Nat Geo’s Lion: Jon Favreau Follows Kio’s Epic Journey From Cub to King

Reel Perspectives

August 21, 2026

 A hero's journey is happening in the wild, in real time.

Get ready to meet Kio, the tiny lion cub with a destiny much bigger than himself. From Disney and National Geographic, Lion is the ambitious new four-part natural history series that takes viewers deep into Kenya’s Maasai Mara to witness one lion’s extraordinary transformation from vulnerable cub to powerful leader.

From The Lion King director Jon Favreau and BBC Studios executive producer Mike Gunton comes the extraordinary true story of Kio and his epic journey to become a king. Filmed over four years, Lion follows Kio through a sweeping saga of family, hope and courage as he grows up in one of the world's most unforgiving environments. His path to the throne won't be easy. Along the way, Kio faces loss, exile and fierce rivals, forcing him to fight for his survival while discovering what it truly takes to lead.

Cameras have captured the complete coming of age journey of a lion, documenting Kio from his earliest days as a cub through his remarkable evolution toward becoming king. Combining cinematic storytelling and natural history filmmaking, Lion transforms the traditional wildlife documentary into an intimate, emotional saga.

Viewers will experience the triumphs and heartbreaks of Kio's life as he navigates the complex world of the pride, battles threats from rivals and confronts the challenges that come with growing into his power.

Favreau, who directed Disney's live-action The Lion King, served as executive producer and witnessed Kio's story unfold over four years.

“After tracking the lions in the field for four years, the pride never ceased to surprise us - what Kio endures and eventually becomes is extraordinary. Watching the hero's journey against the backdrop of nature was incredible to witness.”

Adding another layer of Disney magic to the project is Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer, who famously created the score for the 1994 animated classic The Lion King. Zimmer returns to score Lion, with fans able to hear newly rerecorded musical nods to the beloved original film woven into the series. The series is narrated by O.J. Lynch, who portrayed Mufasa in the stage production of The Lion King, creating yet another connection between Kio's real life story and one of Disney's most iconic films.

But while The Lion King gave audiences an animated legend, Lion delivers the real story of a lion growing up in the wild. In celebration of Lion, Disney is continuing its Protect the Pride campaign in support of the Wildlife Conservation Network's Lion Recovery Fund (LRF) and its conservation partners working across Africa. Since the campaign launched in 2019, Disney has invested more than $5 million in the Lion Recovery Fund, helping support more than 400 conservation projects across 26 countries focused on stabilizing and recovering lion populations through locally led solutions.

That makes Kio's story about more than one lion. It's a reminder of why protecting these magnificent animals and the ecosystems they call home.

There may be no "Hakuna Matata" when you're growing up in the Maasai Mara, but Kio's story promises plenty of heart, danger and unforgettable moments.

From a tiny cub taking his first steps to a lion confronting rivals and fighting for his future, Lion gives audiences an unprecedented look at what it really takes to become king. One cub. Four years. A lifetime of challenges. One extraordinary king in the making.

Lion premiered August 19 at 9/8c on National Geographic, with all four episodes streaming the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.