Mufasa: The Lion King

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Mufasa: The Lion King
Mufasa The Lion King Movie 2024.jpeg
Official logo
Directed by Barry Jenkins
Written by Jeff Nathanson
Based on
Disney's The Lion King
by
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography James Laxton
Edited by Joi McMillon
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures
Release date
  • December 20, 2024 (2024-12-20)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Mufasa: The Lion King is an upcoming American musical drama film directed by Barry Jenkins, written by Jeff Nathanson, and produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pastel Productions. It is intended to be the live-action styled photorealistic animated prequel to the similarly created 2019 remake of the original 1994 film The Lion King . [1] Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, and John Kani reprise their character roles from the remake, and are joined by Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr., who voice their young versions of King Mufasa and Scar, respectively.

Contents

Development on a prequel to The Lion King was confirmed in September 2020, with Jenkins attached to direct and Nathanson finishing a draft of the script. Pierre and Harrison Jr. were announced as the voice cast in August 2021. The film was officially announced when its official title was revealed in September 2022 at the 2022 D23 Expo announcement. Production on the film slowed down in July 2023 due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.

Mufasa: The Lion King is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 20, 2024, [2] by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Premise

The prequel about the rise of one of the greatest kings of the Pride Lands, goes back to the African savanna where Rafiki tells Kiara—daughter of Simba and Nala—the story of her grandfather while Timon and Pumbaa add color commentary.

Voice cast

Mufasa and Sarabi's granddaughter Kiara will appear in the film. [3]

Production

Development

In September 2020, it was announced that a follow-up film to the live-action-styled photorealistic CGI 2019 remake of The Lion King (1994) was in development, with Barry Jenkins attached to direct. [4] Reports indicated that the project would have a story centered on Mufasa during his formative years, with additional scenes focusing on the events after the first film; comparing the movie to a similar structure as The Godfather Part II (1974). [5] By this point, Jeff Nathanson, the previous installment's screenwriter, had completed a draft of the script. [6] [7] The film was officially announced, with the title of Mufasa: The Lion King at the 2022 D23 Expo. [8]

On December 13, 2023, the Hollywood Handle reported that the film's plot would involve Rafiki telling the story of Mufasa to his granddaughter, Kiara, marking the character's first on-screen appearance in an animated feature film since The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998), the direct-to-video sequel to the original animated film. [3]

Casting

In August 2021, Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. were cast as the voices of young Mufasa and Scar, respectively. [9] By September 2022, it was revealed that Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, and John Kani will reprise their roles as Pumbaa, Timon, and Rafiki, respectively. [10] [11] During an interview with Fandango in April 2023 about his film Chevalier (2022), Harrison Jr. confirmed that the film will explore Scar's backstory, portraying him in a "hilarious and very, very spicy" way and expressing interest in how the young and sweet Scar's relationship with his brother Mufasa evolves throughout the film. [12]

Visual effects

In September 2022, at D23, the first footage was played exclusively to attendees, thus revealing that production had been underway. [8] [10] [11] Moving Picture Company is returning to provide the visual effects. [13] In July 2023, production on the film slowed down due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. [14]

Music

In June 2022, Nicholas Britell was hired to serve as composer for the score on the film's soundtrack, after having previously collaborated with Jenkins on various projects. [15] In September 2022, it was announced that Hans Zimmer and Pharrell Williams would return for the film. [16]

Marketing

During the D23, an exclusive preview was shown to those who attended the D23 for the film, which revealed that Mufasa was an orphaned cub. The preview also revealed that Rafiki and Timon will tell stories about Mufasa's past and his way to becoming king. [17]

Release

Mufasa: The Lion King is scheduled to be released on December 20, 2024. [2] It was previously scheduled for release on July 5, 2024, but was delayed to its current date due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. [10] [11]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Lion King</i> 1994 American animated musical drama film

The Lion King is a 1994 American animated musical coming-of-age drama film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film was directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff and produced by Don Hahn, from a screenplay written by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton. The film features an ensemble voice cast that includes Matthew Broderick, Moira Kelly, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, Rowan Atkinson, and Robert Guillaume. Its original songs were written by composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice, with a score by Hans Zimmer. Inspired by African wildlife, the story is modelled primarily on William Shakespeare's stage play Hamlet with some influence from the Biblical stories of Joseph and Moses, and follows a young heir apparent who is forced to flee after his uncle kills his father and usurps the throne. After growing up in exile, the rightful king returns to challenge the usurper and end his tyrannical rule over the kingdom.

<i>The Lion King II: Simbas Pride</i> 1998 animated film

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride is a 1998 American animated direct-to-video musical romantic drama film. It is the sequel to Disney's 1994 animated feature film, The Lion King, with its plot influenced by William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and the second installment in The Lion King trilogy. According to director Darrell Rooney, the final draft gradually became a variation of Romeo and Juliet.

<i>Timon & Pumbaa</i> (TV series) 1995 American animated television series by Disney

The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa is an American animated buddy comedy television series created by Walt Disney Television Animation. It was based on Disney's 1994 animated feature film The Lion King, centering on Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog as they continue to live by their problem-free philosophy hakuna matata. Compared to most other The Lion King media, the tone of the series is more slapstick comedy-oriented.

<i>The Lion King 1½</i> 2004 animated Disney film

The Lion King 1½ is a 2004 American animated direct-to-video musical comedy film produced by the Australian branch of DisneyToon Studios and released direct to video on February 10, 2004. The third and final installment released in the original Lion King trilogy, it is based on The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa and serves as an origin story for the meerkat/warthog duo Timon and Pumbaa while the film is also set within the events of The Lion King (1994). A majority of the original voice cast from the first film returns to reprise their roles, including Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella as the voices of Timon and Pumbaa, respectively. The plot of the movie is inspired by Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, a tragicomedy that tells the story of Hamlet from the point of view of two minor characters. The Lion King 1½ received generally positive reviews from critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simba</span> Main character of The Lion King

Simba is a fictional character in Disney's The Lion King franchise. First appearing as a lion cub in The Lion King (1994), the character flees his homeland when his father, King Mufasa, is killed by his treacherous uncle, Scar. Several years later, Simba returns home as an adult to reconcile his childhood trauma, confront Scar, and reclaim his rightful place as King of the Pride Lands. He subsequently appears in the sequels The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998) and The Lion King 1½ (2004). Simba was originally voiced by actors Matthew Broderick and Jonathan Taylor Thomas as an adult and cub, respectively; various actors have voiced the character in related media.

Jeffrey D. Nathanson is an American screenwriter, director, and producer.

<i>The Lion King</i> (musical) Musical

The Lion King is a stage musical with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, and a book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, with additional music and lyrics by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer. It is based on the 1994 Walt Disney Animation Studios' film of the same name. Directed by Taymor, the musical features actors in animal costumes as well as giant, hollow puppets. The show is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions.

Nala (<i>The Lion King</i>) Fictional character from The Lion King franchise

Nala is a fictional character in Disney's The Lion King film franchise. Introduced in the animated film The Lion King (1994), Nala subsequently appears as a less prominent character in the film's sequels The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998) and The Lion King 1½ (2004), and serves as a recurring character in The Lion Guard (2015–2019). In the original animated film trilogy, the adult Nala is voiced by American actress Moira Kelly. Young Nala's speaking voice in the original film is provided by actress Niketa Calame, while singers Laura Williams and Sally Dworsky provide the singing voices of young and adult Nala respectively. Nala is introduced as the daughter of an unnamed lion and Sarafina, the best friend of Simba, and ultimately becomes his wife as well as the daughter-in-law of Mufasa and Sarabi and the niece-in-law of Scar by the end of The Lion King. Nala becomes Simba's wife as well as his Queen Consort. Nala is also the mother of Kiara and Kion, and in The Lion King: Six New Adventures, she is the mother of Kopa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timon and Pumbaa</span> Fictional meerkat and warthog duo from Disneys The Lion King franchise

Timon and Pumbaa are an animated meerkat and warthog duo introduced in Disney's 1994 animated feature film The Lion King and its franchise. Timon was played through his many appearances by Nathan Lane, Max Casella, Kevin Schon, Quinton Flynn, Bruce Lanoil in the Wild About Safety shorts and Kingdom Hearts II, while Pumbaa is voiced by Ernie Sabella, and was portrayed by Tom Alan Robbins in the original cast of the Broadway musical. In the CGI remake, the characters are portrayed by Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen, respectively. Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella first came to audition for the roles of the hyenas, but when the producers saw how well they worked together, they decided to cast them as Timon and Pumbaa.

"Be Prepared" is a song written by Elton John and Tim Rice from Disney's 1994 animated feature film The Lion King. The song was originally performed in this film by Jim Cummings, with Whoopi Goldberg and Cheech Marin providing supporting vocals.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hakuna Matata (song)</span> 1994 song from The Lion King film

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The Lion King is a Disney media franchise comprising a film series and additional media. The success of animated original 1994 American feature film, The Lion King, directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, led to a direct-to-video sequel and prequel, a live-action remake in 2019, a television film sequel, two spin-off television series, three educational shorts, several video games, merchandise, and the third-longest-running musical in Broadway history, which garnered six Tony Awards including Best Musical. The franchise is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time. The franchise as a whole has EGOT-ed, meaning it has won the four biggest awards of American show business.

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The Lion King is a 2019 American musical drama film directed by Jon Favreau, written by Jeff Nathanson, and produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Fairview Entertainment. It is a photorealistic animated remake of Disney's traditionally animated 1994 film The Lion King. The film stars the voices of Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, Billy Eichner, John Kani, John Oliver, Florence Kasumba, Eric André, Keegan-Michael Key, JD McCrary, Shahadi Wright Joseph, with Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, and James Earl Jones. The plot follows Simba, a young lion who must embrace his role as the rightful king of his homeland following the murder of his father, Mufasa, at the hands of his uncle, Scar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelvin Harrison Jr.</span> American actor

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References

  1. ↑ Geisinger, Gabriella (September 30, 2020). "The Lion King 2 has been confirmed – here's everything you need to know". Digital Spy . Archived from the original on December 26, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Murphy, J. Kim (November 10, 2023). "Marvel Delays 'Deadpool 3,' 'Captain America 4' and 'Thunderbolts' in Post-Strike Disney Release Shake-Up". Variety. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Schreur, Brandon (December 14, 2023). "Mufasa: The Lion King Reveals New Plot Details for Disney Spin-off". yahoo.com . Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  4. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 29, 2020). "'The Lion King' Followup Set With 'Moonlight' Director Barry Jenkins To Helm For Walt Disney Studios". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  5. ↑ Sandell, Rachel (March 18, 2022). "The Lion King II: Simba's Pride Is an Underrated Disney Sequel". Collider. Archived from the original on March 19, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  6. ↑ Rubin, Rebecca; Lang, Brent (September 29, 2020). "'The Lion King' Follow-Up in the Works With Director Barry Jenkins". Variety. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  7. ↑ Couch, Aaron; Kits, Borys (September 29, 2020). "'Lion King' Prequel in the Works with Director Barry Jenkins". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  8. 1 2 Leston, Ryan (September 9, 2022). "Mufasa: The Lion King Announced at D23". IGN .
  9. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (August 26, 2021). "'The Lion King' Prequel: Kelvin Harrison Jr. & Aaron Pierre To Lead Cast For Disney & Barry Jenkins". Deadline. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 Chapman, Wilson (September 9, 2022). "'Lion King' Prequel Gets Official Title, Footage Shown at D23". Variety. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  11. 1 2 3 Busch, Jenna (September 9, 2022). "Mufasa: The Lion King Footage Description: Barry Jenkins Completes The Circle Of Life [D23]". /Film. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  12. ↑ @@Fandango (April 24, 2023). "We caught up with #Chevalier star Kelvin Harrison Jr., who shared some new info about his upcoming role of Scar in #TheLionKing prequel #Mufasa. Don't miss him in theaters now in 'Chevalier'! 🎟's http://fandan.co/Chevalier" (Tweet). Retrieved April 25, 2023– via Twitter.
  13. ↑ "Filmography". MPC Film. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  14. ↑ Bowden, George; Glynn, Paul (July 14, 2023). "Which movies and TV shows are impacted by the Hollywood strike?". BBC . Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  15. ↑ Ridgley, Charlie (June 21, 2022). "The Lion King Prequel Adds Succession, Star Wars: Andor Composer". ComicBook.com . Paramount. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  16. ↑ Glynn, Jennifer (September 22, 2022). "'Mufasa' Prequel Director Barry Jenkins Reveals New Details on Live-Action Characters". Collider . Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  17. ↑ Chapman, Wilson (September 9, 2022). "'Lion King' Prequel Gets Official Title, Footage Shown at D23". Variety. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
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