Disney unveiled the first teaser trailer for its highly-anticipated prequel film “Mufasa: The Lion King,” revealing a stellar voice cast led by Beyoncé and featuring the actor’s 12-year-old daughter Blue Ivy in her film debut.
The CGI animated movie, set for theatrical release on December 20, 2024, explores the origins of the beloved lion king Mufasa before the events of the 1994 classic. Beyoncé, who voiced adult Nala in the 2019 “Lion King” remake, will reprise her role, while Blue Ivy has been cast as young Kiara, Simba and Nala’s daughter.
“A buddy of mine, Matthew Cherry, made the short film ‘Hair Love’ that Blue Ivy did the audiobook for,” said director Barry Jenkins. “Starting this project…I was like, ‘Is it worth a shot? Would Blue Ivy want to do it? Would Beyoncé want to act opposite her daughter?'”
The teaser revealed Blue Ivy’s voice as Kiara, with Beyoncé’s unmistakable vocals opening with the iconic “Circle of Life” song as footage showed the plains of the Pride Lands.
Donald Glover is also returning to voice the adult Simba after portraying him in the 2019 film.
The movie takes the form of Rafiki the mandrill narrating Mufasa’s backstory as an orphaned cub to young Kiara, with Timon and Pumbaa providing comedic commentary. British actress Thandiwe Newton voices a character named Eshe, while Danish star Mads Mikkelsen plays the villainous Kiros, described as a “deadly foe” that Mufasa’s group must evade.
Other cast members include Tiffany Boone as Sarabi, Kagiso Lediga as young Rafiki, Preston Nyman as Zazu, and Lennie James as Obasi.
“Their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe,” teases the official synopsis.
Jenkins, who won the Best Picture Oscar for “Moonlight” in 2016, is making a major transition to big-budget blockbuster filmmaking with “Mufasa.”
Watch the trailer here:
