Amy Sedaris Joins Disney’s The Lion King in New Role

Amy Sedaris (BoJack Horseman, My Life as a Zucchini, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) has been added to the cast of Disney’s upcoming live-action The Lion King movie, Variety has confirmed.

The comedian will be voicing an original role, portraying an elephant shrew. Named for long noses that resemble elephant trunks, the animal is native to Africa and known for its speed. Sedaris is currently starring in At Home with Amy Sedaris, a sketch series on TruTV that she also co-created and executive produces. Her other credits include No Activity, Puss in Boots, BoJack Horseman, and Netflix’s The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

RELATED: Watch the First Teaser Trailer for the Live-Action The Lion King!

Lions rule the African savanna in The Lion King, which welcomes Donald Glover (Atlanta, Solo: A Star Wars Story) as future king Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter (Dreamgirls, “Lemonade” visual album) as Simba’s friend-turned-love interest Nala, and James Earl Jones (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Field of Dreams) as Simba’s wise and loving father, Mufasa, reprising his iconic performance from Disney’s 1994 animated classic. Chiwetel Ejiofor (Twelve Years a Slave, Doctor Strange) was called on to portray Simba’s villainous uncle Scar, and Alfre Woodard (Juanita, Marvel’s Luke Cage) portrays Simba’s no-nonsense mother, Sarabi. JD McCrary (Tyler Perry’s The Paynes, Vital Signs) fills the shoes of Young Simba, a confident cub who can’t wait to be king, and Shahadi Wright Joseph (Hairspray Live, Broadway’s “The Lion King”) brings tough cub Young Nala to life.

Every kingdom comes with a trustworthy advisor or two. John Kani (Coriolanus, Captain America: Civil War) was cast as the wise baboon Rafiki, and John Oliver (Last WeekTonight with John Oliver, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart) was tapped as hornbill Zazu, Mufasa’s loyal confidant. When Simba goes into exile, he relies on two newfound friends—Seth Rogen (Sausage Party, Neighbors) lends his comedic chops to naïve warthog Pumbaa, and Billy Eichner (Billy on the Street, American Horror Story) joins the cast as know-it-all meerkat Timon.

While most of the animals in the kingdom respect the king, the hyenas have other plans. Florence Kasumba (Emerald City, Black Panther) portrays Shenzi, Eric André (The Eric André Show, Man Seeking Woman) is Azizi, and Keegan-Michael Key (Predator, Friends from College) plays Kamari.

Directed by Jon Favreau (The Jungle Book), Disney’s The Lion King opens in theatres July 19, 2019.

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)