This interview has been edited for clarity.
The African savanna stretches, vast and golden, beneath a sky painted with sunrise hues. A young lion cub, alone and far from the Pride Lands he will one day rule, navigates a world of hardship and uncertainty. In those days, the Pride Lands were known as Milele, a mythical paradise yet to be discovered by Mufasa himself.
This, surprisingly, is where the story of Mufasa: The Lion King begins. A prequel to the 2019 photo-realistic remake of the classic 1994 animated film, audiences won’t see the regal and assured monarch, but a young orphaned cub who must overcome adversity to become the legendary king of the Pride Lands and Simba’s father.
At a recent press conference that Geek Culture attended, director Barry Jenkins (Moonlight), songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, Moana) and a talented cast consisting of Aaron Pierre (Rebel Ridge) as Mufasa, Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Elvis) as Taka, Tiffany Boone (Nine Perfect Strangers) as Sarabi, Seth Rogen (Kung Fu Panda) as Pumbaa, and Billy Eichner (Parks and Recreation) as Timon peel back the layers of this beloved character, revealing an origin story filled with unexpected twists and turns.
“I realised I had assumed so many things about how one becomes a king,” shared director Jenkins, reflecting on his initial reaction to the script.
“You thought that this character just knew everything and came from the perfect circumstances. It was really cool to read Jeff [Nathanson]’s script and see that all these things that we’ve concretized over 30 years about how someone becomes the perfect father and leader were totally not correct. There was a different way that I could actually relate to more, as someone who grew up far outside the path, that leads you to become a great leader.”
This unconventional, Moonlight-inspired path resonated deeply with Jenkins. Moonlight (2016), directed by Jenkins himself, is also a coming-of-age story about a young man growing up through defining chapters of his life and grappling with his identity.
“I have a movie about a child who has a biblical event that involves water and then he’s cast away from his family and has to build a new life with a new family. I could be talking about the film Moonlight or talking about Mufasa: The Lion King. There were just so many ways I was able to see myself and Mufasa through this telling of a story, and something about that made me feel like I was taking these really raw, beautiful feelings of encountering this story as a child and expanding them with the complexity of 30 years of additional life.”
He also believes that audiences will be most surprised by Mufasa’s journey from an orphaned cub to a wise and powerful ruler. “When we meet Mufasa, he is the king. He has an abundance of wisdom. He’s the pinnacle of his community. He’s really unshakable. But there was a journey to that point, and the beginning of that journey involved being separated from his family, becoming an orphan, being ostracised, degraded, dismissed.
“Despite all of those circumstances, he embraces everything that is and channels it into something that elevates himself and people around him, and then he becomes the king.”
For Pierre, stepping into the shoes (or rather, the paws) of Mufasa, a role made famous by acting legend James Earl Jones (the Star Wars franchise) who sadly passed away in September, was both exhilarating and daunting. “His voice was so warm, so comforting. It was full of strength, clarity, and I think that’s what I connected to,” Pierre reflected. “Mufasa is so beloved because he radiated an essence of love, togetherness and unity. And I think we all crave that in our own respective lives.”
The film doesn’t shy away from exploring the complex dynamics between Mufasa and his foster brother, Prince Taka, or as audiences will eventually come to know him as, Scar.
Harrison Jr., who voices Taka, was tasked with portraying the iconic villain before his descent into darkness. Originally, Taka was the young prince and brother poised to become king, not Mufasa, explaining why he spiraled towards villainy in the first place.
“The biggest thing was just not to judge him. I enjoyed him so much in the original version, where he’s so playful, so lively. All those characteristics still remain true in this,” Harrison Jr. explained. “Barry [Jenkins] was like, stay present, stay in the moment with Taka, and allow his instincts, natural tendencies and his love for life and people and community to shine through.”
Already sparking debate with its portrayal of Scar’s backstory, the premise of Mufasa: The Lion King has led many to sympathise with the young lion who was meant to rule. Harrison Jr. welcomes this dialogue, seeing it as an opportunity for audiences to question their assumptions about villains.
“No one’s born a villain. Anybody who’s really angry is probably really hurt at some point. I like the fact that everyone’s having the dialogue and probably going to examine themselves a little bit too, seeing the real humanity in their enemies and giving them grace.”
“Our friendship, brotherhood, foundation, and roots actually developed outside work, and those were what we engaged with and drew from to find the brotherly bond and familiarity that these two brothers would have,” Pierre revealed.
As their journey unfolds, the two lions cross paths with the lioness Sarabi, who eventually becomes the future queen of the Pride Lands and the mother of Simba. Boone, the voice of Sarabi, brought her own connection to the lioness’ confident yet tender personality. “She’s looking for her tribe and trying to be tough at the same time, but there’s a lot of vulnerability right behind the surface. Playing her felt natural because I see parts of myself in her.”
And with a budding romance between Mufasa and Sarabi blossoming on screen, we can surely expect some heartfelt ballads that capture the magic of their love story. After all, music remains a cornerstone of any Lion King film, and Miranda’s contributions blend a fresh sound with nostalgic charm. “The Lion King’s original soundtrack is an immortal soundtrack, with no skips from Elton John, Tim Rice, and Hans Zimmer’s incredible score,” Miranda admitted.
“But there’s been an entire world of Lion King music. There’s the incredible Broadway musical, and Beyoncé’s album The Lion King: The Gift (2019), which expanded the vocabulary of what a Lion King song could sound like,” he explained.
“There was such care taken to make space for the music, to carry the ball and the emotional real estate. My secret weapon was (South African composer) Lebo M, the first voice you hear in the original [animated film]. I knew his choral arrangements and incredible choir were going to raise whatever I wrote to the next level. And working with Mark Mancina, who I worked with on Moana (2016), I knew I had incredible talent in my corner that would help us get to that Lion King level.”
By weaving together compelling performances, evocative music, and a rich narrative, Mufasa: The Lion King redefines a cherished tale for a new generation while honouring its timeless roots, offering audiences a poignant exploration of what it truly means to be king.
And yes, we will be holding space for Mufasa: The Lion King, too.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Sylus from Love and Deepspace.
