The prequel to The Lion King is hitting theaters on December 20, and Director Barry Jenkins has given a hint of what fans can expect during the opening scene. Mufasa: The Lion King is premiering three months after the death of James Earl Jones, who voiced Mufasa in the 1994 animated original.
Jon es died of type 2 diabetes at 93 after living with the condition for about three decades. He was known for his deep, authoritative voice, which he used while playing Darth Vader in Star Wars. Mufasa: The Lion King paid tribute to the late star, whose character is the center of the story.
How does ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ pay tribute to James Earl Jones?
Mufasa: The Lion King begins with Jones’ voice from the original Lion King, echoing the familiar words, “Look at the stars. The great kings of the past look down on us from those stars. So whenever you feel alone, just remember that those kings will always be there to guide you, and so will I.”
The screen then reveals a bold text that reads, “In remembrance of James Earl Jones.” Jenkins clarified that Jones did not record a new voiceover for the opening tribute, but he always wanted to begin the movie with something that acknowledged Jones on the original’s 30th anniversary.
Actors from ‘The Lion King’ reprise their roles in ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’
Jenkins admitted that he wanted to honor the father-son dynamic Mufasa brought to some viewers by inserting Jones into the soon-to-be-released prequel. Actors from the live-action Lion King remake of 2019—Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, John Kani, and Beyoncé—reprised their roles in Mufasa: The Lion King.
Beyonce’s daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, made her film debut as Nala and Simba’s daughter, Kiara, while Aaron Pierre plays young Mufasa, and Kelvin Harrison Junior plays Taka, who eventually becomes the villain Scar.
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