At the 2022 Disney Expo, also known as the D23 Expo, Disney announced its plan to release a prequel to the hit movie The Lion King. The official title of this prequel was declared to be Mufasa: The Lion King. Thus, the makers shared that the movie would show the adventurous journey of Mufasa as he became the greatest lion king of the African pride lands ever. Although Disney announced Mufasa: The Lion King in September 2022, experts believe the movie will hit theatres in the latter half of 2024. The movie production suffered some delays due to the 2023 SAG – AFTRA strike, post which the movie is again going ahead full steam.
During a recent annual shareholders’ meeting, Disney unveiled the first picture from the movie. The image shows a young Mufasa watching over his Pride Land while sitting on a clifftop. While the Mufasa: The Lion King trailer is still to be released, this picture has made fans everywhere in the world excited all over again. Although the new Lion King 2024 movie will serve as the prequel, it will surely add to the legacy of Mufasa and his son, Simba. Interestingly, the Lion King 2024 will explore the great journey of Mufasa when Rafiki, the advisor to Mufasa and Simba, narrates the story of Mufasa to his granddaughter, Kiara, the daughter of Simba and Nala. Fans will also be delighted by Timon and Pumbaa, the goofy but loyal best friends and sidekicks to Simba.
Although there is no confirmation yet about the official Mufasa: The Lion King release date from Disney’s end, industry experts and fans have been speculating about possible release dates for a while. The most commonly believed notion is that Disney will announce 20th December 2024 as the official Mufasa: The Lion King release date. Fans are eagerly awaiting the release date announcement and the official Mufasa: The Lion King trailer to drop.
Aside from the introductory image and a general plot tease, Disney has also confirmed the official Mufasa: The Lion King cast. Acclaimed actors like Seth Rogen, Aaron Pierre, Billy Eichner, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and John Kani have been confirmed as the voices for the characters. Notably, Aaron Pierre will be the voice of Mufasa. The character of Kiara will also be present in the movie, though there is not much information on her character details as of now. Nonetheless, with these talented actors as the Mufasa: The Lion King cast, the excitement for the movie has become even more.