The Lion King spinoff TV show, Lion Guard, gets a premiere date

Lion Guard, the official spinoff of Disney's 1994 classic The Lion King, finally has a premiere date. The show, which will play on the Disney Channel, is set to premiere on Jan. 15, 2016, according to its official site.

The series will focus on Kion, the second son of Simba and Nala from the original film, and his quest to defend Pride Rock and the various areas surrounding it from evil foes.

The series will continue the storyline from Disney's television movie, The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar, which aired last month. There's no word on just how closely the events of the original film will tie into the series, but chances are pretty low. Instead, Rob Lowe and Gabrielle Union will step in to play Simba and Nala, with James Earl Jones on board to reprise his role as Mufasa. Modern Family's Sarah Hyland is also attached to the project and will voice the lion cub, Tiifu.