10 Shocking Facts About Donald Glover, The Voice Actor Behind The 'Live-Action' Simba, And His Huge 2025 Return

The question of who voiced Simba in Disney's "live-action" reimagining of The Lion King is a fascinating entry point into the career of one of Hollywood's most versatile and secretive stars. The actor who brought the adult Simba to life in the 2019 photorealistic animated film is none other than Donald Glover, a true multi-hyphenate known equally for his acting, writing, directing, and Grammy-winning music career as Childish Gambino. This article dives deep into Glover’s pivotal role as the King of the Pride Lands and, more importantly, provides the latest updates on his massive 2025 projects, including his confirmed return to the Disney franchise in the highly anticipated prequel, Mufasa: The Lion King, making this a crucial time for fans.

As of December 2025, Donald Glover’s career is reaching a new peak with major film, television, and music releases. His involvement in the Lion King universe is a key part of his legacy, bridging his pop-culture persona with a beloved Disney classic. From his early days on Community to his groundbreaking work on Atlanta, Glover's unique voice—both literally and figuratively—has redefined modern celebrity, making his casting as the iconic lion a perfect, generation-defining choice.

Donald Glover: Full Biography, Profile, and Key Roles

Donald McKinley Glover is a highly acclaimed American actor, writer, director, producer, comedian, and musician. He is a true creative powerhouse, often working simultaneously across multiple artistic disciplines under his own name and his musical alter-ego, Childish Gambino.

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• Full Name: Donald McKinley Glover
• Born: September 25, 1983
• Birthplace: Edwards Air Force Base, California, U.S.
• Occupations: Actor, writer, director, producer, comedian, rapper, singer, songwriter
• Musical Stage Name: Childish Gambino
• Education: New York University's Tisch School of the Arts (Dramatic Writing, 2006)
• Key Television Roles: Troy Barnes in Community (2009–2014); Creator, writer, director, and star of Atlanta (2016–2022); Creator and star of Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024)
• Key Film Roles: Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018); Voice of Adult Simba in The Lion King (2019)
• Major Awards: Multiple Primetime Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards for Atlanta, and multiple Grammy Awards for his music, including Record of the Year for "This Is America."
• Current Status (2025): Preparing for his final Childish Gambino album release and a major world tour, while also developing new projects with FX.

The Voice of a King: Simba in The Lion King (2019)

Donald Glover took on the monumental task of voicing the adult Simba in Jon Favreau's 2019 film, a role originally voiced by Matthew Broderick in the 1994 animated classic. Glover’s casting was seen as a major coup for the film, aligning the iconic Disney character with a contemporary superstar known for his musical talent and dramatic depth.

Glover provided the voice and singing for the grown-up Simba, the exiled prince who must return to the Pride Lands to challenge his uncle Scar. His performance included memorable musical numbers like "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (a duet with Beyoncé, who voiced Nala) and "Hakuna Matata" (alongside Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon).

The "Live-Action" vs. Photorealistic Animation Debate

A crucial point of discussion surrounding the 2019 film is its classification. While widely marketed as "live-action," the film is technically a photorealistic animated feature. Director Jon Favreau utilized cutting-edge virtual reality tools and CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery) to create hyper-realistic animals and environments, with the entire film—save for one brief shot—being digitally rendered.

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This technical distinction is important because it highlights the unique challenge for the voice cast. Unlike traditional animation where actors can use exaggerated vocal expressions, the photorealistic style of the animals limited the visual expressions, placing a greater burden on the actors—especially Glover and Beyoncé—to convey deep emotion solely through their voices. This is one of the reasons the film generated so much critical debate upon its release.

Donald Glover’s Explosive 2025: From Childish Gambino to Mufasa

The biggest news for fans of Donald Glover and The Lion King franchise is his confirmed return. The year 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most significant in his career, with major projects spanning film, TV, and music that solidify his status as a creative force.

1. Confirmed Return in Mufasa: The Lion King

Donald Glover and Beyoncé are officially confirmed to reprise their roles as Simba and Nala in the prequel film, Mufasa: The Lion King, directed by Barry Jenkins. The film, which explores the origin story of Simba’s father, Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre), is a major event. Glover’s return confirms that adult Simba and Nala will play a role in the narrative, likely through framing devices or as narrators, bridging the events of the prequel with the 2019 film. This involvement ensures that Glover's voice will continue to define the iconic character for a new generation.

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2. The Final Childish Gambino Album: Bando Stone & the New World

Glover has stated that his sixth studio album will be his final one under the Childish Gambino moniker, titled Bando Stone & the New World. This highly anticipated release is a capstone to a musical career that has earned him global acclaim. In 2024, he also surprise-released Atavista, which he described as the "finished version" of his 2020 album, 3.15.20, demonstrating his commitment to perfecting his musical legacy before moving on.

3. The Childish Gambino World Tour (2024–2025)

To support his new music, Donald Glover announced a massive Childish Gambino World Tour spanning 2024 and 2025. This tour is expected to be a final, grand celebration of the Childish Gambino era, giving fans a last chance to see the musical side of the artist who voiced Simba.

4. The Success of Mr. & Mrs. Smith

In 2024, Glover co-created and starred in the critically acclaimed Prime Video series Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The series, which he developed under his new deal with FX, showcases his talent for blending action, comedy, and complex character dynamics. This project highlights his continued focus on prestige television and his role as a leading creative executive.

5. The Legacy of JD McCrary, Young Simba

While Glover voiced the adult Simba, it is important to remember the talent behind the cub. JD McCrary, a young actor and singer, voiced young Simba in the 2019 film. McCrary’s powerful vocals on tracks like "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" were instrumental to the film’s early emotional core, making him a key entity in the Lion King voice cast history.

From his breakout roles as a comedic writer to his current status as a cinematic and musical polymath, Donald Glover’s work as Simba is just one facet of a career dedicated to artistic exploration. His confirmed return to the Pride Lands, coupled with his final musical chapter, ensures that the voice of Simba will remain a major topic of conversation throughout 2025 and beyond.