Neeson 'ignored Lion King for Narnia'

Liam Neeson has admitted that he had to avoid thinking about Disney film The Lion King while working on his character's voice in the Chronicles Of Narnia film series.

Neeson voices the great lion Aslan in the franchise, and reprises his role in the third film The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader, which was released this weekend.

"I tried not to think of James Earl Jones!" Neeson joked with MTV News, referring to the actor's acclaimed role as Mufasa in the 1994 animation The Lion King. "That would be a little too intimidating."

Neeson also revealed that he had travelled to Africa in preparation for his role as Aslan in order to give his acting an added sense of authenticity.