The much-anticipated CGI-animated live-action prequel to Disney's "The Lion King" debuts in China this weekend, reintroducing classic characters and exploring the untold story of Simba's father and uncle's estrangement.

A still from "Mufasa: The Lion King." [Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios]

Director Barry Jenkins' "Mufasa: The Lion King" traces Mufasa's rise as king of the Pride Lands. His story begins as an orphaned cub who befriends Taka, heir to a royal bloodline and later known as Scar. Their friendship launches a journey for a group including Mufasa, Taka, Rafiki, Sarabi and Zazu as they search for their destinies while facing a deadly white lion.

Rafiki narrates Mufasa's legend through flashbacks to Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, while Timon and Pumbaa provide comic relief. The film blends live-action techniques with photorealistic CGI to portray Africa's diverse wildlife and landscapes.

"In 'The Lion King,' when Mufasa looks up into the heavens, and you see all the great kings, we assume that they were all just born great," Jenkins said. "I saw this film as an opportunity to really ground Mufasa — to show that this guy was not born perfect. He was not born wealthy. He was not born entitled. He was just someone with a family who lost that family. Then faith and fortune and luck gave him a new family that he learned from and built with. He wasn't given a damn thing — he earned all of it through learning, through being one with his environment, through caring for others."

Jenkins, the Oscar-winning director of "Moonlight," began work on the film in 2020 with a clear vision. "The look of the film was really important to me," he said, "This film had to stand on its own." Using virtual reality, filmmakers scouted locations and planned the shoot, drawing inspiration from African landscapes. Artists across three continents spent four years on digital world-building, animation and visual effects.

An IMAX poster for "Mufasa: The Lion King." [Photo courtesy of IMAX China]

The musical legacy of "The Lion King" continues with "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda composing six new songs for "Mufasa." South African composer Lebo M adds performances and additional music, while Dave Metzger crafts the original score. Nicholas Britell contributes "I Always Wanted a Brother" and several themes. Although Hans Zimmer didn't participate, his iconic music remains an influence, seamlessly woven by Metzger into fresh compositions.

The film's star-studded voice cast features Aaron Pierre as Mufasa and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka. John Kani reprises his role as Rafiki, while Tiffany Boone voices Sarabi, Preston Nyman portrays Zazu and Mads Mikkelsen plays the menacing lion Kiros. Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner return as Pumbaa and Timon, while Donald Glover and Beyoncé reprise their roles as Simba and Nala. The film also introduces Beyoncé's daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, as Kiara.

Mufasa's character and voice have long captivated global audiences. James Earl Jones first brought the role to life in the 1994 film and again in 2019, embodying the perfect father figure, leader and role model. Jones died in September. The new film, which includes a tribute to Jones, features Aaron Pierre as young Mufasa.

"I am an enormous fan of James Earl Jones," he said. "He was one of my heroes. So, it was nerve-wracking to step into the role of the younger Mufasa. The way I managed was to accept and embrace my utmost admiration and respect of his portrayal and to try to serve the character he embodied in my performance of Mufasa's youth."

Pierre's first experience of "The Lion King" was at age 3, leaving a massive, lasting impression. As an adult, he feels a deeper connection to its themes. "I think the reason that 'The Lion King' has such an important place in our culture is because it was one of the earliest Disney films to really make a move in the direction of being representative with the music and with where the film was set," he said. "It has very strong themes of family — brotherhood and sisterhood — and I think that resonates with people on a human level no matter where you're from."

A scene from the premiere of "Mufasa: The Lion King" in Shanghai, Dec. 12, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios]

"Mufasa: The Lion King" opens in China on Dec. 20, the same day as its debut in North America and other territories. The film coincides with the 30th anniversary of the original animated film, inspired by William Shakespeare's "Hamlet." The 1994 classic grossed more than $982 million globally, according to Box Office Mojo, and won two Academy Awards, becoming a cherished memory for generations. The 2019 photorealistic CGI animated adaptation earned $1.66 billion worldwide, including 833 million yuan ($114 million) in China. The Broadway musical remains the highest-grossing Broadway production of all time, earning more than $2 billion from its shows on Broadway in New York since its 1997 debut, according to BroadwayWorld.com, and over $9 billion in total from its various productions worldwide, as reported by Forbes.

"I really hope that what people will take away from 'Mufasa' is the fact that it's an intergenerational story and a generational experience," said composer Metzger. "I was working on the Broadway version of 'The Lion King' when my kids were little, and now my kids have kids. It's a beautiful story, and it lives on."

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