Mufasa‘s title suggests it’s a prequel, going back in time to explore what Simba’s father got up to before guiding his young son in The Lion King. And of course that will be the bulk of it—but Barry Jenkins‘ photo-realistic CGI animated musical also has a frame story, set during Simba’s royal rule, in which the aging Rafiki tells Mufasa’s story to Simba’s young daughter, Kiara. (That’s how Disney made sure fan-favorites Timon and Pumbaa would have places in the cast.) As Mufasa‘s release inches toward the “one month to go” mark, Disney is ramping up the promo with a new featurette and some colorful character posters.
First up, we get a peek inside Jenkins’ creative process with “Mufasa: The Lion King—Visionary Storyteller,” which shows the Oscar-winning director hard at work on his follow-up to Disney’s 2019 blockbuster The Lion King, itself a re-do of the studio’s beloved 1994 animated classic. “Oh my lord, how fortunate Disney is,” says Rafiki actor John Kani, speaking about Jenkins’ talent, and we tend to agree.
It’s a sentiment shared by everyone in this video, from star Aaron Pierre to songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda, and beyond. (It’s mutual, as an excited Jenkins calls his co-workers “the cast of my dreams.”) Plus, there’s all kinds of sweeping footage of animals (some friendlier than others) running and leaping across gorgeous landscapes. Check it out!
Disney also shared some new posters that you should expect to start seeing plastered around soon. Clockwise from top left, that’s Rafiki and Zazu; young Mufasa; the lion brothers Mufasa and Taka (who later became known as Scar); Kiara; and Timon and Pumbaa.
Mufasa: The Lion King boasts a stacked cast—including several performers that are reprising their roles from Jon Favreau’s The Lion King. Aaron Pierre (who was just cast in DC’s Lanterns series) stars as Mufasa, with Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka, John Kani (Black Panther‘s T’Chaka) as Rafiki, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Billy Eichner as Timon, Tiffany Boone as Sarabi, Donald Glover as Simba, Mads Mikkelson as Kiros, Thandiwe Newton as Eshe, Lennie James as Obasi, Blue Ivy Carter as Kiara, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, Preston Nyman as Zazu, Anika Noni Rose (The Princess and the Frog) as Afia, and Keith David as Masego.
Mufasa: The Lion King hits theaters December 20.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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