Disney has released the first trailer for "Mufasa: The Lion King," a prequel to the 2019 photorealistic remake of "The Lion King," and announced that Blue Ivy Carter has joined the voice cast.
Directed by Barry Jenkins, "Mufasa" explores the early years of the iconic lion, focusing on his childhood with his brother Taka, who later becomes known as Scar, the primary antagonist in "The Lion King." Aaron Pierre voices the younger Mufasa, while Kelvin Harrison Jr. voices the young Scar. In the original 1994 film and the 2019 remake, James Earl Jones voiced Mufasa, while Jeremy Irons and Chiwetel Ejiofor voiced Scar in 1994 and 2019, respectively.
The voice cast includes familiar faces from the 2019 remake. John Kani reprises his role as Rafiki, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Billy Eichner as Timon, Donald Glover as Simba, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala. Beyoncé's daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, will voice Kiara, the daughter of Simba and Nala. The screenplay is by Jeff Nathanson, who also wrote for the 2019 remake, while Lin-Manuel Miranda is penning the songs for the film, produced by himself and Mark Mancina. Additional music and performances will be provided by Lebo M.
"Mufasa" promises to explore the deep backstory of these beloved characters, shedding light on the events leading up to "The Lion King."
“Elton John, Tim Rice, Hans Zimmer, Lebo M., Mark Mancina, Beyoncé, Labrinth, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Beau Black, Ford Riley—the list of musical talent that has contributed to 'The Lion King' over the years is remarkable," Lin-Manuel Miranda said in a statement. He expressed his pride in joining such an illustrious team and his excitement for working alongside Barry Jenkins to bring Mufasa's story to life. "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," he said.
The prequel, "Mufasa: The Lion King," will feature new voices, including Tiffany Boone as Sarabi, Kagiso Lediga as Young Rafiki, Preston Nyman as Zazu, Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros—a formidable lion with ambitious plans for his pride—Thandiwe Newton as Eshe (Taka's mother), Lennie James as Obasi (Taka's father), Anika Noni Rose as Afia (Mufasa's mother), and Keith David as Masego (Mufasa's father).
Director Barry Jenkins, known for his work on "Moonlight," shared his connection to "The Lion King." Having helped his sister raise two young boys during the '90s, he grew up with these characters. Jenkins stated that expanding on this story of friendship, love, and legacy while contributing to narratives that represent the African diaspora is a dream come true.
"The Lion King" is one of Disney's most successful franchises. The original 1994 film grossed $960 million globally, while the 2019 remake earned $1.6 billion worldwide. The 2019 remake was also among Variety's Critic's Picks, with chief film critic Peter Debruge noting that while it might not appeal to everyone, those new to "The Lion King" could find it a transformative experience.
