Lion King fans disturbed by 'disgusting' and 'terrifying' new trailer

The modern CGI style of the new Lion King movie has divided fans of the beloved 1994 cartoon classic. Photo / Supplied.

The first full trailer for the new Lion King movie has left some fans confused by the "hyper-realistic animals" that feature in the live-action remake.

The update of the 1994 Disney cartoon classic will hit cinemas on July 17 and while the new version is still animated, the film's modern CGI style has divided opinion.

The New York Post report some viewers have described the trailer as "disturbing" and "terrifying" while others were taken aback by the confronting realism of the animals.

...is the new Lion King movie a shot-for-shot remake of the original 1994 movie, but this time with hyper-realistic animals??? Cause like, that's kinda cool, but also...what???

— Space Vixen 🏳️‍🌈 (@SpaceVixenMusic) April 10, 2019

The trailer gives fans their first look at Simba and Nala but we don't get to hear the voices of the star actors playing the beloved characters – Donald Glover and Beyonce Knowles Carter.

Viewers also get their first glimpse of Timon and Pumbaa, the fun-loving warthog and meerkat pair now voiced by Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen. The duo are seen dancing along while singing The Lion Sleeps Tonight, but many fans are hoping to hear them belt out Hakuna Matata before the film arrives in theatres.

Typically, however, despite the excitement around the new movie, some diehard fans have been left disappointed by the new interpretation of the beloved original.

"Pumbaa look hideous," complained one fan on Twitter.

"It's really weird seeing the iconic 'Simba grows up singing along with Timon & Pumbaa as they bob their heads to the song while walking on a log' but with realistic-looking animals," wrote another.

The trailer also provides us with a first look at the story's chief villain Scar, with the character voiced by Chiwetel Ejiofor, who received a Oscar nomination for his role as Solomon Northup in 12 Years A Slave.

The new film also sees James Earl Jones reprise his part from the original movie as the jungle king, Mufasa.

Others among the all-star cast include John Oliver as the bird Zazu, Keegan Michael Key as the hyena Kamari, and Alfre Woodard as Sarabi, wife to Mufasa and Simba's mother.