Disney and National Geographic Launch 'Lion' Documentary Series

Disney and National Geographic are releasing a four‑part documentary series titled “Lion,” which premieres on National Geographic on August 19, 2026, with all episodes available the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. The series follows Kio, a lion cub in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, documenting his growth over four years into a pride leader, marking the first natural‑history production to capture a lion’s complete life cycle.

The series is executive‑produced by Disney legend Jon Favreau and narrated by O.J. Lynch. Its musical score is composed by Academy Award‑winner Hans Zimmer alongside Niccolò Pacella and George Huston Warren. Filming spanned nearly 1,400 days across 52 shoots, involving local Kenyan filmmakers. The partnership also supports the Protect the Pride campaign, which has invested more than $5 million in lion conservation across Africa since 2019.