December 10th 2024.
James Earl Jones, the beloved star who brought Mufasa to life in Disney's 1994 classic, is being honored in the new prequel, Mufasa: The Lion King. The film is a tribute to his iconic performance and his legacy in Hollywood.
Jones, who passed away at the age of 93 in September of this year, is fondly remembered for his unforgettable roles, including the menacing Darth Vader in Star Wars and the wise and powerful Mufasa in one of Disney's biggest blockbuster hits. While he reprised his role in the 2019 live-action remake, he was recast for the newly-released 2024 photorealistic animation prequel.
The plot of the film delves into the origin story of the mighty patriarch as an orphaned cub and his adopted brother Taka, who would eventually become known as Scar. As a nod to Jones, the movie opens with an 'in remembrance' tribute, a decision made by filmmaker Barry Jenkins and the executives to honor the late star and his massive impact on audiences worldwide.
Jenkins shared just how much Jones meant to him and to global audiences, particularly to those who grew up without a father figure. Mufasa remains one of the most beloved Disney characters of all time, and Jones' death in September was a loss felt by many.
Jenkins told Variety, "You go in and you watch this art, you watch these films, and sometimes these fathers in these movies become a stand-in for that. They become these father figures." After Jones' death, Jenkins noted that it felt like the whole world had lost a patriarch and someone who had meant so much to so many.
The director continued, "It felt like there was no way you could sit in this movie – go through an hour and 40 minutes – and not honor him in some way. You would be thinking about the ways in which you wanted to honor him, so it felt like we had to do it at the very front. The studio agreed right away, and we tried to find something that was very simple, but also very clear and very powerful."
The film also features Jones' voice in some capacity, with the supervising sound editor Onnalee Blank describing it as "the voice of God." She shared, "It was one of the most beautiful things that we did. To make his voice sound like the voice of God, like he is speaking to all of us. It was very fitting and very sad."
Lead star Aaron Pierre confirmed in an interview with AP that he tried to "serve and honor" Jones in every way he could. He shared, "He is one of my greatest inspirations, not just within the context of Mufasa: The Lion King and this beloved character, but also within the context of the entirety of his artistry."
The movie, which also features original songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda, has already started receiving positive reviews. A critic from Cinfied called it "A biblical exploration of destiny brilliantly disguised as an origin story for Mufasa and Scar. Entertaining, visually stunning, and Lin-Manuel Miranda's music did not disappoint!" Variety also praised the film as "beautifully crafted" and "the perfect prequel," while ComicBook.com declared it "incredible" and the songs "infectious."
The star-studded cast also includes the return of Beyoncé as Nala and the debut of Blue Ivy as Simba and Nala's daughter, Kiara. Mufasa: The Lion King will be released in UK cinemas on December 20, 2024.
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