D23: New Action-Packed Trailer Debuts for Mufasa: The Lion King

During Friday’s studio showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Walt Disney Studios debuted an action-packed new trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King, the upcoming prequel to the 2019 live-action remake of The Lion King. The film is due to arrive in theaters in December.

The upcoming prequel comes from director Barry Jenkins, with songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Jenkins and Miranda took the stage for the presentation, along with cast members Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Theo Somolu, Braelyn Rankins and Anika Noni Rose. The film capped off the studio showcase with a live performance of “Nants’ Ingonyama” and the new song “Ngomso” by Lebo M., who contributes to the film’s music, alongside a full choir.

The new film will enlist the help of Rafiki as he relays the legend of Mufasa to the young lion cub Kiara, the daughter of Nala and Simba, with Timon and Pumbaa along the ride for their signature schtick. Largely told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as a young orphaned cub, telling the tale of his unlikely rise as the beloved king of the Pride Lands. A cahnce meeting with the sympathetic lion named Taka, the heir to a royal bloodline, sets in motion a journey of misfits searching for their destiny. Taka is the young lion destined to become Scar.

The new film also features John Kani, Tiffany Boone, Kagiso Lediga, Preston Nyman, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Keith David, Donald Glover, Blue Ivy Carter, Folake Olowofoyeku, Joanna Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim, Abdul Salis, Dominique Jennings, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. Like the previous installment, Mufasa will blend live-action filmmaking techniques with photoreal computer-generated imagery.

Mufasa: The Lion King debuts in theaters on December 20.

Long before they became legends, Mufasa and the Prince who would come to be known as Scar, became brothers.#Mufasa: The Lion King, only in theaters December 20. pic.twitter.com/9wcPRelZws

— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) August 10, 2024