‘Lion King’ To Roar Into Series

Walt Disney’s “The Lion King” is headed to television as a new weekly series designed for the syndicated children’s afternoon service “The Disney Afternoon.”

The animated weekly, dubbed “Timon & Pumbaa,” will debut in the fall.

The fact that Disney will be rolling its hit into television can hardly be a surprise in view of the success it has had with the “Disney Afternoon” version of “Aladdin.”

“The Lion King’ was the biggest film - live or animated - for 1994. It is now approaching the $700 million market worldwide and ranks as Disney’s most successful theatrical of all time.

“So when it came to developing a new comedy series to expand our (service), it was obvious where we’d find it,” said Mort Marcus, president of Buena Vista Television.

The new series will air during the fourth half-hour slot of the two-hour “Disney Afternoon” service on Mondays.