The upcoming live-action-styled photo-realistic prequel to 2019’s The Lion King, Mufasa: The Lion King, is directed by Barry Jenkins. Actors Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. are set to voice the young versions of Mufasa and Scar. Other actors joining the cast are Seth Rogen, Donald Glover, Beyoncé, John Kani and more.
The 2019 movie managed to gross over $1.6 billion worldwide, which reportedly encouraged Disney to make a prequel, and the trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King was recently released. The trailer showcased one trademark element of the director that is described as simply breathtaking by the audience.
Mufasa: The Lion King’s director Barry Jenkins shares about his trademark shots
According to Nowness, Paul Thomas Anderson once mentioned to Barry Jenskins that not a lot of directors can do close-up shots like the late Jonathan Demme, but he has been able to do so. Anderson added,
“I’m very jealous of your close-ups. There’s a long line of people who have really tried to do Jonathan Demme close-ups, and I try all the time, but I have to say, you got it right better than anybody.”
Close-up shots became Barry Jenkins’ trademark, which can be seen throughout the trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King. Talking about the same, the director shared with Empire Magazine,
“So few people get to see these animals up close. Here’s a moment for kids to just have an intimate moment with a lion who’s deep in thought. When you step into a world that already exists, it can be easy to assume that freedom is denied. I think, instead, you have to just work to create freedom, and I think that was what the process was.”
Jenkins further explained about the upcoming movie, adding that it exists in parallel timelines. He added that the story follows both a nascent Mufasa in the past and Simba and Nala’s daughter Kiara in the present day. Mufasa: The Lion King can serve as both a prequel and a sequel to The Lion King.
Barry Jenkins says watching Beyoncé work with her daughter was special
Beyoncé is the voice of Nala, who was introduced as Simba’s best friend and eventually his wife. She is the mother to Kiara, who is voiced by none other than Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. The movie is going to serve as Blue Ivy’s acting debut. Talking about witnessing a mother-daughter duo play their characters on-screen, Barry Jenkins shared with Empire,
“Watching Beyoncé coexist with her daughter, and just how lovely, gentle, and encouraging she is, was really special. I think it bled into the performances they gave as well. I think this will be a really beautiful time capsule for the two of them at this moment when they get to share this part of their relationship as these characters.”
Jenkins didn’t hold himself back from praising the young actress, as he mentioned that Blue Ivy as Kiara did an amazing job. He added that she just felt like a really curious young person. Blue Ivy’s character is a crucial one in the movie, as the story will see Raifiki narrating the story of Mufasa and Scar to her so that she knows about her grandfather.
In his interview with EW, Jenkins shared that Blue Ivy did the audio for his friend Matthew Cherry’s short film’ Hair Love adding that they were not sure if the mother-daughter duo would be interested in acting opposite each other. But the director added that once they reached out to them with a proposal, they were thrilled to be a part of the project.
Jenkins shared in the interview that they filmed the movie before Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour happened so it can be said that the young actress has grown a lot throughout the tour.
Mufasa: The Lion King is scheduled for release on December 20, 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What filming style is Barry Jenkins known for in the Mufasa: The Lion King trailer?
Jenkins is known for intimate close-up shots, a trademark filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson has praised, saying few directors have matched the close-up style of the late Jonathan Demme the way Jenkins has. That signature technique appears throughout the Mufasa: The Lion King trailer, letting audiences see the animated lions up close in a way Jenkins said gives kids an intimate moment with a thoughtful character.
Who voices the young Mufasa and Scar in the new movie?
Aaron Pierre voices the young Mufasa and Kelvin Harrison Jr. voices young Scar in the photo-realistic prequel to 2019’s The Lion King. The cast also includes Seth Rogen, Donald Glover, John Kani, and Beyonce, with the story unfolding across parallel timelines connecting Mufasa’s past to Simba and Nala’s daughter Kiara in the present.
Why is Blue Ivy Carter’s role in Mufasa: The Lion King significant?
Blue Ivy Carter, daughter of Beyonce and Jay-Z, voices Kiara in what marks her acting debut, appearing alongside her mother who voices Nala. Jenkins praised her performance as genuinely curious and said the mother-daughter duo were enthusiastic once approached about acting opposite each other. Mufasa: The Lion King is scheduled for release on December 20, 2024.
