Almost as quickly as it began, the Hugh Jackman Lion King rumor has officially been busted. On Saturday, news spread that Jackman may play Scar in Disney's upcoming live-action remake. Understandably, the internet rejoiced at the thought of the star taking on the role of the villainous lion. But dreams were dashed when Jackman's rep told Bustle, "There's no truth to this report." (Bustle also reached out to Walt Disney Studios for comment, but did not receive an immediate response.)
Although fans may be understandably bummed, take solace in the fact that the rest of the Lion King cast sounds stellar. From Donald Glover (Simba) to John Oliver (Zazu) to Seth Rogen (Pumbaa), you'll be singing "Circle Of Life" with joy in no time, just imagining what they'll bring to the big screen. Oh, and don't forget that James Earl Jones will reprise his role as Mufasa. It sounds like director Jon Favreau is on a roll with those choices, so it's only a matter of time before the actual Scar is announced.
And just in case you need another reason to stay excited about the film, Lion King footage aired at the D23 Expo on Saturday, and early reports, including ones from The Hollywood Reporter, deem it "jaw-dropping." Meanwhile, others admitted they literally cried.
So, sure, Jackman's fans are probably feeling more than a little heartbroken right now, especially after they posted tweets like the ones below.
But hey, it's more than likely Jackman has plenty of other great projects in the works — just a look at his IMDb page should ease your mind. And if not, the Lion King movie is slated for a July 19, 2019 release, so you've got just over two years to come to terms with whoever plays that villainous lion instead. Singing "Hakuna Matata" may also help in this situation.
