Beyoncé co-wrote and directed the 2020 musical film Black Is King.
Black Is King premiered on Disney+ on July 31, 2020. Beyoncé conceived the project as a companion to The Lion King: The Gift, her 2019 album connected with Disney’s live-action film The Lion King. The film uses music, dance, fashion, and imagery to explore Black identity and heritage.
Beyoncé served as a writer, director, producer, and performer. The project features songs from The Lion King: The Gift, including “Already,” “Brown Skin Girl,” and “Spirit.” Visuals were filmed in several locations and created with a large international team.
A frequent misunderstanding is that Black Is King is a remake of The Lion King. It is instead a separate visual album and musical film inspired by the album and its themes. Jon Favreau directed the 2019 live-action The Lion King, not Black Is King.