Simba, having grown from a cub to a lion, is carefree on the surface while wrestling with guilt over his past. Cast a mature actor who can portray the complex moments as Simba reunites with Nala, mourns his father, and finds the strength to confront Scar. To help illustrate the connection to Young Simba, consider auditioning the two actors in pairs, and ensure that Simba and Young Simba share movement vocabulary.