Mufasa actor Aaron Pierre pays tribute to late original star James Earl Jones: “His portrayal of Mufasa was my guide”

Mufasa star Aaron Pierre had big shoes to fill in the Lion King prequel, as the voice of the late James Earl Jones in the original Disney classic is nothing short of iconic.

The Rebel Ridge actor, who voices a younger version of Mufasa in the upcoming film, took on the challenge with utmost reverence for Jones, as he tells GamesRadar+ and Total Film in an exclusive interview.

“James Earl Jones is one of my heroes and one of many,” Pierre says of the legendary actor, who passed away last September.

Although Mufasa director Barry Jenkins said that there was never a plan for Jones to appear in the film due to his role in the timeline, his presence will always play a large role in any Mufasa story.

Pierre continues: “He was one of my greatest inspirations, from his stage work to his extensive filmography to his voice. He is timeless. We celebrate him. We stand up for him. And he will be greatly missed.”

“In that regard, his portrayal of Mufasa was actually my guide. She gave me clarity, wisdom, understanding and perspective. How did this lion get to this place? And I’m very grateful to Barry (Jenkins) for joining me on this journey.

James Earl Jones at the Tony Awards

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Pierre calls The Lion King his “favorite Disney” and has strong nostalgic feelings for wearing out his VHS copy back in the day.

“I’ve heard a lot of people say when discussing The Lion King that Mufasa felt like everyone’s father to them. That was true for me too.”

Mufasa: The Lion King explores the character’s early life and formative years as he grows from an orphaned cub to a respected king. The story will also cover the subsequent events following Mufasa’s death and Simba’s rise to power.

Several actors will reprise their roles from 2019’s The Lion King, including Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé as Nala, Seth Rogen as Pumba, Billy Eichner as Timon and John Kani as Rafiki.

In addition to Aaron Pierre as Mufasa, the new additions include Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka, Tiffany Boone as Sarabi, Kagiso Lediga as Young Rafiki, Preston Nymon as Zazu, Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros, Thandiwe Newton as Taka’s mother, Lennie James as Taka’s father and Ankia Noni Rose as Mufasa’s father and Beyoncé’s daughter Blue Ivy Carter as Kiara, daughter of Nala and Simba.

Mufasa: The Lion King releases on December 20, 2024. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Disney films to find out everything else the studio has to offer.

On November 28, 2024 By Oliver Sinclair

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Mufasa actor Aaron Pierre pays tribute to late original star James Earl Jones: “His portrayal of Mufasa was my guide”

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