If you enjoyed listening to Beyoncé’s album, The Lion King: The Gift, you’ll be excited to know that the star’s new movie, Black Is King, is coming to Disney Plus July 31. The film which is being called a visual album picks up where The Gift left off and will celebrate Black culture. Beyoncé wrote, directed and served as executive producer on Black Is King.Black Is King follows the voyages of Black families throughout time and tells “a tale about a young king’s transcendent journey through betrayal, love and self-identity,” Disney said in a press release. The young king’s loved ones help guide him to reclaim his home and throne.
Black Is King has sparked controversy among members of the African community because of its stereotypical portrayal of African cultures. In the trailer below, the characters are seen wearing animal skins with paint on their faces.
“With this visual album, I wanted to present elements of Black history and African tradition, with a modern twist and a universal message, and what it truly means to find your self-identity and build a legacy,” Beyoncé wrote in an Instagram post.