All We Know About Blue Ivy Carter Starring in Lion King Prequel

“The Lion King” is one of Disney’s greatest films of all-time. The story of Simba’s struggle to overcome his guilt and save the Pride Lands from his evil uncle Scar is iconic. Elton John and Tim Rice’s songs are instantly recognizable classics.

The idea that the studio was making a live-action remake of “The Lion King” was unfathomable for some fans. However, a star-studded voice cast led by Donald Glover and Beyoncé lifted the 2019 film to a $1.6 billion global box office. Though the reviews for the update were mixed, anytime a studio makes that much money, a follow up is usually a certainty.

Instead of a sequel, Disney decided to go with a prequel following young Mufasa and Scar. The premiere of the first teaser trailer for “Mufasa: The Lion King” delivered a plethora of new information on the film, so we’re breaking down everything we know about the new “Lion King” prequel.

Mufasa and Scar’s Origins Explained

The trailer opens with John Kani’s Rafiki telling us that the story centers on “a young lion without a drop of nobility in his blood.” Aaron Pierre voices young Mufasa and Kelvin Harrison Jr. is Taka, a prince who becomes close with Mufasa and whom we’re all guessing turns out to be Scar. While the story will definitely chronicle Mufasa’s journey to the throne, we hope it also reveals how Scar came to so thoroughly despise his brother.

Like all the best villains, Scar doesn’t see himself as a bad guy. He thinks he’s just been overlooked and overshadowed by Mufasa. In the end, he’s wrong because he turns out to be a horrible king. But it should be interesting to see what brings him to that level of hate.

Blue Ivy Joins the Pride

Many of the stars from the 2019 voice cast return, including Glover and Beyoncé, as well as Kani; Seth Rogen as Pumbaa; and Billy Eichner as Timon. In a stroke of genius casting, Beyoncé’s daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, has been announced as the voice of Simba and Nala’s daughter Kiara.

James Earl Jones reprised his role of Mufasa in the 2019 film, but the 93-year-old actor isn’t expected to appear in this one. Director Barry Jenkins told Empire Magazine that his “shadow is massive over this film,”

“[James Earl Jones] is all throughout Aaron’s performance, and all throughout anything that has to do with ‘The Lion King,’ so I think that’s where his presence lies,” he said.

Original Music From Lin-Manuel Miranda

If you’re following classics like “Circle of Life” and “Hakuna Matata,” you’ve got to bring someone special into the project. Tony-winning “Hamilton” artist Lin-Manuel Miranda will work on original songs, adding a new chapter to “The Lion King” universe.

“‘The Lion King’ has an incredible musical legacy with music from some of the greatest songwriters around, and I’m humbled and proud to be a part of it,” Miranda said in a statement. “It’s been a joy working alongside Barry Jenkins to bring Mufasa’s story to life, and we can’t wait for audiences to experience this film in theaters.”

Barry Jenkins Takes Over

This isn’t a knock against Jon Favreau, but “Moonlight” director Barry Jenkins just feels like a better choice for this universe. What made “The Lion King” so popular to begin with wasn’t the spectacle, though the music definitely helped. It was the story. Following Simba as he worked through his guilt and found the strength to return to his home felt like an authentic, human journey. It didn’t feel like these were animated animals we were watching...it was deeper than that.

For the prequel, Jenkins wanted to get back to focusing on the story and characters, explaining to Empire, “We’re used to all these characters living together in this one place, and I think part of [the film’s] objective is to really show where all these people came from and how they ended up together.”

Fans may have had mixed feelings about 2019’s “The Lion King,” but it appears that there’s plenty to be excited about when “Mufasa: The Lion King” hits theaters Dec. 20. If you’re ready for a re-watch of the animated or live-action versions, both are available to stream on Disney+.

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