Keith David previously appeared alongside Matthew Broderick (voice of Simba in the 1994 original) in episodes of Adventure Time (2010) and Rick and Morty (2013) on separate occasions, the former of which also stars Donald Glover (voice of Simba in live action iterations of the character).
Keith David was previously in an episode of Timon & Pumbaa (1995), a tv spinoff to the original 1994 traditionally animated film. He also filled in for James Earl Jones as Mufasa in The Lion King: Simba's Mighty Adventure (2000) and House of Mouse (2001).
The prequel film will not be a sequel remake of The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998), the direct-to-video sequel to the original film.
Anika Noni Rose previously collaborated with experienced voice actor Phil LaMarr (voice of the Impala in the previous film) in Khumba (2013), which also takes place in Africa.
Anika Noni Rose and Keith David previously appeared alongside Whoopi Goldberg (voice of Shenzi in the 1994 original) in episodes of the animated Disney series Amphibia (2019) on separate occasions.