Mufasa: The Lion King
Movie Details:
| Based on | Disney’s The Lion King by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts & Linda Woolverton |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Animation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Musical |
| Release Date | December 20, 2024 |
| Running Time | 2hr |
| Age rating | PG |
| Voice Cast | Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Tiffany Boone, Donald Glover, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Anika Noni Rose, Blue Ivy Carter, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter |
| Directed by | Barry Jenkins |
| Written by | Jeff Nathanson |
| Produced by | Adele Romanski, Mark Ceryak |
| Cinematography by | James Laxton |
| Edited by | Joi McMillon |
| Music by | Dave Metzger (score), Lin-Manuel Miranda (songs) |
| Casting By | Francine Maisler |
| Production Design by | Mark Friedberg |
| Art Direction by | Jared Patrick Gerbig, Irena Jacobs, Angran Li, Sydnie Ponic, Gary Warshaw, Dan Webster |
| Production Companies | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Distributor | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
Trailer, Teaser & Video:
Poster & Photos:
Cast & Character:
- Aaron Pierre as Mufasa
- Braelyn and Brielle Rankins voice Mufasa as a cub
- Archived recordings of James Earl Jones as Mufasa
- Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka
- Theo Somolu voices Taka as a cub
- John Kani as Rafiki
- Kagiso Lediga as young Rafiki
- Seth Rogen as Pumbaa
- Billy Eichner as Timon
- Tiffany Boone as Sarabi
- Donald Glover as Simba
- Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros
- Thandiwe Newton as Eshe
- Lennie James as Obasi
- Blue Ivy Carter as Kiara
- Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala
- Preston Nyman as Zazu
- Anika Noni Rose as Afia
- Keith David as Masego
- Joanna Jones as Akua
- Folake Olowofoyeku as Amara
- Thuso Mbedu as Junia
- Sheila Atim as Ajarry
- Abdul Salis as Chigaru
- Derrick L. McMillon as Mosi
- Maestro Harrell as Inaki
- A.J. Beckles as Azibo
- David S. Lee as Mobo
- Dominique Jennings as Sarafina
Storyline:
“Mufasa: The Lion King” enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick. Told in flashbacks, the story 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.—Walt Disney Studios
About Mufasa: The Lion King Movie:
Mufasa: The Lion King employs photorealistic animation and functions as both a prequel and sequel to The Lion King (2019), a remake of the 1994 classic. Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Donald Glover, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, and John Kani reprise their roles, while new cast members include Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiffany Boone, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Anika Noni Rose, and Blue Ivy Carter, marking her feature film debut.
Directed by Barry Jenkins, the film was announced in September 2020 as his first venture into blockbuster filmmaking. The story explores Mufasa’s formative years with parallels to The Godfather Part II, interweaving past and present narratives.
Jeff Nathanson, the previous film’s screenwriter, completed the script draft before the film was officially unveiled as Mufasa: The Lion King at the 2022 D23 Expo, where early footage premiered. The Moving Picture Company returned for visual effects. Production faced delays due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, temporarily slowing progress.
Marketing kicked off with a teaser trailer and poster on April 29, 2024, followed by a full trailer debut at the 2024 D23 Expo, showcasing Mufasa, Taka, and their reflections. A final trailer and poster were revealed on November 8, 2024, at D23 Brazil, alongside promotional appearances by cast members Tiffany Boone and Kelvin Harrison Jr.
The world premiere was held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on December 9, 2024, ahead of its U.S. release on December 20, 2024. Initially slated for July 5, 2024, the release date was shifted due to strike-related delays.
Budget & Box Office Collection:
| Budget | $200 million |
| Opening Collection | $35,409,365 |
| Domestic Collection | $144,764,931 |
| International Collection | $214,349,035 |
| Worldwide Collection | $359,113,966 |