National Geographic announces documentary series Lion

National Geographic has announced a new four-part documentary series titled "Lion," which chronicles the four-year journey of a lion cub named Kio in Kenya's Maasai Mara. The production follows Kio from his early life to his eventual status as a leader in the savanna.

The series was filmed over four years, totaling approximately 1,400 filming days, marking the first natural history production to document a lion's complete transition from cub to king. The project involves executive producer Jon Favreau and features a score by Hans Zimmer, incorporating local elements from the Nairobi Chamber Chorus.

"Lion" is scheduled to premiere on National Geographic starting August 19, with episodes becoming available for streaming on Disney+ and Hulu the following day. The series also supports Disney's "Protect the Pride" initiative, which aims to double the wild lion population by 2050.