If you’re a devout member of the Beyhive and a Disney fanatic, then Beyoncé’s latest project will be music to your ears — and eyes. “Black is King” — written, directed and executive-produced by Queen B — premieres Friday and is available for streaming exclusively on Disney+.
The ‘Lion King’ connection
Bey’s new visual album is inspired by the live-action version of “The Lion King,” which features Beyoncé’s voice as Nala.
Dropping just more than a year after the movie, Queen Bey’s highly anticipated visual album “is a celebratory memoir for the world on the Black experience,” according to the production company Parkwood Entertainment.
How to subscribe to Disney+
For Disney+ members, “Black is King” will be available instantly for streaming Friday on your TV, laptop, tablet or phone simply by logging into their account.
Not a subscriber? No problem — you can sign up for the streaming service here. New users get the service for $6.99 a month.
Not only does Disney+ allow subscribers to watch “Black is King,” but also a plethora of classics and new releases. Earlier this month, the site released “Hamilton” to its vast lexicon of movies.
Package deals exist
“Black is King” can be watched for free with Verizon Unlimited, Fios or 5G Home plans via Verizon’s “Disney+ on Us” deal, which comes with a full year of Disney+ before it renews at $6.99 a month.
For a limited time, Disney also is offering a bundle deal that gets you Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu for $12.99 (a 25% savings off the price of subscribing to all three services individually).
Behind the music
The 85-minute film is an evocative visual re-creation of Beyoncé’s album, featuring songs such as “Brown Skin Girl,” “My Power” and “Mood 4 Eva,” which were featured on “The Lion King: The Gift” soundtrack.
The 24-time Grammy winner has been working on the visual album for a year, incorporating a diverse cast. The film’s purpose is to “celebrate black resilience and culture.”
Superstar cameos galore
The official trailer for “Black is King” reveals a bevy of celebrity cameos, including her Destiny’s Child bandmate Kelly Rowland, Lupita Nyong’o, Naomi Campbell and Jay-Z.
The visual album has a plot
The new trailer is much more narrative than the previously released teaser video. It begins with Beyoncé in voiceover saying, “Life is a set of choices. Lead, or be led astray. Follow your light, or lose it.”
The voyages of black families throughout time are “honored in the tale about a young king’s transcendent journey through betrayal, love and self-identity,” Deadline reports. His ancestors guide him toward his destiny, and with his father’s teachings and support from his childhood love, he “earns the virtues needed to reclaim his home and throne.”
