‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ Teaser: Barry Jenkins-Directed Prequel Takes Us to the Beginning

The King is back.

Disney unveiled a first look at Mufasa: The Lion King, the new film directed by Academy Award winner Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) and coming to theaters December 20 that explores the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride Lands.

Mufasa: The Lion King enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) to young lion cub Kiara (introducing Blue Ivy Carter), 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 (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), 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.

“I read the script written by Jeff Nathanson and got about 40 pages into it and realised that my skepticism and cynicism had been obliterated,” said Jenkins in an interview with Iana Murray for Empire Magazine.

He continued, “It’s a ‘journey’ film. We’re used to all these characters living together in this one place, and I think part of [the film’s] objective is to really show where all these people came from and how they ended up together. I have this really off-colour joke where I like to say that there are tons of people who go to high school literary programs and read [Ernest Hemingway’s short story] The Snows of Kilimanjaro and still have no idea that it snows on the continent of Africa,” Jenkins added. “It was just cool for me to have the opportunity to expand the scope of what the world of The Lion King was, and in doing so, get to experience some of these really amazing environments.”

Blending live-action filmmaking techniques with photoreal computer-generated imagery, this prequel to the 1994 animated classic and 2019 ‘live action’ remake stories brings back the voice talents of Seth Rogen as Pumbaa. Billy Eichner as Timon, Donald Glover as Simba and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala. Also featuring Tiffany Boone as Sarabi, Kagiso Lediga as Young Rafiki, Preston Nyman as Zazu, Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros, a formidable lion with big plans for his pride , Thandiwe Newton as Taka’s mother, Eshe, Lennie James as Taka’s father, Obasi , Anika Noni Rose as Mufasa’s mother, Afia, Keith David as Mufasa’s father, Masego, John Kani as Rafiki as well as Braelyn Rankins, Theo Somolu, Folake Olowofoyeku, Joanna Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim, Abdul Salis and Dominique Jennings.

Also announced this morning is an all-star roster of talent bringing new and fan-favorite characters to life—plus, celebrated award-winning songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda is writing the film’s songs produced by Mark Mancina and Miranda, with additional music and performances by Lebo M.

Said Miranda, “Elton John. Tim Rice. Hans Zimmer. Lebo M. Mark Mancina. Beyoncé, Labrinth, Ilya Salmanzadeh. Beau Black, Ford Riley, the incredible music team on ‘The Lion Guard,’ and so many musical contributors over the years. ‘The Lion King’ has an incredible musical legacy with music from some of the greatest songwriters around, and I’m humbled and proud to be a part of it. It’s been a joy working alongside Barry Jenkins to bring Mufasa’s story to life, and we can’t wait for audiences to experience this film in theaters.”

Mufasa: The Lion King is directed by Barry Jenkins, produced by Adele Romanski & Mark Ceryak, and executive produced by Peter Tobyansen. It will be released only in theaters by Walt Disney Pictures.