Thuso Mbedu, John Kani, and Kagiso Lediga To Be Part of Upcoming Lion King Prequel “Mufasa: The Lion King”
The legend of the Lion King continues, thirty years on since the release of the classic coming-of-age animated drama, The Lion King, a tale of a young lion forced to live in exile after his uncle killed his father, Mufasa, the king of the Pride Lands, to usurp the throne, before he comes back when he’s fully grown to take back the crown as the rightful king.
Reimagined and looked at from a different point of view, Walt Disney will be producing Mufasa: The Lion King, a prequel to The Lion King (2019). The film will include contributions from prominent South Africans.
A direct follow-up to the 2019 remake of The Lion King (1994), Mufasa: The Lion King is set to be an incisive prequel that will cut into the past of Mufasa, revealing his backstory and his life as a cub alongside his brother-turned-nemesis Scar. The story will be narrated to Kiara by Rafiki.
Due to be released at the end of the year, South Africans who will be part of the cast include veteran actor and playwright John Kani and comedian Kagiso Lediga, who will be voicing Rafiki and the young Rafiki, respectively. The Underground Railroad star Thuso Mbedu will also add her voice to Mufasa: The Lion King; however, as of now, her role has not been disclosed.
The official casting of Mufasa: The Lion King | SUPPLIED
The Mzansi stars will join the likes of American singer-songwriter Beyonce Knowles-Carter (voicing Nala) and her daughter Blue Ivy Carter (voicing Kiara). Giving life to Simba will be multi-hyphenate entertainer Donald Glover, while Timon and Pumbaa will be voiced by Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen, respectively. The lead of the movie, Mufasa, will be assumed by British actor Aaron Pierre.
Much like the 2019 film, Mufasa: The Lion King will feature photorealistic CGI animation with American filmmaker Barry Jenkins slated for the director’s role. With hyper-realistic animation, the movie will be set in the wildest but most vibrant side of Africa. With the film due to show the younger side of Mufasa, this prequel is expected to be placed around five to ten years before the events witnessed in the 2019 remake.
Composer and arranger Lebo M. will also be contributing his expertise to Mufasa: The Lion King, providing vocals and performances, while the score will be handled by Hans Zimmer and Pharrell Williams. Lebo has contributed to the original Lion King movie as well as the 2019 interpretation.
Mufasa: The Lion King will be released in 20 December 2024.