Now that the SAG-AFTRA strike has concluded, Hollywood is starting to reacclimate to a normal industry, with actors returning to their work. Disney is no stranger to this, pushing back their live-action Mufasa prequel, from its July 2024 release date to December of that year. 

As the title suggests, Mufasa: The Lion King, will tell the story of Mufasa, father of Simba, through the early days in his life, before his son is born. Although it serves as a live-action prequel to the 2019 remake, James Earl Jones decided not to voice Mufasa. He voiced the character in both the 1994 original and 2019 remake. 

Aaron Pierre takes over as the voice, with Kelvin Harrison Jr. taking up the voice of his brother, Scar. As ComicBook.com states, very little is known on the film so far, but Scar presumably will serve as the antagonist to an extent. 

“I grew up with this characters, they mean so much to me,” director Barry Jenkins said in a previous interview with ComicBook.com. “I think the work that Jeff Nathanson, the writer, did and going back into really helping children and anyone who ever loved this property understand what it takes. Kings aren’t just born, they aren’t just made. They have to become who they are through a series of events that a lot of people can relate to. So, in that standpoint, it fits very well with everything else I’ve done. So I feel no pressure, I just want to do a good job.”

Mufasa: The Lion King comes out December 2024, and will be written by Jeff Nathanson.