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Black is King: How to watch Beyonce’s visual album on Disney+

The album has been described as ‘a celebratory memoir on the Black experience’

Isobel Lewis
Thursday 30 July 2020 11:39 BST
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Beyonce releases trailer for Black Is King

Beyoncé’s visual album Black is King is coming to Disney+ this week.

The highly anticipated project has been written, directed and executive produced by Beyoncé and will premiere internationally on Friday 31 July.

In a statement announcing the film, Disney and Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment said Black is King is “a celebratory memoir for the world on the Black experience”.

A trailer for the film was released on 28 June.

How to watch Black is King

Black is King is exclusively available to stream on Disney+, meaning that you’ll need a Disney+ subscription to watch.

A single month’s subscription costs £5.99, or viewers can save if they commit to a year for £59.99.

Sadly, Disney+ no longer offers a seven-day free trial to new customers, having scrapped this deal in the run up to the release of Hamilton and Frozen 2 on the platform earlier this month.

What is it about?

Black is King has been described as “a story for the ages that informs and rebuilds the present”.

Black is King is an affirmation of a grand purpose, with lush visuals that celebrate black resilience and culture. The film highlights the beauty of tradition and Black excellence.”

Is Black is King inspired by The Lion King?

Following her appearance in 2019’s remake of Disney’s The Lion King, Beyoncé’s visual album will feature songs from the soundtrack, as well as her accompanying album The Gift.

The record featured guest artists including Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Jessie Reyez, Pharrell, and her daughter Blue Ivy Carter. Beyoncé also worked with African artists such as Wizkid, Burna Boy. Yemi Alade, Shatta Wale and Mr Eazi.

Black is King is said to reimagine lessons from The Lion King “for today’s young kings and queens in search of their own crowns”.

“These timeless lessons are revealed and reflected through Black voices of today, now sitting in their own power,” the statement reads.

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