Disney Drops in at San Diego Safari Park to Promote ‘Lion King’ Prequel ‘Mufasa’

When Aaron Pierre was cast as Mufasa, the weight of following in the late James Earl Jones’ legendary footsteps was enough to rattle any actor.

“I had a lot of nerves and I actually think those nerves served me because that is what the adolescent version of that lion is,” Pierre said in an interview Friday at San Diego Safari Park about his leading role in “Mufasa: The Lion King.” 

He took the reins as the new voice of young Mufasa after Jones played the iconic king in both the 1994 and 2019 versions of Disney’s “The Lion King.”

Disney sends attendees at the #Mufasa press day down a zip line over the savannah at San Diego Safari Park pic.twitter.com/JGk6E5kiyl

— Mufasa: The Lion King Updates (@MufasaUpdate) December 7, 2024

Here’s more about “Mufasa” ahead of its release in theaters on Dec. 20.

First, a tribute to James Earl Jones

Jones’ voice isn’t heard in the movie, but it opens with a brief tribute to the beloved actor, who died in September.

Pierre had hoped to meet Jones for the first time, but didn’t get the chance. Now, he’s determined to honor his idol by building on his character’s legacy.

“I gave it my best. I hope that I was able to serve James Earl Jones and honor James Earl Jones and the character,” he said.

New #Mufasa The Lion King Teaser

In theatres on December 20th pic.twitter.com/inLIiXB9Jx

— Mufasa: The Lion King Updates (@MufasaUpdate) December 6, 2024

Mufasa’s heart-wrenching origin story

The live-action prequel offers a fresh exploration into Mufasa’s origin.

After the events in the 2019 film, Rafiki takes on the role of a storytelling sage, weaving the untold tale of Mufasa for Kiara — the spirited granddaughter of Mufasa and the daughter of Simba and Nala.

Rafiki reveals that Mufasa’s young life wasn’t all royal ease and sunlit horizons. After a tragedy, young Mufasa finds himself lost and alone.

“He’s an orphan. He’s been ostracized, he’s been dismissed. He’s been degraded,” said Pierre, the British actor who’s starred in the “Genius: MLK/X” series and the Netflix action hit “Rebel Ridge.”

Mufasa was a stray until fate led him to Taka, the compassionate heir of a different pride. Taka, with his fierce yet nurturing mother, offer the displaced cub a new beginning.

Disney sends attendees at the #Mufasa press day down a zip line over the savannah at San Diego Safari Park pic.twitter.com/JGk6E5kiyl

— Mufasa: The Lion King Updates (@MufasaUpdate) December 7, 2024

Blue Ivy makes her feature film debut

Beyoncé might have a small role in “Mufasa,” but her daughter Blue Ivy Carter is the family’s shining star in the film.

The eldest daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z makes her feature film debut, lending her voice as Kiara, the daughter of Simba and Nala, who is portrayed by her superstar mother.

“She came into this prepared,” said director Barry Jenkins, who heard Blue Ivy’s narration on the audio book of Oscar winner Matthew Cherry’s “Hair Love.” He said the 12-year-old displayed skills that could not be ignored.

“She was the main character and this whole movie starts with just voices,” Jenkins said. “They’re doing almost like a radio play and hearing that quality in her voice, I thought, ‘Oh, I think that’s my character.’”

Jenkins likens Kiara to the many children who will see the movie. In the film, she eagerly listens to John Kani’s Rafiki tell her grandfather’s story while Timon (Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa (Seth Rogen) accompany them in a cave.

“They get to see themselves in that character and she’s learning the story about Mufasa,” Jenkins said. “She’s learning how he went through the same trials and tribulations, the same growth as she is.”

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s secret ingredient

Lin-Manuel Miranda was up for the challenge to leave his own imprint on the storied franchise. He said there are seven new songs on the soundtrack, which will be released Dec. 13.

“I was emboldened by the fact that there’s the ’94 original which is like an immortal classic,” said Miranda, the “Hamilton” creator and Grammy, Emmy and Tony winner.

“But there’s also the Broadway musical and there’s also Beyoncé‘s album ‘The Lion King: The Gift,’ which I think expanded the musical vocabulary of what can be a ‘Lion King’ song. So I felt a lot of space to create because I felt like ‘Lion King’ is practically a genre of music and there was room to play and find new stuff within it.”