The Lion King cast that includes Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Moira Kelly, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Rowan Atkinson, Robert Guillaume, Madge Sinclair, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, and Jim Cummings. The story takes place in a kingdom of lions in Africa and was influenced by William Shakespeare's "Hamlet". "The Lion King" tells the story of Simba, a young lion who is to succeed his father, Mufasa, as King of the Pride Lands; however, after Simba's paternal uncle Scar murders Mufasa, Simba is manipulated into thinking he was responsible and flees into exile. Upon maturation living with two wastrels,
Nala (The Lion King) voice of adult Nala." A straight woman character, Kelly described Nala as a sensible and nurturing yet authoritative character, while Amber Leab of Bitch Flicks described her as strong, independent and intelligent. According to Oh My Disney, Nala serves as "the proverbial glue that keeps "The Lion King" together", from whose perspective the audience watches the film because she "says EXACTLY what we’re thinking". Occupying the role of the film's female lead, Nala is "The Lion King"'s most important female character, who contributes to the film's "small romance element". Often identified as the film's deuteragonist, Taylor Orci of "The Atlantic"