Mufasa: The Lion King star Aaron Pierre has shared some new details about the upcoming Disney prequel.
Speaking with Collider, Pierre, who voices Mufasa in the upcoming Lion King prequel, provided an update about the upcoming computer-animated film, which is scheduled to release in December 2024.
“Well, first and foremost, I want to acknowledge that James Earl Jones is an enormous inspiration of mine,” Pierre said. “Massively. And I feel very honored to be walking into this role after him. I think the key difference will be that here we’re exploring Mufasa in a different capacity. When Sir James Earl Jones portrayed him, this is Mufasa in his full capacity, in his rhythm, and I think here we’re exploring Mufasa prior to that point. What does this young lion look like before he is who we know him as, and he is discovering his rhythm, how he conducts himself, how he engages with his community and his loved ones? So, I think that’s the key thing. It’s figuring it out.”
What else do we know about Mufasa: The Lion King?
Announced in September 2020, The Mufasa: The Lion King serves as a prequel to Jon Favreau’s computer-animated Lion King remake, which was released in theaters in July 2019.
The movie is directed by Barry Jenkins, who is known for 2016’s Moonlight and 2018’s If Beale Street Could Talk. Jeff Nathanson wrote the screenplay, while Adele Romanski and Mark Ceryak serve as producers.
“The movie will follow the rise of one of Pride Lands’ greatest kings, returns to the savannah where Rafiki tells Kiara – Simba and Nala’s daughter – the story of her grandfather, with some comments coming from Timon and Pumbaa,” a description of the film reads.
Along with Pierre, Mufasa: The Lion King’s voice cast includes Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Billy Eichner as Timon, and John Kani as Rafiki.
Mufasa: The Lion King releases in United States theaters on December 20, 2024.
