With songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda and directed by Oscar winner Barry Jenkins, the movie is set to premiere in cinemas on December 20, 2024.
The new musical film will be a prequel to the 2019’s The Lion King, a remake of the original 1994 animated movie. Much like The Lion King from 2019, Mufasa will also blend live-action filmmaking techniques with photoreal computer-generated imagery. This is in contract with the first film from the 90s that was traditionally animated.
Along with the new teaser trailer, Disney announced an all-star roster of talent bringing new and fan-favorite characters to life.
“Elton John. Tim Rice. Hans Zimmer. Lebo M. Mark Mancina. Beyoncé, Labrinth, Ilya Salmanzadeh (…) It’s been a joy working alongside Barry Jenkins to bring Mufasa’s story to life, and we can’t wait for audiences to experience this film in theaters,”
said the film’s songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda.
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.
Beyoncé will reprise her role as Nala, while her real-life daughter Blue Ivy Carter joins the cast as Kiara, daughter of King Simba and Queen Nala.
According to Disney, these new and returning cast members will 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
‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ premieres in cinemas on December 20, 2024. Watch the first teaser trailer for the film below.
Sources: Disney, Disney UK. All photos © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This article has not been sponsored or paid for by Disney.