Barry Jenkins finds his young Mufasa and young Scar for Disney’s The Lion King prequel
Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Aaron Pierre will lead the Jenkins-directed Mufasa origin story
Film News The Lion King
Moonlight director Barry Jenkins has cast the two distinct voices of the Pride Lands for his photo-realistic The Lion King prequel. Kelvin Harrison Jr. will play the stoic and thoughtful leader Mufasa, with Aaron Pierre voicing his sly, disloyal brother Scar (whose government name is Taka).
Not too much about the prequel is known thus far, however it’s expected to focus on the brothers’ early years and their budding rivalry, tapping into a new story not yet explored in The Lion King (1994), The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, or even The Lion King 1 1/2, which tells the origin story of Timon and Pumbaa’s friendship. This is the first cast announcement for the pre-Simba era film, but it’s not unlikely that Jenkins will garner high profile names similar to those in the first film.
“Helping my sister raise two young boys during the ’90s, I grew up with these characters,” Jenkins has said of the prequel. “Having the opportunity to work with Disney on expanding this magnificent tale of friendship, love and legacy while furthering my work chronicling the lives and souls of folk within the African diaspora is a dream come true.”
Pierre previously worked with Jenkins in his Emmy-nominated series The Underground Railroad, in which Pierre played runaway slave Caesar. The newcomer also starred in the Superman-based series Krypton, and was featured in M. Night Shyamalan’s newest film Old (about the beach that makes you old) as the character named Mid-Size Sedan. Harrison Jr. broke out following his role as Tyler in the Trey Edward Shults film Waves. He also appeared in The Trail Of The Chicago 7, and Monsters And Men.
Hans Zimmer (who scored the original and 2019 version) returns to write the film’s score with Pharrell and Succession’s Nicholas Britell, who composed the scores for Moonlight and The Underground Railroad. Jeff Nathanson, who scripted the last film, returns as screenwriter for the origin story.
33 Comments
Oh christ, here we go:Timon & Pumbaa origin storyYoung Rafiki and Zazu the Egg origin storyThe dung beetle suicide mission Hyenas anti-hero storyetc
As if one photorealistic lion king wasn’t terrible enough, they’re going to do it again with perhaps the most boring modern director working. I bet there’ll be some nice frames and a lot of lengthy, dull meditative looks at lions walking around the savannah at night.
Barry Jenkins is the most boring director working?? Really?? I know dogpiling photorealistic CGI Disney remakes is free real estate, but that sneak diss is so freakin’ wild.
I’ve never seen any director with half as much acclaim make fascinating concepts so pleasantly boring. If Beal Street COULD talk it would yawn.
“Timon & Pumbaa origin story”Bad news, Brum.“Hyenas anti-hero story”Wasn’t that Girlboss Shenzi’s new arc?
Shut up, you’ll give them ideas!Well actually as the article noted, they already did the Timon & Pumbaa one so all they have to do there is apply the CGI…
Also just looking at the headshots of these two dudes I know which one is going to play Mufasa and which one is going to play Scar.
Right?!
“Having the opportunity to work with Disney on expanding this magnificent tale of friendship, love and legacy while furthering my work chronicling the lives and souls of folk within the African diaspora is a dream come true.” ***lights cigar with hundred dollar bill***
He deserves bank. I loved Moonlight but If Beale Street Could Talk is an under-appreciated masterpiece. If he makes all the money he needs and can do whatever he wants for the rest of his career, the world will be a better place.
God what’s next, a prequel to Star Wars?
And probably something crazy like a prequel to Lord of the Rings.
No. No. Please, just…no.
what a waste of Jenkins’ talent. ughhhhhhhhh
Ooh, I’m excited! Will it be a complete waste of artistic talent and resource like Favreau’s film was?
I think that was obvious with the phrase “Lion King prequel”
I thought everyone hated the remake of The Lion King.Wait, it grossed $1.657 billion?I guess it was just me then.
…Why?
I guess technically this sounds more interesting than the last one.
I only found one blatant error in this article:known thus far, however it’s expected —> known thus far. However, it’s expected
This is a terrible, terrible idea. Even with Barry Jenkins directing. Also, I’ve never heard/read the term ‘government name’.
You must not know any black people and/or conspiracy theorists
Well, I will respond with the truthful yet obligatory ‘yes, I know black people’. I don’t know any conspiracy theorists though. I mean, not personally. However, I’m obviously unaware of this term and its history. So my ignorance is on display. I’m glad I know the term now.
Honestly, it was mostly a joke with a good amount of truth in the fact that there are plenty of black people who live and operate going by names that are not on their birth certificates. Some of it’s due to conspiratorial concerns, most of the time tho they’re either aspiring artists/entertainers, people with side hustles that want to remain “low-key”, and/or locals with nicknames that precede them (whether they like it or not).
So it doesn’t have a name yet but I’m assuming this is part of the budding “Disney villains are actually cool and good” cinematic universe with Cruella and Maleficent?
Jeff Nathanson, who scripted the last film
In the same way I painted the Mona Lisa when I copy/pasted it from Google Images?
I don’t fault Jenkins at all for taking this job. He’ll make a ton of money and establish a working relationship with Disney. It’s a smart move for him professionally.
But I really wish major studios would stop tapping truly talented and unique filmmakers for blockbuster franchise movies that quite frankly don’t even necessitate a director of such high caliber. The competency and creativity of the heads of the various below-the-line departments are much more important to the production of these mega blockbusters than the director.
As much as I love Black Panther, I would much rather see Ryan Coogler make original films in the vein of Fruitvale Station and hope he returns to that after the Black Panther sequel. Same with Taika Waititi. Thor: Ragnarok is a truly great superhero movie, but within his filmography, I would put it behind Jojo Rabbit, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and even What We Do in The Shadows. I feel like I don’t really need to see him make another Thor movie. He’s already shown me what he can do within that world. I’m looking forward to Next Goal Wins and hope he continues to make more films in that vein.
A filmmaker like Jon Watts seems like the perfect kind of person to be making big studio movies. Cop Car demonstrated that he was a very skilled filmmaker and storyteller but not necessarily someone with such a unique perspective that I would rather see his voice applied to original stories over established IP. Same with filmmakers like Colin Trevorrow or Jordan Vogt-Roberts. There are more than enough highly skilled, competent young directors that can be captaining these major studio films. I would really much rather see Barry Jenkins or Chloe Zhao or Ava DuVernay utilizing their talents outside of the world of franchise films. I know that’s where the money is, and I know filmmakers want to challenge themselves with films of larger scope and scale, but I can’t help but be a little disheartened when I see great filmmakers taking studio gigs like this one.
Totally agree. Back in the day there were solid directors specializing in genre pics, McTiernan being the prime example for action flicks. Now you get all these arty directors who basically just show up to work with the actors while all the effects and action work is left to those departments and usually done in pre-vis. What’s worse is it usually takes up many years for the director in question because of the scale of the production. Good for Jenkins for making some bank on this, and it’s probably a welcome respite from something like Underground Railroad, but it is such a waste of his skillset.
Yes, McTiernan is a perfect example. Another modern day example that just came to mind, Rawson Marshall Thurber. There’s plenty of solid directors working today that could and should be making these movies. But I guess if David Lowery has to make a Peter Pan movie for Disney+ to be able to make The Green Knight, it’s worth it.
Thor: Ragnarok is a truly great superhero movie, but within his filmography, I would put it behind Jojo Rabbit, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and even What We Do in The Shadows.You mean you’d put it behind What We Do in the Shadows, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and even Jojo Rabbit? ;)Otherwise agree with you on all counts!
Haha honestly I love all three of the films, but Jojo Rabbit really moved me. That scene where Jojo sees Scarlett Johansson’s shoes – that scene – is up there with some of the most iconic imagery in cinema history for me.
I was very lukewarm on the movie, but Scarlett Johansson’s character and her performance were probably my favorite part, which seems like a polarizing opinion even among people who like the movie.
Is it going to sort out who fathered Nala and what her blood relationship to Simba is? Because that did bother child me a bit.