Behind the Pride: Jon Favreau's Journey into the Wild for National Geographic's "Lion"

In a stunning departure from his usual digital realm, director Jon Favreau teamed up with wildlife legend Mike Gunton in 2022 to create an unprecedented documentary series, "Lion." The four-part epic, set to premiere on National Geographic and stream on Disney+ and Hulu, follows a lion cub named Kio's quest for survival amidst the harsh realities of the Maasai Mara.

Having recently collaborated with Gunton on "Prehistoric Planet," Favreau was drawn to the challenge of venturing into the world of documentaries, and more so, working alongside the esteemed producer's team at BBC Studios Natural History Unit. The project would span over four years, involving producers, researchers, editors, cinematographers, and even local Kenyan filmmaker Faith Musembi, who logged nearly 1,400 filming days across 52 shoots – a testament to the perseverance required to tell this captivating story.

"Mike had a vision to document a lion's journey from cub to king like never before," said Favreau, "which meant laying down my trusted tools of CGI and embarking on a fully analog adventure." The production team adopted a strict policy, promising not to digitally manipulate footage or remove anything from the frame. The crew initially followed two prides in the Maasai Mara, painstakingly creating family trees and identification cards for each lion, including minute details like whisker spots.

With the help of local field guides, they tracked these lions through dense bushes and miles of long grass, eventually being able to identify up to 50 lions from different prides by name and family relationships. It was a grueling process, with the fate of their chosen protagonist, a female lion and her cub named Kio, hanging in the balance. Kio's survival was far from guaranteed, given that half of all lion cubs do not make it to adulthood.

The crew faced numerous challenges during the rainy season, when the plains became impassable, and extended periods of time without sightings of Kio and his brothers. Each reunion with the field team began with the question: "How's Kio – is he alive?" Executive producer Favreau recounted the emotional rollercoaster that came with following Kio's story, as they had no control over the cub's fate.

"I'm used to creating moments and writing shots," said Favreau, "but not knowing whether our lead character would survive each rainy season was harrowing." Favreau played a crucial role in transforming approximately 1,000 hours of raw footage into the comprehensive four-hour story we'll witness on August 19th. Like Disney's "The Lion King," National Geographic's "Lion" tells the coming-of-age tale of a male lion, echoing familiar themes while offering a raw, unfiltered glimpse into the real world.

While Hans Zimmer composed the score for "Lion," it's important to note that this isn't a Disneyfied version of nature. As Mike Gunton put it, "It's true – it's what happens in nature. It's sometimes tough, sometimes beautiful, sometimes heartwarming, and sometimes shocking." Fans can rest assured that the series maintains the authenticity and drama inherent to the natural world.

"Lion" is produced by BBC Studios Natural History Unit for National Geographic. Jon Favreau and Mike Gunton executive produce the series, with Jane Atkins serving as series producer and Simon Blakeney as co-executive producer. The series premieres on August 19th on National Geographic and streams on Disney+ and Hulu on August 20th.