MovieChat Forums > The Lion King (1994) Discussion > Anyone else think the voice of Simba was...

Anyone else think the voice of Simba was a horrible choice?

posted 8 years ago by arlil0419
16 replies | jump to latest

Let me start out by saying that I am a huge Disney fan. I grew up watching Disney movies and my son has seen every single Disney movie quite a few times, except this one.

I remember watching this movie when I was a kid, and I absolutely hated the voice of adult Simba. He just sounded so utterly wimpy and pathetic. A few days ago, my son wanted to watch this movie for the first time, so I put it on. I cringed when I heard his voice again, it killed the movie for me! He just sounds like such a coward. I absolutely adore everything else about this movie (especially little Simba), I just can't get past what I view as a horrible miscast of the voice of adult Simba.

Does the voice choice bother anyone else, or is it just me?

[–] AndrewGS 8 years ago

I remember watching this movie when I was a kid, and I absolutely hated the voice of adult Simba. He just sounded so utterly wimpy and pathetic. A few days ago, my son wanted to watch this movie for the first time, so I put it on. I cringed when I heard his voice again, it killed the movie for me! He just sounds like such a coward.

LOL, strong reactions. Well he was supposed to be a rather reluctant and tortured/angsty hero, I thought Broderick did well in conveying that as well as the leadership and nobility (as well as sounding like a progression from Jonathan Taylor Thomas's acting).

[–] intelligentsupermodel 8 years ago

Yes, I came to this board to see if anyone else didn't like Simba's adult voice. Especially with James Earl Jones playing his father! I think they could have gotten an actor with a manlier (or more lioney) voice that could still portray angst and cowardice, if necessary. Matthew Broderick just wasn't right to play Simba.

[–] roman2886 7 years ago

Matthew Borderick was good as the Adult Simba.

[–] vicky_lc2001@yahoo.com (1846) 2 years ago

I think your issue is you're comparing his voice to both Mufasa and Scar's who have very deep resonating kingly voices in comparison to his softer voice.