New Delhi:
Disney has recently released its trailer. Mufasa: The Lion KingPrequel to the 2019 photorealistic rendition The Lion KingDirected by Oscar winner Barry Jenkins and written by Jeff Nathanson, this prequel to Jon Favreau’s blockbuster remake delves deep into the origin story of one of the Disney universe’s most iconic characters—Mufasa. The trailer runs just a little over two minutes and offers a fascinating glimpse of Mufasa’s journey from an orphaned cub to the respected king of the Pride Lands. The narrative is expertly crafted by Rafiki, the wise mandrill and shaman of the Pride Lands, as he recounts the legend of Mufasa and his brother, Scar, to Kiara, Simba and Nala’s daughter. The moment Rafiki begins, “It’s time I tell you a story, the story of a cub no bigger than you
The trailer also has a dose of the cute humor we’ve come to expect, with Timon and Pumbaa appearing in a playful role. Timon cheekily asks, “So just to clarify, we’re not in this story?” followed by Pumbaa grumbling good-naturedly, “We all have a lot of stories together. Tell me one of them.”
As the trailer goes into flashback, we see young Mufasa’s life take a dramatic turn when he meets Taka, a lion who welcomes him into his royal clan. This relationship sets the stage for the brothers’ adventures and their final confrontation with a formidable foe, Kiros. The trailer hints at the complex dynamics that will ultimately transform Taka into Scar, the infamous villain who will one day betray Mufasa.
Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. voice the younger incarnations of Mufasa and Scar, respectively, while James Earl Jones reprises his role as the voice of Mufasa. Jeremy Irons and Chiwetel Ejiofor previously voiced Scar in the 1994 original and the 2019 remake.
Returning to reprise their roles from the 2019 version are John Kani as Rafiki, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Billy Eichner as Timon, Donald Glover as Simba, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala. The cast includes newcomers, including Tiffany Boone as Sarabi, Kagiso Lediga as Young Rafiki, and Preston Nyman as Zazu. Notable new cast members include Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros, Thandiwe Newton as Taka’s mother, Eshe, and Lennie James as Taka’s father, Obasi.
Original 1994 The Lion King grossed $960 million globally, while its 2019 remake grossed $1.6 billion at the box office.
