From the director of Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk comes the prequel Mufasa: The Lion King. An official teaser trailer revealed magnificent visuals and a weighty credit roll of talent, giving lifelong fans of the franchise a glimpse of what’s to come. Barry Jenkins directs the live action CGI experience with a screenplay written by Jeff Nathanson based on characters by Linda Woolverton, Irene Mecchi, and Jonathan Roberts.
The synopsis reads, “Mufasa: The Lion King enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick. Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny—their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.”
The prequel follows the 2019 live action The Lion King, a reimagining of the 1994 Disney animation directed by Jon Favreau. The film starred Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé as Nala, John Kani as Rafiki, Billy Eichner as Timon, and Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, a cast that will be returning for the prequel.
However, James Earl Jones, who voiced Mufasa, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, the voice of antagonist Scar, will not be returning. Instead, Aaron Pierre, who starred in M. Night Shyamalan’s Old and played the role of Malcolm X in Genius, will be the voice of Mufasa.
Other notable cast includes Thandiwe Newton as Eshe, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka, Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros, Keith David as Masego, Anika Noni Rose as Afia, and introducing Blue Ivy Carter as the voice of Kiara, Mufasa’s daughter.
Blue Ivy, the oldest daugther of Beyoncé, will be receiving her first feature film credit with the role, although she has navigated the industry since a toddler making her first appearance in her mother’s music video “Blue” in 2013. She would also appear in her father Jay-Z’s music video, “Family feud,” and music videos from Beyoncé’s The Gift, a soundtrack for The Lion King (2019).
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Songs for the film are written by award-winning songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda and co-produced by Mark Mancina, with additional music and performances by Lebo M.
Peter Tobyansen is executive producer, while Adele Romanski & Mark Ceryak are listed as producers.
Mufasa: The Lion King arrives in theaters Dec. 20.
