Everything we know about the upcoming live-action prequel.
Disney recently released a teaser trailer for its upcoming Lion King prequel, Mufasa.
As the title suggests, the live-action film will focus on Simba’s father, with the footage teasing his journey from a cub “without a drop of nobility in his blood” to king of the jungle.
A new cast has been enlisted to voice the young versions of both Mufasa and his brother Scar, with the likes of Donald Glover and Beyoncé returning to voice Simba and Nala for the future sections of the film.
Wondering who will be bringing the young cubs to life and what other fresh and familiar faces will be joining them? Read on to find out everything we know about the Lion King prequel so far.
Mufasa: The Lion King release date
Though Mufasa: The Lion King was originally set to land in theatres on 5th July, its release date has been pushed back to Friday 20th December 2024, just in time for Christmas.
It faces a tough opening weekend, however, as Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is also scheduled for release around the same time.
Mufasa: The Lion King cast
Foe, Brother and Genius star Aaron Pierre is set to voice Mufasa, while Genius co-star Kelvin Harrison Jr will voice Scar.
Interestingly, Disney has revealed his actual name, Taka, and confirmed the pair are not actually brothers. At least, not in the biological sense.
They are joined by a jam-packed cast, including Blue Ivy Carter, Beyoncé and Jay Z’s daughter, who voices Simba and Nala’s daughter Kiara.
Here’s the full cast list as we know it so far:
- Aaron Pierre as Mufasa
- Kelvin Harrison Jr as Scar
- Tiffany Booen as Sarabi, Mufasa’s future queen
- Kagiso Lediga as Young Rafiki
- John Kani as Old Rafiki
- Preston Nyman as Zazu
- Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros
- Thandiwe Newton as Eshe, Scar’s mother
- Lennie James as Obasi, Scar’s father
- Anika Noni Rose as Afia, Mufasa’s mother
- Keith David as Masego, Mufasa’s father
- Donald Glover as Simba
- Beyoncé as Nala
- Blue Ivy Carter as Kiara, Simba and Nala’s daughter
- Billy Eichner as Timon
- Seth Rogen as Pumbaa
Mufasa: The Lion King trailer
Disney recently released a teaser trailer for the upcoming live-action movie, showing clips of sweeping landscapes and Mufasa as a young cub.
Mufasa: The Lion King plot
It is expected the film will see Rafiki tell Simba and Nala’s young daughter the story of how her grandfather became king.
As per Disney’s official synopsis: “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.”
We know that Taka is Scar’s actual name, with the synopsis already adding plenty of extra intrigue as to why the pair’s relationship ends up so strained by the time we reach The Lion King.
Mufasa will land in cinemas on Friday 20th December 2024.
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