Let’s be honest, the response to Jon Favreau’s photorealistic remake of The Lion King was mixed at best. The film currently holds a “Rotten” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but on the other hand, it’s the highest-grossing “Rotten” movie in site history with $1.6B. People weren’t exactly clamoring to see another one. But when you set an Oscar-winning filmmaker like Barry Jenkins to direct the prequel Mufasa: The Lion King, it’s hard not to get at least a bit excited to see it.
Aaron Pierre voices a young Mufasa in the film about the rise of one of the Pride Land’s greatest kings. Kelvin Harrison Jr. voices Taka, a lion prince and adoptive brother who will eventually be known as Scar. Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner return as Pumbaa and Timon, John Kani as Rafiki, and Donald Glover as Simba. Mads Mikkelsen voices, a formidable white lion with big plans for his pride.
Other voices include Folake Olowofoyeku, Lennie James, Braelyn Rankins, Tiffany Boone, Joanna Jones, Anika Noni Rose, Blue Ivy Carter, Thuso Mbedu, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Theo Somolu, Kagiso Lediga, Dominique Jennings, Sheila Atim, Preston Nyman, Keith David, and Abdul Salis.
Lin-Manuel Miranda is composing new music for the film, along with Hans Zimmer, Pharrell Williams, and Nicholas Britell.
SYNOPSIS: “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.
Mufasa: The Lion King opens December 20th.
