Ever wanted to hear Simba and Nala kōrero Māori? Not only are we getting that with The Lion King Reo Māori, you could be their voice.
The first round of auditions for The Lion King Reo Māori are open. Following in the footsteps of Moana Reo Māori, the re-voiced version of the ’90s Disney classic is currently set to release in Aotearoa and Australian cinemas June 2022—aligning with Matariki (Māori New Year).
The Lion King Reo Māori is being developed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Chelsea Winstanley (Merata, JoJo Rabbit) and Tweedie Waititi (Moana Reo Māori, Rūrangi) of Matewa Media. Translations have been completed by Te Reo Māori experts in each rohe (regions) with different mita (dialects) being celebrated through key characters:
Lions – Tainui
Timon, Pumbaa – Te Tai Tokerau
Rafiki – Tūhoe
Zazu – Taranaki
Hyenas – Ngāti Kahungunu
Chorus – open to te motu whānui
“You don’t have to be from any particular rohe to audition, just like Moana Reo Māori we encourage everyone to have a go, Karawhiua!” said Winstanley in the official press release. “But, you will be expected to pull it off nō reira kia kaha rā! Ko te mea nui ka ngākau nui koe ki te reo Māori” emphasised Waititi.
Exciting day! Head to https://t.co/wd9TNKbEdV for more details pic.twitter.com/P1h4VKLfMl
— Chelsea Winstanley (@ChelseaPaparoa) October 27, 2021
For the online first round auditions, each character will have a different audition piece, and some will require you to also sing in Te Reo Māori. Waititi and Winstanley have advised that all levels of Reo Māori fluency are welcome.
As with Moana Reo Māori, Winstanley and Waititi will be working with Rachel House (Moana, Hunt for the Wilderpeople) who will act as Performance Director and with Musical Director Rob Ruha (Moana Reo Māori). Winstanley and Waititi are also working on a Māori language version of Frozen, which is set to release later in July.
Further information and audition materials are available on www.matewamedia.nz. Auditions close on 1st December, 2021.
