Captivating True Story: Director Jon Favreau's Harrowing Experience with National Geographic's 'Lion'

Renowned director Jon Favreau has taken audiences on countless thrilling adventures through his films, but his latest project, National Geographic's 'Lion', pushed him to the edge of his comfort zone. In an exclusive interview, Favreau shares the harrowing experience of working on his first documentary, which followed the life of a lion cub from birth to becoming a king.

Background & Context

Favreau's collaboration with Mike Gunton, a wildlife producer, began when they were working together on the first season of 'Prehistoric Planet', a natural-history show that tells the last days of the dinosaur using CGI. At the time, Gunton was looking to 'supersize' his 'Dynasties' series, which focuses on vulnerable or endangered species, and create a multipart documentary centered on one species.

The ambitious project, 'Lion', aimed to follow a single pride of lions in a way that had never been done before, which meant abandoning the digital tools that Favreau was accustomed to using. Instead, the production team opted for a completely analog approach, logging nearly 1,400 filming days across 52 shoots in Kenya's Maasai Mara.

Key Details

Favreau reveals that he initially agreed to collaborate with Gunton without much hesitation, as he was drawn to the producer's team and the documentary style of storytelling. "It wasn't like I wanted to do a documentary," he said. "It was more that I really enjoyed working with Mike and his team. They went from my world – the digital world, and then I went to their world, which was the documentary."

The production team, including producers, researchers, editors, and cinematographers Simon Blakeney and Sophie Darlington, worked tirelessly for four years to bring the project to life. Favreau credits Gunton's vision and the crew's dedication for the success of 'Lion', which follows a lion cub named Kio as he faces loss, exile, and fierce rivals in a fight to survive and become a king.

"Mike had the ambition of following a single pride of lions in a way that had never been done before, and it meant hanging up all the tools that I was comfortable with, like CGI, and going completely analog," said Favreau. "We made a rule that we were not going to do any digital augmentation, not paint things out, and not manipulate the footage."

What Experts Say

Mike Gunton, the executive producer of 'Lion', shares his perspective on why he chose Favreau for the project. "When we first met, Jon told me that he had been using 'Dynasties' as a reference for how lions moved, how they behaved, and what their little micro movements were while making 'The Lion King'," said Gunton. "So, there was an immediate simpatico between us because he was fascinated by the logistics, the grammar, the style, the approach, and all the storytelling techniques in a documentary like 'Dynasties'."

Key Takeaways

• 'Lion' is the first natural history production to document a lion's complete journey from cub to king.
• The production team logged nearly 1,400 filming days across 52 shoots in Kenya's Maasai Mara.
• Favreau and Gunton opted for a completely analog approach, abandoning digital tools in favor of a more authentic storytelling experience.
• The documentary follows a lion cub named Kio as he faces loss, exile, and fierce rivals in a fight to survive and become a king.

What This Means For You

The success of 'Lion' highlights the importance of innovative storytelling and the value of stepping out of one's comfort zone. As audiences, we can appreciate the dedication and expertise that went into creating this groundbreaking documentary. Moreover, the project serves as a reminder that even in the age of technology, there is still a place for authentic, analog storytelling.

For fans of Favreau's work, 'Lion' offers a unique perspective on the natural world, showcasing the majesty and vulnerability of lions in their natural habitat. As we watch Kio's journey unfold, we are reminded of the importance of conservation and the need to protect these incredible creatures and their habitats.