Queen Bey continues her reign with the announcement of a new visual album that expands on her previous work on the 2019 remake of The Lion King. For those unfamiliar with her contributions to the film, not only did Beyoncé provide the voice for Nala, she also produced and curated the film’s soundtrack album, The Lion King: The Gift. Now, she is gracing us with another gift: a visual album titled Black Is King, written, produced, and directed by none other than the Queen herself.

Black Is King reiterates the themes of The Lion King in that it chronicles the journey of a young boy set out to fulfill his role as the rightful ruler of his homeland, paying respects to Black tradition and resilience along the way. The recently released trailer hints at a film that is sure to be jaw-droppingly good with stunning visuals, incredible design, and, of course, extraordinary music. We really wouldn’t expect anything less from Beyoncé at this point. 

At a moment when unrest continues over the Black Lives Matter movement, Beyoncé is using this visual album to empower “today’s young kings and queens in search of their own crowns.” Production of the visual album began last year with a focus on representing diversity, connectivity, and, most importantly, the Black experience.

Black Is King is set to be released on Disney+ on July 31st, just nearly marking the one-year anniversary of the release of The Lion King. It is an absolute must-watch for everyone looking to amplify the voices of the Black community and continue the fight for justice!