The 2019 live-action, photorealistic animated remake of The Lion King is now considered the highest-grossing animated film of all time, so it’s no surprise that Disney has produced a sequel. Not only does Beyoncé return as the voice of the lioness Nala, but she and Jay-Z’s daughter Blue Ivy also voice Princess Kiara, the daughter of Simba and Nala.
The new film is both a prequel and a sequel to The Lion King. It is titled Mufasa: The Lion King and in it, mandrill Rafiki tells young Kiara the story of her grandfather Mufasa, who became King of the Pride Lands and father of Simba, and his relationship with his adopted brother Taka, who later became known as Scar.
The story, told in flashbacks, introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub who is lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka, heir to a royal bloodline. The chance encounter sets off an extended journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny. Their bonds are tested as they work together to escape a menacing and deadly enemy.
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In addition to Blue Ivy, the film features a number of well-known characters and prominent voices, including Seth Rogen as Pumbaa the warthog, Billy Eichner as Timon the meerkat, Donald Glover as Simba and Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros, a white lion who wants to make his own pride the dominant one. Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James and cult actor Keith David also lend their voices to the film.
Although it is Blue Ivy’s acting debut, Beyonce’s daughter has already made a name for herself in the entertainment industry, despite being only 12 years old. Two days after her birth, her cries and breathing were recorded by her proud parents and used in Jay-Z’s song Glory, making her the youngest person to land on the Billboard charts in the US.
At the age of eight, she was featured in Beyonce’s song “Brown Skin Girl.” She has also performed on stage with her mother and most recently participated as a dancer in Beyonce’s Renaissance World Tour on the songs “Black Parade” and “My Power.”
“Mufasa: The Lion King” will be released in theaters on December 20. It is directed by Oscar winner Barry Jenkins, who also directed the acclaimed film “Moonlight” and the romantic drama “If Beale Street Could Talk.”
