Disney has released the first trailer for "Mufasa: The Lion King," directed by Barry Jenkins. This music-filled film serves as both an origin story and a follow-up to Jon Favreau's 2019 photorealistic adaptation of Disney's animated classic, "The Lion King," originally released in 1994.
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| The Lion King, Mufasa (courtesy wallpaperflare) |
The trailer also revealed that Blue Ivy Carter will make her film debut voicing Kiara, the daughter of King Simba and Queen Nala. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter will reprise her role as Nala from the 2019 film.
The upcoming film, set to premiere in theaters on December 20th, will delve into the backstory of Simba's father, Mufasa, depicting his journey from an orphaned cub to a wise, powerful, and compassionate ruler.
The official logline 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."
Aaron Pierre lends his voice to the title character, Mufasa, a role previously voiced by James Earl Jones in both the original animated classic and the 2019 adaptation. Kelvin Harrison Jr. voices Mufasa's brother, Scar, who is listed in the credits as Taka, a lion prince with a promising future who welcomes Mufasa into his family as a brother.
Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen will reprise their roles as Timon and Pumbaa, respectively, in "Mufasa: The Lion King," continuing from their performances in Favreau's 2019 movie. The 2019 film was a massive success, grossing a total of $1.7 billion worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing Disney-branded film of all time.
The star-studded cast also features Donald Glover returning as Simba, 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 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, and John Kani as Rafiki.
Additional cast members include Braelyn Rankins, Theo Somolu, Folake Olowofoyeku, Joanna Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim, Abdul Salis, and Dominique Jennings.
Lin-Manuel Miranda is writing the film's songs, adding his musical talents to this highly anticipated project.
Lin-Manuel Miranda expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the musical legacy of "The Lion King," alongside a talented team of musicians and songwriters. He mentioned Elton John, Tim Rice, Hans Zimmer, Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Beyoncé, Labrinth, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Beau Black, and Ford Riley, as well as the music team from "The Lion Guard" and other contributors over the years. Miranda is honored to be part of such a distinguished lineup and is excited for audiences to experience the film.
Barry Jenkins, the director of "Mufasa: The Lion King," recently debuted the first teaser trailer at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. He described the film as an expansive adventure that combines epic storytelling with comedy, featuring familiar characters in both hilarious and deeply emotional moments. Jenkins is eager for audiences to enjoy the film's rich tapestry of experiences when it hits theaters.
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