Disney unveiled the initial trailer for “Mufasa: The Lion King,” a prequel to the 2019 photorealistic adaptation of “The Lion King,” and disclosed Blue Ivy Carter’s inclusion in the voice cast.
Directed by Barry Jenkins of “Moonlight” fame, “Mufasa” delves into the backstory of the eponymous lion, chronicling his youth alongside his brother Taka, who later becomes the primary antagonist, Scar, in “The Lion King.” Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. lend their voices to the younger incarnations of Mufasa and Scar, respectively. Notably, James Earl Jones voiced Mufasa in both the original 1994 film and the 2019 remake, while Scar was voiced by Jeremy Irons in 1994 and by Chiwetel Ejiofor in 2019.
The majority of the 2019 voice cast is reprising their roles, including John Kani as Rafiki, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Billy Eichner as Timon, Donald Glover as Simba, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala. Blue Ivy Carter joins as Kiara, the offspring of King Simba and Queen Nala. Jeff Nathanson, the screenwriter for the 2019 adaptation, returns to pen “Mufasa.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda is tasked with crafting the film’s songs, produced alongside Mark Mancina, with additional music and performances by Lebo M.
“Elton John. Tim Rice. Hans Zimmer. Lebo M. Mark Mancina. Beyoncé, Labrinth, Ilya Salmanzadeh. Beau Black, Ford Riley, the incredible music team on ‘The Lion Guard,’ and so many musical contributors over the years. ‘The Lion King’ has an incredible musical legacy with music from some of the greatest songwriters around, and I’m humbled and proud to be a part of it,” said Miranda. “It’s been a joy working alongside Barry Jenkins to bring Mufasa’s story to life, and we can’t wait for audiences to experience this film in theaters.”
New additions to the cast include Tiffany Boone as Sarabi, Kagiso Lediga as Young Rafiki, Preston Nyman as Zazu, Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros, Thandiwe Newton as Taka’s mother, Eshe, Lennie James as Taka’s father, Obasi, Anika Noni Rose as Mufasa’s mother, Afia, and Keith David as Mufasa’s father, Masego.
Jenkins expressed his excitement about the project, stating, “Growing up with these characters while helping my sister raise two young boys during the ’90s, I developed a deep connection to them. Working with Disney to expand this magnificent tale of friendship, love, and legacy while furthering my exploration of the lives and spirits of individuals within the African diaspora is a dream come true.”
Regarded as one of Disney’s most successful franchises, the original 1994 “Lion King” raked in $960 million worldwide, with the 2019 remake amassing $1.6 billion at the global box office. It was also recognized as one of Variety’s Critic’s Picks in 2019, with chief film critic Peter Debruge remarking, “If you were never a fan of ‘The Lion King,’ then nothing here will win you over. On the other hand, for those too young ever to have seen it, this could be a life-changing experience, one that strives to create a kind of understanding between audiences and the animal kingdom that Disney once made a regular part of its mission, back in the era of films such as ‘The Legend of Lobo’ and ‘The Incredible Journey.'”
