a Pollok pronunciation to preside over the Pride Lands?
Here’s the Weegies we think would be the mane event.
Simba – Kevin Bridges
There’s something very charming about this Clydebank funnyman. He’s fresh-faced and by all reports very good with his subjects/public in real life. Plus he has, like our next two castings, an excellent claim to be Glasgow’s comedy king.
Mufasa – Billy Connolly
The undisputed sage elder of the city’s comedian court, we reckon The Big Yin has the majesty and carriage to pull of the regal Mufasa.
There’s also an argument for him being the father of all the Scottish stand-ups that followed him. Also we can just hear in our mind’s ear him giving the ‘everything the light touches’ speech.
Scar – Frankie Boyle
The Glasgow gagster with real bite, Boyle’s often controversial, some may say mean-spirited, humour is perfect for the villainous Scar.
Can you not just picture him, mid-regicide, saying ‘Long. Live. The King. Ya mad rocket”? Admittedly the director would probably have a hard time keeping his famously-foul mouth in check.
Nala – Rose Leslie
Known best for playing warrior woman and love interest Ygritte in the hit show Game of Thrones, we think this blend of fierceness and tenderness would make Rose the perfect choice as Simba’s spouse.
Timon – Peter Capaldi
Originally played as a wise-cracking meerkat by the hilarious Nathan Lane, we’d like to see Timon go Tucker and have Capaldi channel his famous The Thick Of It character.
The saying may go Hakuna Matata, but if the Doctor Who actor gets his way, it’d be a case of worries for EVERYONE else.
Pumbaa – Gerard Butler
Our motivations on this one are pretty base. We’d like to see the generally buff action hero Butler inhabit the corpulent form of a flatulent warthog.
At least, mercifully, it wouldn’t require him to do an accent...
Rafiki – Ford Kiernan
Imagine the wise old mandrill who guides Simba with cryptic words of enlightenment, but voiced in the style of Ford’s rib-tickling Ronald Villiers character (That’s the Klingons on the phone for you Captain).
We can hear him now: “Och aye, the past can be a sore one an' that, but you can either scarper, or try and learn from it, like.”
Zazu – Greg McHugh
Not too much of a stretch really, I mean have you ever seen Rowan Atkinson (who originally voiced Zazu) and Greg McHugh in the same room?
But seriously, we’d love a Gary Tank Commander version of this hornbill vizier.
Disagree with our picks? What scenes would you like to see played out with a West of Scotland bent? Let us know in the comments section, or on our Facebook page.
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