Beyonce surprises fans with trailer for new film Black is King
Visual album is described as ‘a celebratory memoir for the world on the Black experience’
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Your support makes all the difference.Disney Plus has announced a new film from Beyoncé, which was influenced in part by her work on Disney’s reboot of The Lion King.
Black is King will be released on the streaming service in next month, and is billed as a visual album that was written, directed and executive produced by Beyoncé. It will premiere internationally on 31 July.
A one-minute teaser featuring Beyoncé herself was released over the weekend on beyonce.com.
In a statement announcing the film, Disney and Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment said Black is King is “a celebratory memoir for the world on the Black experience”.
“The film is a story for the ages that informs and rebuilds the present. A reunion of cultures and shared generational beliefs. A story of how the people left most broken have an extraordinary gift and a purposeful future.”
Beyoncé voiced Nala in last year’s The Lion King, and also produced The Gift, an album released in conjunction with the film.
The record featured guest artists including Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Jessie Reyez, Pharrell, and her daughter Blue Ivy Carter. Beyoncé also worked with African artists such as Wizkid, Bruna Boy. Yemi Alade, Shatta Wale and Mr Eazi.
According to the statement, Black is King reimagines lessons from The Lion King “for today’s young kings and queens in search of their own crowns”.
“These timeless lessons are revealed and reflected through Black voices of today, now sitting in their own power,” the statement reads. “Black Is King is an affirmation of a grand purpose, with lush visuals that celebrate Black resilience and culture. The film highlights the beauty of tradition and Black excellence.”
Beyoncé surprise-released a new song, “Black Parade”, on Juneteenth. The song addressed black empowerment and the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of the killing of George Floyd.