One of the hottest stars in Hollywood is the young lion who plays Simba in Jon Favreau’s upcoming live-action take on The Lion King.
We were lucky enough to speak to the new King of the Jungle in the run-up to the film’s release.
“Please, call me Ron,” says the lion as we are introduced to him. Slightly larger than he appears on film, Ron cuts a relaxed figure as he lies on a rock, gnawing at the carcass of a freshly slaughtered wildebeest.
“Well, working with Jon was just a delight,” he chuckled.
“Although we did butt heads a little at the beginning. He told me to be more expressive, so I mauled him for several minutes and put him in hospital for nine days with severe blood loss.”
However, Ron soon became firm friends with the Iron Man director.
“Delightful man, very nurturing on the set, and always saw to it there was a fresh cow tied to the catering truck for me to slaughter.”
Ron was ambivalent towards the huge fame that would soon engulf him.
“I’m just focused on the movie. If it’s a success, then that’s all I’m really interested in because its not just me, it’s everyone who worked so hard to make it a success.”
Ron is already signed up for at least one Lion King sequel but he also has ambitions behind the camera.
“Well, I’d really like to direct,” he says, licking blood from his paws.
“Obviously, with no opposable thumbs, directing will be a challenge, I recognise that, but I’ve been working on a tremendous script about Welsh Hill farmers in the 1950s that could be wonderful.”
It’s clear that Ron the lion has got a dazzling career in Hollywood ahead and with a fine mane, and a twinkle in his eye, he could well give Brad Pitt and Leonardo Dicaprio a run for their money in the heartthrob department as well.
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