Mufasa: The Lion King

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Mufasa: The Lion King
Mufasa The Lion King Movie 2024.jpeg
Teaser poster
Directed by Barry Jenkins
Screenplay 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 from a screenplay by Jeff Nathanson. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pastel Productions, the film is photorealistically animated, and both a prequel and sequel to the 2019 remake of the 1994 film The Lion King . [1] Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, John Kani, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reprise their roles from the remake; new cast members include Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Tiffany Boone, Lennie James, and Knowles-Carter's daughter Blue Ivy Carter in her feature film debut. [2]

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, followed by further casting between September 2022 and April 2024. 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 the United States by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on December 20, 2024. [3]

Premise

In the Pride Lands of Tanzania after the events of The Lion King (2019), Rafiki the mandrill tells the story of two lions, Mufasa and Taka, to Kiara—the granddaughter of Mufasa and daughter of Simba and Nala. The story follows the orphan Mufasa, who is befriended by the young prince Taka and adopted by Taka's family; the pair become as close as brothers. Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog add color commentary. [4]

Voice cast

Additionally, Joanna Jones, Folake Olowofoyeku, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim, Abdul Salis, and Dominique Jennings have been cast in undisclosed roles.

Production

Development

In September 2020, it was announced that a follow-up film to the live-action-styled CGI photorealistic 2019 remake of The Lion King (1994) was in development, with Barry Jenkins attached to direct. [5] 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). [6] By this point, Jeff Nathanson, the previous installment's screenwriter, had completed a draft of the script. [7] [8] The film was officially announced, with the title of Mufasa: The Lion King at the 2022 D23 Expo. [9]

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. [10] In regards on how much his film would adapt from Simba's Pride, Jenkins admitted that "some stuff" from the canon is very much alluded and referenced, but it is not an adaptation per se. [11]

Casting

In August 2021, Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. were cast as the voices of young Mufasa and Scar, respectively. [12] During an interview with Fandango in April 2023 about his film Chevalier (2022), Harrison Jr. confirmed that the film would 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. [13] By September 2022, it was revealed that Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, and John Kani would reprise their roles as Pumbaa, Timon, and Rafiki, respectively. [14] [15]

In April 2024, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Donald Glover were confirmed to reprise their roles, with Blue Ivy Carter (in her feature film debut), Tiffany Boone, Kagiso Lediga, Preston Nyman, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Braelyn Rankins, Theo Somolu, Folake Olowofoyeku, Joanna Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim, Abdul Salis, and Dominique Jennings announced as new additions to the cast. [2] Jenkins considered to cast Blue Ivy as Kiara since he heard the audiobook version she did for his friend Matthew A. Cherry's Hair Love (2019) short film, but had reservations on whether she and her mother would want to act opposite each other, fearing it may hit "too close to home", but both Blue Ivy and Beyoncé were enthusiastic when he proposed them the idea. Coupled with Beyonce's Renaissance World Tour, during which Blue Ivy participated as a dancer in a performance of one of The Lion King: The Gift (2019) album's songs, Jenkins felt there was some sort of synergy between mother and daughter with the film showcasing some type of "time capsule". [16]

Visual effects

In September 2022, at D23, the first footage was played exclusively to attendees, thus revealing that production had been underway. [9] [14] [15] Moving Picture Company is returning to provide the visual effects. [17] In July 2023, production on the film slowed down due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. [18]

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. [19] In September 2022, it was announced that Hans Zimmer and Pharrell Williams would return for the film, [20] and in April 2024, it was announced that Lin-Manuel Miranda would write the songs for the film. [2] Jenkins approached Miranda to work on the film due to keeping in touch since Jenkins almost cast Miranda in his film If Beale Street Could Talk (2018). [11] Mark Mancina would also co-produce the songs with Miranda, with Lebo M providing additional vocals and performances. [2]

Marketing

During the D23, an exclusive preview for the film was shown to those who attended, 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. [21] Barry Jenkins also appeared during The Walt Disney Studios' presentation of their 2024 theatrical slate at CinemaCon on April 11, 2024, to promote the film, where he remarked: "You are probably wondering... what is the director of Moonlight (2016) doing talking to me about an eight-quadrant tentpole legacy IP massive film? And I gotta say, the thought was very strange to me at first, as well. But oh my god. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life, and I'm so glad I made this picture." [22]

The first teaser trailer and the official teaser poster, featuring young Mufasa with his adult counterpart reflected in a puddle in front of him, debuted on April 29, 2024, on ABC's Good Morning America . The trailer's music track was bookended by a new instrumental rendition of "Circle of Life," confirming that some musical material by Elton John and Tim Rice from the previous film would be featured in the film in some way. [23] The trailer received a mixed reception, with some deeming the film as "unnecessary" and a "soulless prequel to a soulless remake". Jenkins responded on Twitter writing, "There is nothing soulless about The Lion King ... For decades children have sat in theaters all over the world experiencing collective grief for the first time, engaging Shakespeare for the first time, across aisles in myriad languages. A most potent vessel for communal empathy." [24] The official full trailer for the film premiered during the Disney Entertainment Showcase at the 2024 D23 Expo on August 10, 2024, alongside a variant on the first poster with Taka and his future adult counterpart of Scar reflected in the puddle. The presentation also showcased a first listen to "I've Always Wanted a Brother," one of the songs Miranda wrote for the film. [25]

Release

Mufasa: The Lion King is scheduled to be released on December 20, 2024. [3] It was previously scheduled for release on July 5, 2024, but was delayed to its current date due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. [14] [15]

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 Buena Vista Pictures Distribution under the Walt Disney Pictures banner. 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, Niketa Calame, 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 drama film produced by Walt Disney Video Premiere. It is the sequel to Disney's 1994 animated 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 DisneyToon Studios and released on February 10, 2004. The third installment in the Lion King franchise, the film is both a prequel and a sidequel to The Lion King, focusing on the supporting characters Timon and Pumbaa. A majority of the 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 film's structure 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 sequels the The Lion King II: Simba's Pride and The Lion King 1½. 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 sequels, spin-offs, and related media.

<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 franchise. Introduced in the The Lion King (1994), Nala subsequently appears as a less prominent character in the 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) television series. 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 Jeremy Irons and Jim Cummings, with Whoopi Goldberg and Cheech Marin providing supporting vocals.

"He Lives in You" is a song written and performed by Lebo M and his South African Choir and co-written by Mark Mancina and Jay Rifkin, originally for Rhythm of the Pride Lands, a 1995 album inspired by the 1994 film The Lion King. It is also performed twice in the stage musical adaptation of The Lion King, first produced in 1997. Furthermore, an abridged version of the song was used for the opening of the 1998 sequel film The Lion King II: Simba's Pride.

There have been seven theme park live adaptations of The Lion King at Disney Parks since the Disney animated feature film The Lion King was released by Walt Disney Animation Studios in 1994. These have included a parade, two theater-in-the-round shows, and four stage shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Circle of Life</span> Song from Disneys 1994 animated film The Lion King

"Circle of Life" is a song from Disney's 1994 animated feature film The Lion King. Composed by English musician Elton John, with lyrics by Tim Rice, the song was performed by Carmen Twillie and Lebo M as the film's opening song. In an interview, Rice said he was amazed at the speed with which John composed: "I gave him the lyrics at the beginning of the session at about two in the afternoon. By half-past three, he'd finished writing and recording a stunning demo." John sang a pop version of the song with the London Community Gospel Choir, which was included in the film's soundtrack and made into a music video.

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.

Scar (<i>The Lion King</i>) Major antagonist from The Lion King

Scar is a fictional character and the main antagonist in Disney's The Lion King franchise. He was created by screenwriters Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts and Linda Woolverton and animated by Andreas Deja. Scar is introduced in the first film as the ruthless, power-hungry younger brother of Mufasa, the ruler of the Pride Lands. Originally first in line to Mufasa's throne, until he is suddenly replaced by Mufasa's son, Simba, Scar decides to lead an army of hyenas in his plot to take the throne by killing Mufasa and Simba, who escapes into exile, ultimately blaming his brother's death on his nephew.

The Lion King is a 1994 animated Disney film.

<i>The Lion Guard</i> 2016 TV series by Ford Riley

The Lion Guard is an American animated television series developed by Ford Riley and based on Disney's 1994 animated feature film The Lion King. The series was first broadcast with a television film titled The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar on Disney Channel on November 22, 2015, and began airing as a TV series on January 15, 2016, on Disney Junior. It is the second television series to be based on The Lion King, the first being The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa (1995–1999). The Lion Guard is a sequel and spin-off to The Lion King, and takes place during the time-gap within Disney's 1998 direct-to-video sequel The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, while the third and final season takes place in parallel with the film's second act, with the final two episodes serving as an epilogue.

<i>The Lion King</i> (2019 film) 2019 Disney film by Jon Favreau

The Lion King is a 2019 American musical drama film that is a photorealistically animated remake of the traditionally-animated 1994 film The Lion King. It is directed by Jon Favreau, written by Jeff Nathanson, and produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Fairview Entertainment. 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.

Timon and Pumbaa's Virtual Safari is a series of interactive virtual games that were included as bonus-features within several of Disney's The Lion King-related DVD releases throughout the 2000's. The series of games centers on Timon and Pumbaa going on a variety of safari adventures. The Virtual Safari games are a cross between the Jungle Cruise and Indiana Jones-related Disney theme park rides along with Kilimanjaro Safaris. Players press the left or right arrow buttons on their DVD player's remote at decision making points to decide which way the vehicle travels.

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 3 4 "Disney Debuts First Teaser Trailer for 'Mufasa: The Lion King'". The Walt Disney Company . April 29, 2024. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  3. 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.
  4. ↑ "New Mufasa: The Lion King Trailer Explores The Ruler's Backstory With Scar". Empire Magazine. August 10, 2024.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. 1 2 Leston, Ryan (September 9, 2022). "Mufasa: The Lion King Announced at D23". IGN .
  10. ↑ Schreur, Brandon (December 14, 2023). "Mufasa: The Lion King Reveals New Plot Details for Disney Spin-off". yahoo.com . Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  11. 1 2 Murray, Iana (April 29, 2024). "Mufasa: The Lion King Trailer Interview: Barry Jenkins On Blue Ivy Carter, The New Songs, And More". Empire. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. ↑ @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). Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023– via Twitter.
  14. 1 2 3 Chapman, Wilson (September 9, 2022). "'Lion King' Prequel Gets Official Title, Footage Shown at D23". Variety. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  15. 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.
  16. ↑ Romano, Nick (April 29, 2024). "Blue Ivy joins mom Beyoncé as Simba and Nala's daughter in Mufasa — watch the first trailer". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Filmography". MPC Film. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  18. ↑ Bowden, George; Glynn, Paul (July 14, 2023). "Which movies and TV shows are impacted by the Hollywood strike?". BBC . Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  19. ↑ Ridgley, Charlie (June 21, 2022). "The Lion King Prequel Adds Succession, Star Wars: Andor Composer". ComicBook.com . Paramount. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  20. ↑ Glynn, Jennifer (September 22, 2022). "'Mufasa' Prequel Director Barry Jenkins Reveals New Details on Live-Action Characters". Collider . Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  21. ↑ Chapman, Wilson (September 9, 2022). "'Lion King' Prequel Gets Official Title, Footage Shown at D23". Variety. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  22. ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (April 11, 2024). "'Lion King' Prequel 'Mufasa' Debuts Majestic CinemaCon Trailer Filled With Stampeding Animals and Dazzling Sahara Setting". Variety. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024.
  23. ↑ Nordyke, Kimberly (April 29, 2024). "'Mufasa: The Lion King': First Trailer Released by Disney". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  24. ↑ Gajewski, Ryan (April 30, 2024). "Barry Jenkins Responds to Criticism That 'Mufasa: The Lion King' Is Part of "Soulless Machine"". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024.
  25. ↑ White, James (October 8, 2024). "New Mufasa: The Lion King Trailer Explores The Ruler's Backstory With Scar". Empire. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
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