Disney released the long-awaited video for “Mufasa: The Lion King,” the movie that comes before the 2019 true-to-life remake of “The Lion King.” This time, the focus is on where the famous characters came from, especially Mufasa (the lion) and his complicated relationship with his brother Scar.
With “Moonlight” director Barry Jenkins in charge, “Mufasa” looks like it will go deep into Mufasa’s past by showing his youth with his brother Taka, who later turns into the famous Scar, the main bad guy in “The Lion King.” Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. voice the younger versions of Mufasa and Scar, respectively, giving these well-known figures new depth.
A lot of the character actors are back from the 2019 movie. For example, John Kani plays Rafiki, Seth Rogen plays Pumbaa, Billy Eichner plays Timon, Donald Glover plays Simba, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter plays Nala. Though, Blue Ivy Carter, daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, is the big surprise. She is making her voice acting debut as Kiara, daughter of King Samba and Queen Nala.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is known for his work on “Hamilton” and “Moana,” will write the songs for the movie, which should make for a beautiful musical experience for everyone. The soundtrack for the movie will also have music by Mark Mancina and Lebo M.
Tiffany Boone has joined the cast as Sarabi, Kagiso Lediga as Young Rafiki, Preston Nyman as Zazu, Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros, Thandiwe Newton as Eshe, Lennie James as Obasi, Anika Noni Rose as Afia, and Keith David as Masego.
Jenkins was excited about the project and said, “I grew up with these characters while helping my sister raise two young boys in the 1990s.” It’s a dream come true to be able to work with Disney on expanding this beautiful story of friendship, love, and legacy while also continuing to write about the lives and hearts of people in the African diaspora.
The 1994 original “Lion King” is one of Disney’s most popular movies, making a total of $960 million around the world. It continued to do well with the 2019 version, which made $1.6 billion worldwide and got good reviews.
The first showing of “Mufasa: The Lion King” will happen in theaters on December 20. It promises to be a nostalgic and captivating journey into the heart of one of Disney’s most famous stories. Coming soon: more news, teasers, and reviews about “Mufasa: The Lion King” at tvacute.com.