Everything We Know About Disney’s Live-Action ‘Lion King’ Prequel ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’

It truly is the circle of life—Disney creates one movie to go back in time and show us just how they got there.

Nearly five years after the original live-action remake of The Lion King, which featured a star-studded cast of James Earl Jones, Donald Glover and Beyoncé, Disney is going back to Pride Rock in its new prequel Mufasa: The Lion King.

Announced at the D23 Expo in 2022, Mufasa: The Lion King is a prequel that will tell the story of how Mufasa became the king so many looked up to—especially his son Simba. Despite its 2024 release date, not much is known about the new live-action prequel. In true Disney fashion, they like to keep their originals pretty tightly under wraps.

However, we do know a little about the plot, that it will be told in the past and present days and that director Barry Jenkins has promised that we’ll see some familiar faces. So, yes, "Hakuna Matata", have no worries, because our beloved Timon (voiced by Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa (voiced by Seth Rogen) will be making a return in this movie.

While we wait for the first trailer to drop, here’s everything we know so far about Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King.

Related: Everything To Know About Disney's Live-Action 'Moana' Movie

When does Mufasa: The Lion King come out?

Mufasa: The Lion King is set to be released on July 5, 2024.

How to watch Mufasa: The Lion King?

The only way to watch Mufasa: The Lion King will be in the theaters—though it will likely be available on Disney+ after its theatrical release.

Is there a trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King?

Unfortunately, no trailers have been released for Mufasa: The Lion King yet. Attendees at the D23 Expo in 2022 received a first look, but no official teaser or trailers have been released yet.

Who is in the Mufasa: The Lion King cast?

A very limited number of cast members have been announced for Mufasa: The Lion King, but here’s who we can expect to see.

Aaron Pierre as Mufasa

Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre) is the king of Pride Rock in The Lion King before he meets his untimely demise. It’s believed Pierre will voice a younger version of Mufasa, though we’re not yet sure what age.

Seth Rogen as Pumbaa

Pumbaa (voiced by Seth Rogen) the warthog returns from The Lion King as the comedic relief with his best friend Timon.

Related: The Best Disney Jokes

Billy Eichner as Timon

Timon (voiced by Billy Eichner) the meerkat also returns from The Lion King to be the slightly-less-off-base voice of reason to his buddy Pumbaa.

John Kani as Rafiki

Rafiki (voiced by John Kani) the wise old mandrill returns from The Lion King to guide the story and likely take whoever this mysterious young cub is under his wing.

Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka

Taka, (voiced by Kelvin Harrison Jr.), better known as Scar, is Mufasa’s brother—and ultimately the one who kills him. Seeing as his name is listed as Taka in the film credits, the movie must follow a young Scar, likely before he turned into the villain.

Is James Earl Jones in Mufasa: The Lion King?

It’s unclear whether James Earl Jones, who voiced Mufasa in both the original and live-action The Lion King, will return for Mufasa: The Lion King. We do know that he won’t voice the Mufasa that this story follows, as Aaron Pierre scored that role, but we also don’t know how late into Mufasa’s life the story will go or whether that will warrant bringing Jones back to reprise his role.

Is Mufasa: The Lion King a prequel to The Lion King?

Mufasa: The Lion King is a prequel to Disney’s 2019 live-action The Lion King.

The movie will follow Mufasa and his journey to becoming king. It will be told in two timeframes—past and present. While we don’t know much about the plot, we do know that in the past, it will follow Mufasa and Taka, or Scar as we know him, through their backstory, and in the present, it will follow Rafiki, Timon and Pumbaa who are retelling Mufasa’s history.

“I think you’ll see a ton of familiar faces. It is a prequel, but it’s a prequel in the sense that there are all the same characters but with telling you how they came to be who they are,” Jenkins told Entertainment Weekly.

Is anyone returning from the live-action The Lion King?

Yes, you will hear some familiar voices in the new movie. From the original live-action, Billy Eichner will return as Timon, Seth Rogen will return as Pumbaa and John Kani will return as Rafiki.

It’s unknown whether characters like Simba, Nala and Zazu will be returning or if their voice actors—Donald Glover, Beyoncé and John Oliver, respectively—will reprise the roles.

Related: Everything We Know About Disney's New Haunted Mansion Movie

What is Mufasa: The Lion King about?

The plot of Mufasa: The Lion King is a closely guarded secret. However, what we do know is that the movie is a prequel story that tells Mufasa’s history and how he became the lion he is in The Lion King.

“[It’ll] be told in two different time frames. Rafiki, Timon and Pumbaa, who we all know and love, are relaying the story of Mufasa and how he came to be to a very beautiful, awesome, fantastic young cub,” director Barry Jenkins said at the D23 Expo.

While Jenkins has never said who the cub is, it’s easy to assume that it’s Simba’s child.

“It’s a story about how Mufasa rose to royalty. We assume that he was just born into his lineage, but Mufasa was actually an orphaned cub who had to navigate the world alone.”

Jenkins has also promised fantastic musical numbers, which we’ve almost come to expect after The Lion King produced such iconic songs. Hans Zimmer, who composed the music in the original The Lion King and its 2019 remake, Pharrell Williams, who helped with the live-action The Lion King and Nicholas Britell have all signed on to create the music for the prequel.

Who is directing Mufasa: The Lion King?

Mufasa: The Lion King is directed by Barry Jenkins, who previously directed The Underground Railroad (2021) and Moonlight (2016).

Jon Favreau, who directed The Lion King, is not involved with this project.

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