Walt Disney Studios has exciting news to all The Lion King fans.
During its Disney D23 2022 event, the production company revealed that they are currently working on a prequel to the live-action adaptation of the classic story. The film, entitled Mufasa: The Lion King, will actually be a prequel and will showcase the life of the much-loved leader.
Here's what we know about the prequel right now:
When is Mufasa: The Lion King Release Date?
During the D23 expo, Disney revealed its plans for a prequel that talks about Mufasa's life and how he became king of the Pride Lands. The decision to make a prequel was made after the box office success of the live-action adaptation of The Lion King.
In its announcement, Disney did not actually specify an exact date for the movie's release. They only mentioned that the film will be released two years from now, in 2024.
But according to ComingSoon.net, Mufasa: The Lion King will be released on July 5, 2024.
When Will Mufasa: The Lion King Arrive on Disney+ for Free?
Right now, there's no announcement on when Mufasa: The Lion King will be released on Disney+. Given the immense success of the 2019 live-action adaptation of the classic book, it's possible that the prequel will make its debut in select theaters.
A Disney+ release could likely happen around 90 days after that date. If this is the case, the possible Mufasa: The Lion King release date on Disney+ could be on Thursday, October 3, 2024.
What is Mufasa: The Lion King Story About?
As mentioned, Mufasa: The Lion King is a prequel to the classic The Lion King. This means, we already know that Mufasa gets killed in the first few minutes of the movie.
As a prequel Mufasa: The Lion King is told in flashbacks. His story will be told by Rafiki (played by John Kani), Timon (played by Billy Eichner), and Pumbaa (played by Seth Rogen) to a young lion cub. It will tell the story of what a great king Mufasa was and how he became known as the leader of the Pride Lands.
Mufasa: The Lion King will follow the same live-action style used on The Lion King. This is through the use of photorealistic animation and CGI.
As explained by Director Barry Jenkins, "Mufasa is who he is because of the people he has around him, and I saw that in myself. I had to make this movie. Because when I was 14, I was raising two nephews and there was a VHS tape that we watched about 95 times in the span of two days."
The specific plot for Mufasa: The Lion King is being kept under wraps by Disney. But in any case, it will put Mufasa on the spotlight and how he became one of the Pride Lands' greatest leaders.
Who Killed Mufasa in The Lion King?
In the 1994 cartoon, viewers were left teary-eyed when they saw the great king killed by his own brother, Scar. This left many viewers scared with the possibility that your own brother can kill you like that.
But that is what happened in The Lion King. Mufasa gets betrayed by his own brother, known as Taka, as he gets dropped to his death during a wildebeast stampede.
The prequel also sheds light on Taka's life and how he later becomes known as Scar.
Who is Part of Mufasa: The Lion King Cast?
As of this writing, the only actors confirmed to be part of Mufasa: The Lion King include the following:
- Aaron Pierre (as Mufasa)
- Kelvin Harrison Jr. (as Scar/Taka)
- John Kani (Rafiki)
The Hollywood Reporter announced that Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen will be returning to reprise their roles as Timon and Pumbaa in Mufasa: The Lion King.
Is There a Mufasa: The Lion King Trailer Out Yet?
As of this writing, there is no trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King yet. During the Disney D23 expo, a footage of The Lion King movie was used to make the announcement. The clip showed Pride Rock along with the voice of Rafiki (played by John Kani).
In the meantime, you can take a look at the trailer of The Lion King live-action adaptation here:
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