The Legend of the Lion King Lives on in The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar

Turning the characters and setting of THE LION KING into a series is something that's far past due for Disney. In THE LION GUARD, viewers once again meet Simba, Timon, Pumbaa, Rafiki and Zazu -- however, they are minor players in the story, as the focus shifts to the next generation.

In this introductory pilot, THE LION GUARD: RETURN OF THE ROAR, we meet Simba's son, Kion, who's happy that he's not in training to take over as ruler of the Pride Lands (that honor going to his older sister, Kiara) so that he can play with his friend Bunga, the honey badger. But their games take them to where they shouldn't be, putting Bunga in danger of attack by the hyenas -- and when Kion tries to warn them off with a roar, it's more than anyone anticipated.

Kion has summoned the Roar of the Elders, which marks him as the new leader of the Lion Guard, a group responsible for guarding the Pride Lands. The last Lion Guard existed under Mufasa -- and the last one to lead it was Scar! But when Scar tried to use hs roar for evil, to disband the Lion Guard, the power left him.

Now it's up to Kion to assemble a new Lion Guard -- assembling the bravest, the strongest, the swiftest, and the keenest of sight. Simba reluctantly puts his trust in Kion, because Rafiki has decreed it, but he's disappointed when he meets the members that Kion has brought together. Traditionally, the Lion Guard has been made up of lions. Kion's crew is a more diverse crew, made up of his friends -- who just happen to fit all the qualifications for the Lion Guard, except for the part about being lions. Simba thinks Kion isn't taking his duty seriously by choosing his friends. But when the hyenas launch a sneak attack against all the creatures of the Pride Lands, intent on disrupting the Circle of Life, it will take the combined efforts of the bravest, the keenest of eye, the strongest, the swiftest -- and the fiercest -- to send them packing and prove their worth as the new Lion Guard.

Featuring the vocal talents of Jeff Bennett as Zazu and Andrew Kishino as Janja the Hyena, this pilot also features Rob Lowe as Simba and James Earl Jones reprising his role as Mufasa.

Bonus features with this release include a music video by Beau Black and a Lion Guard pendant enclosed inside.

Previews on this disc include ZOOTOPIA and THE GOOD DINOSAUR.