TRAILER Mufasa: The Lion King Shows off Terrifying Crocodile Fight

Disney has released the first trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King, an origin story detailing the rise of Simba’s dad.

Watch a young Mufasa bounce on the backs of water-spraying hippos, bound across crumbling rock formations, and at one point, clash with some hungry crocodiles in a murky lake.

We haven’t been shown any dialogue scenes yet though, so for now the photorealistic animals are looking less like characters in a Disney musical and more like subjects of a particularly cinematic BBC nature documentary.

According to the official synopsis, Mufasa: The Lion King “introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny—their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.”

Mufasa: The Lion King trailer

It’s told in flashbacks as wise baboon Rafiki relays the legend of Mufasa to the daughter of Simba and Nala. Timon and Pumbaa are also in there, as played by Seth Rogen (Pumbaa) and Billy Eichner (Timon).

Mufasa: The Lion King releases in theaters December 20. Here’s the cast list below.

Related: Mufasa: The Lion King Debuts “Stunning” New Footage at CinemaCon

Mufasa: The Lion King cast list

• Aaron Pierre as Mufasa

• Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka

• Tiffany Boone as Sarabi

• Kagiso Lediga as Young Rafiki

• Preston Nyman as Zazu

• Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros

• Thandiwe Newton as Taka’s mother, Eshe

• Lennie James as Taka’s father, Obasi

• Anika Noni Rose as Mufasa’s mother, Afia

• Keith David as Mufasa’s father, Masego

• John Kani as Rafiki

• Seth Rogen as Pumbaa

• Billy Eichner as Timon

• Donald Glover as Simba

• Blue Ivy Carter as Kiara, daughter of King Simba and Queen Nala

• Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala