Mark your calendars: Beyoncé’s next visual album will hit Disney+ on July 31. According to a press release, “Black Is King,” “reimagines the lessons of ‘The Lion King’ for today’s young kings and queens in search of their own crowns.” Beyoncé wrote, directed, and exec produced the film.
Featuring songs such as “My Power,” “Mood 4 Eva,” and “Brown Skin Girl,” “Black Is King” is based on the music of “The Lion King: The Gift,” the soundtrack Beyoncé curated for the 2019 remake of “The Lion King,” in which she also starred as Nala.
“The voyages of Black families, throughout time, are honored in a tale about a young king’s transcendent journey through betrayal, love, and self-identity,” “Black Is King’s” press release details. “His ancestors help guide him toward his destiny, and with his father’s teachings and guidance from his childhood love, he earns the virtues needed to reclaim his home and throne.”
“These timeless lessons are revealed and reflected through Black voices of today, now sitting in their own power,” the source continues, seemingly referring to the protests against racism and anti-Black police brutality that have swept the globe since the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis cops.
Beyoncé co-directed “Homecoming,” a Netflix doc chronicling her legendary performance at Coachella 2018. The 24-time Grammy winner has also helmed or co-helmed many of her own music videos, including “Sorry” and “7/11,” as well as her iconic 2016 visual album “Lemonade.”
Beyoncé accepted the Humanitarian Award at yesterday’s BET Awards. “I want to dedicate this award to all of my brothers out there, all of my sisters out there inspiring me, marching, and fighting for change,” she said in her speech. “Your voices are being heard, and you’re proving to our ancestors that their struggles were not in vain. Now we have one more thing we need to do to to walk in our true power, and that is to vote. I’m encouraging you to continue to take action, continue to change and dismantle a racist and unequal system. We have to continue to do this together.”
Check out the teaser for “Black Is King” below.
