Disney's Lion Doc Series Follows Epic Journey of Lion Cub Kio
A new nature documentary series called Lion is set to premiere on Disney+ on August 20th, 2026. The four-part doc event series follows the journey of a lion cub named Kio as he grows from a vulnerable cub into a powerful leader. Executive produced by Disney Legend and The Lion King live-action director Jon Favreau and BBC Studios Natural History Unit's creative director Mike Gunton, the series combines cinematic storytelling with groundbreaking natural history filmmaking.
The documentary series was filmed over four years in the Maasai Mara, where Kio faces loss, exile, and fierce rivals in a fight to survive. According to Favreau and Gunton, 'the pride never ceased to surprise us, what Kio endures and eventually becomes is extraordinary.'
With a score by legendary Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer, Niccolò Pacella, and George Huston Warren for Bleeding Fingers Music, Lion promises to be an epic drama rooted in documentary truth. The series will be available on Disney+ starting August 20th, 2026.