National Geographic released a trailer today for "Lion," a four-part documentary series following a lion cub named Kio [1, 2].
The series marks a high-profile collaboration between executive producer Jon Favreau, Disney Legend, and BBC Studios Natural History, leveraging the prestige of natural history filmmaking to capture a rare biological progression. It follows the trajectory of a single animal from infancy to leadership in the wild.
Filmed in Kenya’s Maasai Mara [3], the project chronicles Kio's journey over four years [1]. The production involved a massive operational effort, totaling 1,400 days of filming and 52 separate shoots [3]. This longitudinal approach allows the series to document the specific challenges and triumphs Kio faces as he evolves into a king [1, 2].
The series is scheduled to premiere on Aug. 19, 2026, at 9/8c on National Geographic [1, 2]. Following the television broadcast, episodes will be available for streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu [1, 3].
Favreau brings significant experience with the species to the project. He previously directed the 2019 remake of "The Lion King," which earned $1.6 billion at the box office [4]. While that film utilized photorealistic computer animation, this new series relies on real-life footage to tell Kio's story.
The four-part structure is designed to pace the narrative of Kio's growth [1]. By focusing on one individual animal, the series aims to provide a more intimate look at the social hierarchies, and survival instincts of lions in the wild [1, 2].
“The series chronicles the remarkable four-year journey of a tiny lion cub named Kio as he becomes a king.”
The project represents a strategic bridge between Disney's cinematic brand and National Geographic's scientific authority. By pairing Jon Favreau, who achieved massive commercial success with a fictionalized lion narrative, with the rigorous filming standards of BBC Studios, the network is attempting to merge blockbuster storytelling with authentic wildlife documentation to capture a broad global audience.
