LIVE UPDATES
Award Winning Singer, Beyoncé and Jay-Z's 12-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter have signed on to provide voices for "Mufasa: The Lion King," the upcoming Lion King prequel.
Beyoncé, who plays Kiara's mother in the 2019 photorealistic version, plays King Simba's daughter in the movie. Blue Ivy provides the voice of Kiara.
The virtuous and intelligent ruler of the Pride Lands, Mufasa from Disney's "The Lion King," rules over his enormous African realm with justice and compassion. As Simba's father and Queen Sarabi's mate, Mufasa acts as a mentor to his son, imparting wisdom on the circle of life, leadership, and responsibility.
Directed by Barry Jenkins, known for "Moonlight," the prequel delves into Mufasa's origin story and his childhood alongside his brother Scar. Similar to the 2019 movie, it will blend live-action filmmaking techniques with photoreal computer-generated imagery.
Jenkins complimented Blue Ivy's professionalism and mentioned that she and Beyoncé both gave their jobs their all. They didn't have to pretend too much on set, he said, highlighting their innate mother-daughter relationship.
Despite Mufasa's modest origins, the film's teaser trailer made its premiere on the US breakfast show Good Morning America, hinting at his transforming journey.
In the prequel, Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. provide the voices of the youthful Mufasa and Scar, respectively. With a cast that includes Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Seth Rogan, and Billy Eichner, Donald Glover reprises his role as Simba. The soundtrack features original compositions by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
While this marks Blue Ivy's debut film role, she previously showcased her talents as a dancer on her mother's live tour. Her involvement in the film inevitably reignites discussions about nepotism in the entertainment industry.
"Mufasa: The Lion King" is set to hit UK theatres in December of this year.
