Disney unveiled the trailer of Mufasa: The Lion King at its D3 expo. The 3D CGI film is a spin off prequel to the previous The Lion King live action remake by director Jon Favreau that was released back in 2019 and received mixed reviews.
Disney’s D23 Expo, is a fan event consisting of numerous reveals of future projects from the company, held at the Anaheim Convention Center and Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
The film will be released in theatres on 20 December. The film explores the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride Lands, Mufasa. The film will be directed by Barry Jenkins (Moonlight, Medicine for Melancholy, If Beale Street Could Talk) produced by Adele Romanski & Mark Ceryak, and executive produced by Peter Tobyansen.
The film also features well known songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda is writing the film’s songs produced by film composer Mark Mancina and Miranda, with additional music and performances by African composer Lebo M.
The film’s official synopsis reads as follows: 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.
New and returning cast members were called on to lend their voices to the film:
- Aaron Pierre as Mufasa
- 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 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 as Nala
- Additional casting includes Braelyn Rankins, Theo Somolu, Folake Olowofoyeku, Joanna Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim, Abdul Salis and Dominique Jennings.
The film will blend live-action filmmaking techniques with photoreal computer-generated imagery the same way as its predecessor, The Lion King remake.
