00:00I'm grateful to have had that access to the original to utilize his performance as a guiding
00:05light and then discover the adolescent version of this line. It's time I tell you a story.
00:11In this Disney classic, Mufasa takes center stage. The film follows the origin story of the future
00:17king of the Pride Lands and his early relationship with Scar. The Hollywood Reporter sat down with
00:22director Barry Jenkins alongside songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda and stars Aaron Pierre,
00:27Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Tiffany Boone. The cast and crew talk all about their memories of the
00:32original Lion King, working with Beyonce and Blue Ivy Carter, and the film's tribute to the legendary
00:37James Earl Jones. While chatting with the cast of Mufasa the Lion King, Pierre reflected on
00:48constantly watching the 1994 classic. Oh my goodness, I wore that VHS out. Anytime I wanted to rewind it,
00:55I had to run up to the books and press it and it's and that happened about every 20 minutes or so.
01:02The cast also looked back on their experience watching the 2019 live action remake.
01:07I remember I was like in a theater. I went to see it like weeks after it had been out and I was in
01:11theater in the middle of the day by myself. I had like a cocktail and I was laid out. I was like,
01:16Beyonce! I was like, it was just so fun, the whole experience. So that's why it's wild to be a part of
01:21it now. So it was really cool to know that Beyonce was doing the actual acting and the kids were doing
01:27the extra acting. That was cool. And I was like, if I ever get to do something like that, I want to
01:30do the same. Mufasa also features voice work from Beyonce's daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. When asked what
01:36it was like to work with the mother-daughter duo on set, this is what Jenkins had to say.
01:40Beyonce was very open about me and Blue Ivy having our process. I will say like a mother,
01:46she would stay behind and watch, you know, as Blue performed her scenes. It was really wonderful
01:53to see the pride that she took. And also too, I have to say when your mom is the sun, the moon,
01:57and the stars, it can be quite intimidating. And I give Beyonce, Miss Beyonce, so much credit
02:02because she did everything in her power to make that not the case on the days where they were
02:07working together. It was really lovely to see.
02:09When it comes to the Mufasa soundtrack, songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda breaks down the process of
02:14writing I Always Wanted a Brother and tells THR that he didn't really have to look far when it
02:18came to inspiration. You know, I have two little boys, they're six and 10. So like the notion of
02:24two brothers who like drive each other crazy and would do anything to protect each other is,
02:28I don't have to look any farther than my own apartment. The film also features a tribute to
02:33James Earl Jones, who was the original voice of Mufasa in the 1994 animation and 2019 remake.
02:39The cast and crew look back on their earliest memories of Jones and his impact on the Lion King
02:43franchise.
02:43I've met him in the past, just, you know, being someone black in Hollywood, you know,
02:48there's people who just, you know, you have these mentors, these people you look up to. So
02:52met him very briefly in the past, but not regards this particular project. But when he did pass,
02:56you know, it was very clear, you know, I grew up without a father figure, you know,
03:01this character in some ways, you know, became a father figure. So it felt very appropriate to find a way to honor him.
03:07His portrayal was my guiding light. Um, and I really am grateful to have had that access to the,
03:14the original to, to utilize his performance as a guiding light and then discover the adolescent
03:19version of this line. Mufasa, the Lion King hits theaters on December 20th. This is the Hollywood Reporter News.
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