Mufasa: The Lion King (2024)
In a salute to the outsider, Walt Disney Studios releases a trailer for the upcoming movie, Mufasa: The Lion King, set to hit cinemas this Christmas. Knowing Disney as we do, it’s not surprising that the film includes a celebrity cast of voices including Beyoncé and her daughter Blue Ivy Carter, to name a few, plus an award-winning team including Barry Jenkins and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
2019 saw the live-action version of The Lion King to mixed reviews – some not able to accept tampering with a much-loved original, others enjoying the live action interpretation. Are we ready for a new Lion King live action story? Here’s what we know:
What is Mufasa: The Lion King about?
The shaman (and mandrill monkey) Rafiki relays the legend of her grandfather to Kiara, the young cub of Simba and Nala. A story told mainly in flashback, Mufasa is introduced as a lost orphan who meets Taka, a lion with a royal bloodline. Together, with a band of journeying misfits, they survive the jungle to find their destiny and to eventually build the lion who would be king.
When will Mufasa: The Lion King be released?
The film will hit US, UK, Spanish and South African cinemas from December 20th and be released in parts of Europe, Mexico, New Zealand and parts of South America from December 18th and 19th. More release dates will be announced over the coming months.
What is the production style of Mufasa: The Lion King?
Like the 2016 The Jungle Book and The Lion King noted above, the movie will feature live action animation using ‘live-action filmmaking techniques with photoreal computer generated imagery.’ If you’re unfamiliar, you can get an idea of what that means via the trailer below.
Who is included in the voice cast of Mufasa: The Lion King?
There’s, unsurprisingly, a superstar cast:
- Aaron Pierre as Mufasa (the one and only James Earl Jones – now 93 – originally played the adult Mufasa in The Lion King. Pierre plays his younger version)
- Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka, a lion prince with a bright future who accepts Mufasa into his family as a brother
- Tiffany Boone as Sarabi
- Kagiso Lediga as Young Rafiki
- Preston Nyman as Zazu
- Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros, a formidable lion with big plans for his pride
- Thandiwe (Thandie) Newton as Taka’s mother, Eshe
- Lennie James as Taka’s father, Obasi
- Anika Noni Rose as Mufasa’s mother, Afia
- Keith David as Mufasa’s father, Masego
- John Kani as Rafiki
- Seth Rogen as Pumbaa
- Billy Eichner as Timon
- Donald Glover as Simba
- Introducing Blue Ivy Carter as Kiara, daughter of King Simba and Queen Nala
- And Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reprises her 2019 role as Nala
Who is the director of Mufasa: The Lion King?
Director Barry Jenkins (Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk) leads the film. Adele Romanski & Mark Ceryak act as producers with Peter Tobyansen as executive producer.
In a story on IGN, Jenkins notes, “I had to make this movie because when I was 14, I was raising two nephews and there was a VHS tape that we watched about 95 times in the span of two days…”
As it’s a Disney extravaganza, who’s involved with the music?
Award-winning songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda leads music writing. Music is produced by Mark Mancina and Miranda with additional music and performances by Lebo M.
Mufasa: The Lion King Trailer:
Check out the snappy trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King here:
Are you ready for Mufasa: The Lion King? Curious to find out about Simba’s Dad?
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