National Geographic brings four-year lion journey LION to Indian screens

MUMBAI: National Geographic is bringing the extraordinary story of a lion cub’s journey from vulnerability to leadership to Indian screens with LION, a four-part natural history series executive produced by Jon Favreau and BBC Studios Natural History Unit creative director Mike Gunton.

The series follows Kio, a lion cub in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, across four years as he grows from a vulnerable young cub into a formidable lion. LION premieres on National Geographic India on August 27 at 7pm, with episodes also streaming on JioHotstar.

Four years in the making, the series was filmed entirely in the Maasai Mara and involved nearly 1,400 filming days across 52 shoots. The production team, which included Kenyan filmmakers, spent an extended period following a single pride, allowing the series to capture Kio’s development in unprecedented detail.

The project brings together Favreau’s cinematic storytelling approach with Gunton’s natural history expertise. Rather than presenting wildlife through a conventional documentary format, LION follows a character-led narrative rooted in real events, exploring family, courage, survival and leadership through Kio’s coming-of-age story.

“After tracking the lions in the field for four years, the pride never ceased to surprise us. What Kio endures and eventually becomes is extraordinary. Watching this hero’s journey unfold against the backdrop of nature was incredible to witness,” said Jon Favreau.

The series is narrated by O.J. Lynch, who voiced Mufasa in the stage production of The Lion King, adding another connection to the world that Favreau helped bring to the screen.

The production’s cinematic ambitions extend to its music, with Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer leading the original score alongside Niccolò Pacella and George Hutson Warren of Bleeding Fingers Music Group.

Recorded partly in the Maasai Mara, the score incorporates local singers, traditional instruments and even lion roars. It also includes subtle musical references to The Lion King. The series theme was co-composed by Lebo M., Andrew Christie and Zimmer.

The official LION soundtrack was released by Hollywood Records on August 21 and is available across major streaming platforms.

For JioStar, the series also underlines the appeal of long-form natural history storytelling.

JioStar, head of Hindi and English entertainment business, streaming, TV & studios, Alok Jain, said, “LION is a powerful story of survival, family and leadership, told through the extraordinary journey of Kio. What makes the series particularly special is the depth of storytelling behind it, with filmmakers following Kio over four years to capture his transformation from a vulnerable cub into a formidable young lion.”

Jain added that the production demonstrates National Geographic’s approach to combining patience, access and cinematic filmmaking to create natural history stories that remain both authentic and engaging.

LION is produced by BBC Studios Natural History Unit for National Geographic. Favreau and Gunton serve as executive producers, with Jane Atkins as series producer and Simon Blakeney as co-executive producer. Janet Han Vissering and Tom McDonald executive produce for National Geographic.

The series will premiere on National Geographic Channel on August 27 at 7pm and continue every Thursday at the same time. Episodes will also stream on JioHotstar, giving Kio’s four-year journey a second home beyond the television screen.