Barry Jenkins on Honoring James Earl Jones in ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’s’ Opening Credits: ‘We Had All Lost a Patriarch’

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As a movie lover who has grown up watching Disney classics and cherishing their timeless stories, the news of James Earl Jones‘ passing was undeniably heartbreaking. His portrayal of Mufasa in The Lion King was nothing short of iconic, providing a voice that echoed wisdom, love, and strength for generations.

Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” starts off with James Earl Jones’ voiceover, and then there’s a title that says, “Dedicated To.

In September, at the age of 93, Jones passed away. He was famously known for voicing King Mufasa in the 1994 animated film “The Lion King”, its subsequent direct-to-video sequels and the 2019 live-action adaptation. Regrettably, he did not reprise his role for the prequel, which is set to be released in cinemas on December 20th.

Barry Jenkins, the director of “Mufasa,” shares with EbMaster his reason for starting the film with a tribute to the late actor. According to him, James Earl Jones has a profound impact, not just on him but also on global audiences. He explains, “Growing up without a father figure, I found that in some movies, these characters served as stand-ins for fathers. They became surrogate father figures.

Upon Jones’ passing, Jenkins shared his feelings, stating, “It seemed as if we had all lost a family elder. We had lost a man who held great significance for us all. Watching this movie felt like an opportunity to pay tribute to him in some way, and not doing so felt inconceivable. It appeared essential that we acknowledge him at the beginning. The studio concurred swiftly, and our aim was to create something straightforward yet impactful and poignant.

Attending the “Mufasa” premiere in Los Angeles on Monday evening, I found myself captivated by the powerful performance of Jones’ voice in the film. Supervising sound editor Onnalee Blank aptly referred to it as the “voice of God.” This was one of the most enchanting aspects of our work. To craft his voice so it resonated as divine, as if he were addressing us all – it was incredibly fitting and deeply moving.

The “Lion King” prequel, titled “Mufasa”, is set before the occurrences depicted in the 2019 live-action, photorealistic remake. This story primarily explores the youthful days of Mufasa, who later becomes the ruler of the Pride Lands (portrayed by Aaron Pierre). It also delves into the early life of his younger brother Taka, or as we know him later, the treacherous Scar, played by Kelvin Harrison Jr.

In the 2019 movie’s cast, Donald Glover reprises his role as Simba; Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen return as Timon and Pumbaa respectively; Beyoncé Knowles-Carter voices Nala. Interestingly, her daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, makes her acting debut in this film, lending her voice to the character of Kiara, who is Simba and Nala’s daughter.

As a movie reviewer, I’m thrilled to share that the new additions to this upcoming film are quite impressive! Tiffany Boone steps into the role of Sarabi, while Kagiso Lediga portrays the young version of our beloved character Rafiki. Preston Nyman takes on the role of Zazu, and Mads Mikkelsen brings a chilling presence as the malevolent Kiros, a powerful lion with ambitious intentions for his pride. Thandiwe Newton plays Eshe, Taka’s mother, and Lennie James is Obasi, Taka’s father. Anika Noni Rose breathes life into Afia, Mufasa’s mother, and Keith David reprises his role as Masego, Mufasa’s father. These talented actors are set to enrich this retelling of the classic tale even further!

In addition to “Mufasa”, Jenkins reconnects with his regular collaborators – a group of skilled artisans such as composer Nicholas Britell, editor Joi McMillon, and cinematographer James Laxton. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the original songs for this film, among them “I Always Wanted a Brother”, which is an energetic song that emphasizes the film’s focus on brotherhood.

In a recent chat with Vulture, Jenkins shared that he had reservations about directing a “Lion King” film when Disney reached out in 2020. So, he delayed reading the script until his partner Lulu Wang (director of “The Farewell”) inquired, “Are you scared to give it a read?

Jenkins explains to EbMaster, “I wasn’t fearful; rather, I was uncertain.” He continues to elaborate on this story, “For some reason, I didn’t anticipate that the themes in ‘Moonlight’ would be echoed in Mufasa, or that the themes from ‘The Underground Railroad’ and ‘Medicine for Melancholy’ would resonate in Mufasa. Themes that hold deep meaning for me in terms of stories and characters. But looking back now, I realize how naive that was, because even when I watched the original Lion King, I recognized its depth and richness.

It was Wang who, after their interview at the film’s press event on Friday, suggested something to Jenkins, which led him to realize that a similar statement could apply to the “Mufasa” script by Jeff Nathanson (the screenplay for 2019’s “The Lion King” and “Catch Me If You Can”). In simpler terms, Wang’s prompting caused Jenkins to recognize a common truth about the Mufasa script.

Jenkins mentions, ‘I’m working on a movie about a youth who encounters a biblical-like event involving water and subsequently becomes lost from his family, embarking on a quest to discover himself.’ This could refer to either ‘Moonlight’ or ‘Mufasa,’ but it was evident while reading the script. The next step was, ‘What are you apprehensive about now?’

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2024-12-10 08:17