The Lion King’ – Destiny Awaits Us in First Trailer

The King is back. Disney has just released the latest full trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King, the 2019 live-action (that wasn't live-action) prequel, which was a remake of the 1994 animated film that was an adaptation of, you know what, you get the picture . Directed by Barry Jenkinsthe prequel explores Mufasa's early years (Aaron Pierre), providing a new perspective on his journey to become King of the Pride Lands alongside his brother, Scar (Kelvin Harrison Jr.). The film tries to expand lion king universe adding depth to the backstory of one of its best-known characters.

The trailer itself is a magnificent interpretation of a world that takes us beyond the Pride Lands and its savannahs. Lush landscapes and vibrant wildlife fill every frame, backed by another stunning soundtrack. Narrated by Rafiki (Joan Kani), we are told the story of Mufasa, a lion who “would change our lives forever”. We see ice, snow and tracks that fate awaits our titular character.

The previous film, as well as the animated film it was based on, saw the legendary James Earl Jones voicing the Lion King himself. However, with the film focusing on a young Mufasa, it made sense to recast. During a recording of Collider Forces with Perri Nemiroff at the Collider studio during Sundance in February, for the TV show Genius: MLK/X,Pierre spoke about his role in the film and mentioned his intention to show a different side of Mufasa, different from Jones' portrayal. The film will explore the early years of Mufasa's life before Simba's birth and before he became the established king.

While specific plot details remain limited, director Barry Jenkins hinted that the narrative will reveal Mufasa's early struggles with leadership, illustrating how he became a leader through his experiences in the Pride Lands and the support of the allies. Given this backstory, introducing a new voice for Mufasa seemed like an appropriate choice to represent this earlier phase of his life, despite Pierre's admiration for Jones as a significant influence.

“Well, first of all, I want to acknowledge that James Earl Jones is a huge inspiration of mine. Massively. And I'm very honored to step into this role after him. I think the key difference will be that here we are. exploring Mufasa in a different capacity When Sir James Earl Jones portrayed him, this is Mufasa in his full capacity, in his rhythm, and I think here we're exploring Mufasa before this point is how we know him, and he's discovering the his pace, how he behaves, how he relates to his community and his loved ones. So I think that's the key.

Mufasa: The Lion King will be released in theaters on December 20. Check out the trailer above.