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- Mufasa: The Lion King releases in theatres on 20 December 2024. The prequel film tells the backstory of Simba's father.
- The film has a star-studded cast, including SA's John Kani, Thuso Mbedu, Donald Glover, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Carter.
- The film is directed by Moonlight's Barry Jenkins with songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
"This story begins far beyond the mountains and the shadows on the other side of the light. A lion was born without a drop of nobility in his blood," the character Rafiki says in the new trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King.
The prequel is directed by the creator of Moonlight (2016) and If Beale Street Could Talk (2018), Barry Jenkins, while the songs are written by Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda. Additional music performances by South Africa's Lebo M will also be featured.
The film has a star-studded cast, including SA's John Kani, Thuso Mbedu, Kagiso Lediga, Aaron Pierre, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Tiffany Boone, Donald Glover, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Carter.
Mufasa is set to be released in theatres on 20 December 2024.
A description of the film reads:
"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."
Speaking to People about casting Blue Ivy alongside her mother, Beyoncé, Jenkins said, "I thought there was something really lovely about having this mother and daughter get to play together, to work together."
Beyoncé reprises her role as Nala, while Blue Ivy will play the character's daughter, Kiara.
"There was such a long process of making this film that the Renaissance tour happened and we started making this film back in 2020 or 2021," he told the publication.
"I feel like Blue grew quite a bit over the course of that tour," he added.
"The movie is kind of like this snapshot, this time capsule of a moment in their lives that I think is really beautiful. And it absolutely worked for the film," he continued.
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:
