Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King trailer suggests that the upcoming prequel will be one of the most expansive stories yet seen in the popular franchise, but a crucial detail suggests that the studio is still struggling with how best to deal with the project’s biggest unresolvable problem. Following Disney’s live-action Lion King remake in 2019, Mufasa will serve as both a follow-up and forerunner to the well-known story – shining a light on Simba’s time as king and how his father assumed the throne. However, while one storyline will be relatively straightforward, another poses a serious challenge.

Although story details are unclear, it’s already evident that Mufasa will make some changes to Lion King lore. A potentially problematic aspect is the suggestion that Mufasa and his brother were both orphans, “without a drop of nobility in his blood” to help secure their status, according to Rafiki’s narration in the trailer. Details like this indicate that Mufasa can potentially upend what many viewers understand about The Lion King universe. Yet, however radical the narrative may be, the movie can’t escape a more practical issue presented by the movie’s casting.

Mufasa’s Trailer Suggests The Movie Hasn’t Figured Out How To Replace James Earl Jones

Although Mufasa himself is prominent in the Mufasa trailer – both as a cub and as an adolescent – a surprising element of the footage is that the character doesn’t actually speak. Given that, as in every previous Lion King movie, voice acting is a crucial factor in the project’s success, it is perhaps surprising that John Kani’s Rafiki is the only character whose voice is featured. However, a key reason for this is the overbearing presence of the original Mufasa actor, James Earl Jones.

One of the most iconic screen and theatrical actors of all time, James Earl Jones is instantly recognizable thanks to his distinctive basso profundo speaking voice. His performance as Mufasa in the original 1994 The Lion King gave the monarch a majesty and gravitas that few other performers would have been able to manifest. Given how central Mufasa’s voice is to this impression, it’s understandable that the character’s first speech in Mufasa will be highly anticipated. Unfortunately, the fact that he is silent in the trailer suggests Disney isn’t entirely comfortable with its plan to replace Jones.

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The Lion King Franchise Has Never Moved Beyond Its Perfect Mufasa Casting

As James Earl Jones proved with Star Wars, he is perhaps uniquely capable of making a character a cultural landmark solely through the power of his voice. His authority and menace as Darth Vader have made the character a cornerstone of the whole franchise, explaining why Jones has been asked to return to play the character time and time again across multiple decades. Just as Star Wars has been understandably reticent to replace Jones as its most iconic villain, so too has The Lion King found it tricky to move beyond Jones as Mufasa.

The clearest example of this is that, despite replacing every other actor between the 1994 original and the 2019 version, Disney still asked James Earl Jones to return for the remake. This comeback only confirmed the feeling that the 93-year-old veteran is simply impossible to replace – a feeling unerscored by 2019 remake director, Jon Favreau. As Favreau explained in an interview with Entertainment Weekly:

“He would do a take and then he would ask me for direction and I honestly couldn’t give an answer! I was like, ‘You’re Mufasa.’ Far be it from me… Everything he said sounded perfect because it was him saying it.”

While this is a huge compliment to Jones and a testament to his skill, it also highlights that there is a reverence around his performance that makes replacing him as the embodiment of Mufasa an almost impossible task. The fact that the Mufasa trailer doesn’t reveal the character speaking only heightens this problem.

Aaron Pierre Has An Impossible Job As Mufasa – However Good He Is

Given the context of the story – following Mufasa as a young lion – it makes sense that the nonagenarian star is not returning for Mufasa. However, Jones’ celebrated previous performances and the awe in which audiences hold his interpretation of the character inevitably means that any replacement vocal performance will almost inevitably feel jarring. The fact is that, for most viewers, Mufasa simply is James Earl Jones, and vice versa. As a result, whoever was chosen for the part was going to face an impossible challenge.

As demonstrated by his performances in the 2021 thriller Old and the 2023 sci-fi adaptation Foe, Mufasa star Aaron Pierre is a talented and capable actor. However, irrespective of whether he tries to impersonate the inimitable Jones or goes his own way, his Mufasa will inevitably end up being compared to one of the most popular vocal performances of all time. Even if he puts in his own award-worthy effort, the contrast between Pierre and Jones will be impossible to ignore. It’s understandable that Disney wishes to postpone the debate by keeping Mufasa silent in the trailer. However, this approach simply delays the inevitable.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

Mufasa: The Lion King

Director

Barry Jenkins

Release Date

December 20, 2024

Cast

Seth Rogen , Billy Eichner , Kelvin Harrison Jr. , Aaron Pierre , John Kani