What ‘The Lion King’ Prequel Actors Really Look Like

Aaron Pierre headlines “Mufasa: The Lion King” within the title position, an orphaned cub who turns into the chief of the Delight Lands. The actor earned acclaim this yr for his main flip within the Netflix thriller “Insurgent Ridge” and for taking part in Malcolm X within the fourth season of the Nationwide Geographic anthology sequence “Genius.” Fellow “Mufasa” star Kelvin Harrison Jr. performed Martin Luther King Jr. within the present.

“Kelvin has mentioned this actually superbly earlier than, though he and I’ve labored on a function movie collectively and a restricted sequence collectively, nearly all of the time that we’ve spent collectively, and truly the true basis of what our friendship and brotherhood was constructed exterior of the context of labor,” Pierre lately advised Selection’s Angelique Jackson. “I’m deeply grateful to have Kelvin as one in every of my dearest buddies, having any individual who is identical age in the identical area and navigating comparable issues. I actually don’t have the language for the way invaluable and priceless that’s.”

Kelvin Harrison Jr. voices the important thing supporting character Taka, who later turns into often known as Scar. Taka is Mufasa’s adopted brother and their shut bond is slowly threatened by Taka’s festering jealousy. Harrelson beforehand performed Martin Luther King reverse Mufasa voice actor Aaron Pierre as Malcolm X within the fourth season of the Nationwide Geographic anthology sequence “Genius.” The actor’s different credit embrace “Waves,” “Cyrano,” “The Excessive Notice” and “Elvis.”  

“I seemed up and realized that, whereas making this movie, they’d gone off and performed MLK and Malcolm X,” Barry Jenkins advised Selection’s Angelique Jackson about his two stars. “But it surely made sense as a result of the chemistry they’d in performing these scenes — the very very first thing that occurs in ‘Mufasa’ is all of the vocal recordings, all these radio performs with the forged — and although they’re taking part in these brothers who finally develop very far aside, when they’re collectively, it simply feels so lived in, so trustworthy, so earnest.”

Beyonce and Jay-Z’s daughter Blue Ivy Carter makes her film debut because the voice of Kiara, the daughter of Simba and Nala. The screenplay for “Mufasa” is framed round Kiara being advised the story of her grandfather by Rafiki. 

“All people that’s part of that is so useful and supportive,” Blue Ivy advised “Good Morning America” in regards to the movie. “The director, Barry, is a extremely candy particular person and he tells me ways in which I can enhance in my strains. And he’s very supportive of me and tells me within the nicest approach potential, and I really feel like so does everyone else.”

Newcomer Braelyn Rankin voices the youthful model of Mufasa in “The Lion King” prequel. It’s the younger actor’s first main voice position in a studio film after having supporting roles on tv sequence reminiscent of “Doom Patrol,” “Take Notice,” and “Delilah,” amongst different titles.

Newcomer Theo Somolu is the voice of younger Taka. It’s his first position in a significant Hollywood studio movie. Beforehand, Somolu had a voice position in 10 episodes of the 2020 children’ sequence “Mighty Categorical.”

John Kani is again because the voice of Rafkiki, the sage-like mandrill who meets younger Mufasa on his journey to the Delight Lands. Rafiki additionally serves because the narrator of “Mufasa,” telling the story of the title character to his granddaughter Kiara. Viewers may acknowledge Kani’s voice as he performed King T’Chaka within the MCU in “Captain America: Civil Conflict” and “Black Panther.” Flashbacks in “Mufasa” function Kagiso Lediga as younger Rafiki.

Billy Eichner is again because the voice of Timon, the wise-cracking meerkat and greatest good friend of Seth Rogen’s Pumbaa. The characters provide up witty banter all through the movie as Rafiki tells the story of Mufasa to Kiara.

Seth Rogen reprises the voice position of Pumbaa, the eternally hungry warthog who turns into one in every of Simba’s closest buddies within the unique “The Lion King.” Pumbaa’s position is extra restricted in “Mufasa” as he gives comedic aid whereas Rafiki tells the story of the title character.

“Hunters” and “The Following” actor Tiffany Boone is the voice of Sarabi, the queen of the Delight Lands and the mom of Simba. Viewers meet Sarabi in “Mufasa” as a lioness separated from her pack, which is how she involves befriend Mufasa and Taka. She turns into the middle of a love triangle between the 2 lions, however her coronary heart belongs to Mufasa.   

Boone advised Selection’s Angelique Jackson that watching the ultimate “Mufasa” reduce was “was an out-of-body expertise. It was like I wasn’t even watching myself. I used to be simply taken in by this lovely factor that was created by Barry.”

Mads Mikkelsen has performed villains within the “Incredible Beasts” and “Indiana Jones” franchises, and now he’s as soon as once more pure evil in “Mufasa: The Lion King.” The actor voices Kiros, the chief of a bunch of white lions often known as “The Outsiders.” They’re all bitter and vengeance-seeking strays. Kiros seeks revenge on Mufasa for murdering his son throughout a violent assault.

Thandiwe Newton is the voice of Eshe, who turns into Mufasa’s adopted mom after he’s orphaned throughout a violent flood. Eshe is Taka’s start mom. She is an knowledgeable hunter who teaches Mufasa important expertise like monitoring prey and predators. Eshe takes Mufasa below her wing regardless of the resistance of her accomplice, Obasi.

“The Strolling Useless” favourite Lennie James voices Obasi, Taka’s father and a decided pack chief whose “no strays” coverage makes him proof against letting the orphaned Mufasa be a part of his household. In an try to save lots of his bloodlines, Obasi forces Taka and Mufasa to depart the pack when it’s threatened by Kiros and The Outsiders.

John Oliver voiced the hornbill Zazu in 2019’s “The Lion King,” however the character is now performed by Preston Nyman in “Mufasa.” The character is launched within the movie as Sarabi’s scout after she is separated from her pack. She helps navigate the group to the Delight Lands earlier than turning into majordomo to Mufasa. 

“Dreamgirls” and “Princess and the Frog” actor Anika Noni Rose is the voice of Afia, Mufasa’s organic mom. Earlier than they’re separated by a flood, Afia teaches Mufasa a couple of land filled with magnificence and vegetation often known as Milele. Mufasa spends most of his life looking for this promised land as soon as he turns into an orphan.

Mufasa’s organic father is Masego, voiced by Keith David. The 2 are separated throughout a flood during which Masego tries to save lots of Mufasa from the water. The traumatic occasion is why Mufasa has a lifelong concern of swimming. 

Donald Glover returns to voice Simba, though the character isn’t a significant presence contemplating the film tells the story of his father. 

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is again because the voice of Nala, Simba’s mate and the queen of the Delight Lands. Nala isn’t an enormous character on this prequel story, so being concerned in “Mufasa” was primarily an opportunity for Beyonce to observe her daughter, Blue Ivy, make her film debut.

“Seeing Blue as Kiara and listening to her voice come out of that character…Give me a second as a result of I can’t imagine that’s my child,” Beyonce advised “Good Morning America” about her daughter’s performing debut. “I’m so pleased with this.”

 “Mufasa: The Lion King” additionally briefly options the voices of Folake Olowofoyeku as a member of The Outsiders named Amara, Thuso Mbedu as Rafifki’s baboon good friend Junia, Sheila Atim as Ajarry and Abdul Salis as Chigaru.