'Mufasa: The Lion King' - Release Date, Trailer, Cast, And Everything We Know So Far

Disney has not yet unveiled a trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King to the general audience. However, they presented a preview during the Disney and Pixar panel at the 2022 D23 Expo. This short glimpse features familiar characters and suggests that the film might diverge from typical prequels (more details on this to come).

Here are all the confirmed actors and characters in Mufasa: The Lion King. Please note that the movie is still a long way out, so this may not be the full cast list.

Aaron Pierre voices Mufasa, the kind and noble lion prince of the African Pride Lands. In the original Lion King and its 2019 remake, Mufasa is the king of the Pride Lands and the loving father of future king Simba. James Earl Jones voiced Mufasa in both versions, so hopefully, Pierre retains the powerful booming voice that Jones used for his performance. Speaking of Pierre, the British actor reunites with Jenkins after playing a recurring role in the director's Prime Video miniseries The Underground Railroad. Pierre also appeared in the Superman prequel series Krypton and the M. Night Shyamalan film Old. He is set to appear in the upcoming MCU film Blade, although his character is yet to be revealed.

Kelvin Harrison Jr. voices Taka, aka Scar, Mufasa's conniving younger brother. In the original Lion King and its remake, Scar seeks to usurp Mufasa and Simba as king of the Pride Lands. Harrison got his start appearing in critically acclaimed indie movies such as It Comes At Night, Luce, and Waves, before moving on to high-profile films such as The Trial of the Chicago 7, Cyrano, and Elvis. This may be his biggest project yet.

John Kani voices Rafiki, the wise yet eccentric baboon sage and close companion of Mufasa. In the D23 teaser for Mufasa: The Lion King, Rafiki is reportedly seen recounting the backstory of Mufasa. Kani first voiced Rafiki in the 2019 remake of The Lion King, to which this new film is a prequel. The South African actor and playwright is also known for playing T'Chaka in MCU films Captain America: Civil War and Black Panther.

Billy Eichner voices Timon, a sarcastic yet caring meerkat who eventually befriends Simba. In the D23 teaser for Mufasa: The Lion King, Timon is seen listening to Rafiki about Mufasa's backstory. Eichner first voiced Timon in The Lion King remake. He is also known for playing Craig Middlebrooks in the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation and for hosting the comedic game show Billy on the Street. Additionally, Eichner co-wrote and stars in the rom-com Bros, the first LGBTQ+ romantic comedy to be produced by a major studio.

Seth Rogen voices Pumbaa, the more childlike but still kindhearted warthog best friend of Timon who also becomes close with Simba. In the D23 teaser for Mufasa: The Lion King, Pumbaa is seen with Timon listening to Rafiki's retelling of Mufasa's origin. Just like his co-stars, Rogen first voiced Pumbaa in The Lion King remake. He is also known for appearing in not-so-family-friendly comedies such as The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Pineapple Express, and This is The End.

The plot of Mufasa: The Lion King is still quite mysterious. Initially announced as a sequel in 2020, it was described as a story that moves between the past and present, much like The Godfather Part II. While recent sources have labeled it as a prequel, a D23 teaser shows Rafiki recounting Mufasa's backstory to Timon and Pumbaa, suggesting the movie may shift between past and present. This approach isn't entirely new, as Timon and Pumbaa humorously narrated their first meeting in the hand-drawn spinoff The Lion King 1 1/2.

On the other hand, Mufasa: The Lion King might be based on the original Lion King tie-in novel The Lion King: A Tale of Two Brothers, which delves into the younger years of Mufasa and Scar. It appears the film is already drawing from this novel, as Kelvin Harrison Jr. was announced to voice a character named Taka, and the novel explains that Mufasa's younger brother was named Taka before becoming Scar. Hopefully, more details about the movie's plot will emerge in the coming months.

Jon Favreau, who directed the first "live-action" Lion King movie, will not direct the upcoming prequel. Instead, Barry Jenkins, known for Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk, will take the helm for Mufasa: The Lion King. Despite not being credited as the writer, Jenkins, an established director, is expected to bring his artistic vision to the film based on a screenplay by Jeff Nathanson, who wrote the 2019 Lion King.

Jenkins plans to use virtual reality technology for filming, similar to Favreau's approach. Although he has no prior experience with effects-heavy films, Jenkins is confident in utilizing this technology. He expressed his connection to the characters and the importance of the story in conveying the journey of becoming a king. He feels no pressure, aiming to do justice to the beloved property.

"I grew up with these characters, they mean so much to me. I think the work that Jeff Nathanson, the writer, did and going back into really helping children and anyone who ever loved this property understand what it takes. Kings aren't just born, they aren't just made. They have to become who they are through a series of events that a lot of people can relate to. So, in that standpoint, it fits very well with everything else I've done. So I feel no pressure, I just want to do a good job."

Hans Zimmer, who composed the music for the original Lion King and its remake, will also compose the music for Mufasa: The Lion King. Zimmer will collaborate with Pharrell Williams and Nicholas Britell, both highly acclaimed in the music industry.

On the other hand, Elton John, who wrote songs for the original and its remake, is unlikely to contribute to Mufasa: The Lion King due to his disappointment with the remake's creative direction. The movie will still feature musical numbers, so there's hope for a quality soundtrack, even without John's direct involvement.