Aaron Pierre, Voice of Mufasa in New ‘Lion King’ Film, Had Only Sung in the Shower Before
Aaron Pierre Roars into the Pride Lands as Mufasa in Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King”
LOS ANGELES — Aaron Pierre knows he has big paws to fill. Stepping into the iconic role of Mufasa in Disney’s highly anticipated “Mufasa: The Lion King,” Pierre follows in the legendary footsteps of James Earl Jones, who originated the role in the beloved 1994 animated classic and reprised it for the 2019 remake.
This new installment, which blends live-action filming with stunning computer animation, delves into Mufasa’s origin story, exploring his journey from a young cub to the wise and noble king of the Pride Lands.
For Pierre, the role presented a unique challenge: singing.”I was incredibly nervous,” Pierre admitted to On The Red Carpet at the film’s world premiere in hollywood. “I hadn’t ever sung with confidence outside the context of my shower before. So this was a large step for me doing a Disney song, as I’m sure you can appreciate.”
Pierre lends his voice to three original songs penned by Tony Award-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, including ”I always Wanted a Brother” with Kelvin Harrison jr., who portrays the young Taka (who will later become Scar), and “Tell Me It’s You” with Tiffany Boone, who plays Sarabi, a lioness who captures the hearts of both Mufasa and Taka.
In an exclusive interview with On The Red Carpet at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Pierre, Harrison, and Boone expressed their gratitude for being part of this cinematic legacy.
“It’s an amazing prospect to be in this cast of actors,” Boone shared. “To be working with Lin, to be working with [director Barry Jenkins], it’s one of those moments where you have to pinch yourself and be like, ‘Oh, okay.You are in this amazing opportunity, what are you going to do with it? And hopefully be present in it.'”
Pierre echoed Boone’s sentiments, adding, “I think, you know, the 3- or 4-year-old kid who first saw ‘Lion King,’ he is overjoyed and still can’t quite believe that this is a reality, so I’m still pinching myself and I’m happy to be pinching myself with other people who are pinching themselves about this movie.”
Harrison, known for his charming personality, playfully addressed the question of whether anyone was surprised to see him take on the role of the villainous Scar.
“I think they saw the potential,” Harrison laughed. “They knew I like to have a good time and I think that’s ultimately what Scar likes to do is have a good time. He likes to play with his food.”
On The Red Carpet’s full episode, “On The Red Carpet Presents: Mufasa: The Lion King,” features extended interviews with Pierre, Harrison, and Boone, as well as their co-stars Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner, who reprise their roles as the hilarious duo Timon and Pumbaa.
Viewers will also hear from Jenkins and Miranda, get a behind-the-scenes tour of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and meet bo, a real-life “lion king” who calls the park home.”Mufasa: The Lion King” roars into theaters on December 20.
Disney is the parent company of this ABC station.
Aaron Pierre Roars into Teh Pride lands as Mufasa, Facing the Challenge of Song in Disney’s “mufasa: The Lion King”
LOS ANGELES — Aaron Pierre knows he has big paws to fill, stepping into the iconic role of mufasa in Disney’s highly anticipated “Mufasa: The Lion King.” Following in the legendary footsteps of James Earl Jones, who originated the role in both the 1994 animated masterpiece and the 2019 remake, pierre faces the unique challenge of bringing a musical dimension to the noble lion king.
This new installment, which blends live-action filming with breathtaking computer animation, explores Mufasa’s origin story, chronicling his journey from a young cub to the wise and respected ruler of the Pride Lands.
“I was incredibly nervous,” pierre admitted to On The Red Carpet at the film’s world premiere in Hollywood. “I hadn’t ever sung with confidence outside the context of my shower before. So this was a large step for me doing a Disney song, as I’m sure you can appreciate.”
Pierre lends his voice to three original songs composed by Tony Award-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, including “I Always wanted a Brother” with Kelvin Harrison Jr., who portrays the young Taka (later Scar), and “Tell Me It’s You” with Tiffany Boone, who plays Sarabi, the lioness who captivates both Mufasa and Taka.
In an exclusive interview with On The Red Carpet at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Pierre, Harrison, and Boone expressed their awe at being part of this cinematic legacy.
“It’s an amazing prospect to be in this cast of actors,” Boone shared.
“To be working with Lin, to be working with [director Barry Jenkins], it’s one of those moments where you have to pinch yourself and be like, ‘Oh, okay. You are in this amazing possibility, what are you going to do with it? And hopefully be present in it.'”
Pierre echoed Boone’s sentiments, adding, “I think, you know, the 3- or 4-year-old kid who first saw ‘Lion King,’ he is overjoyed and still can’t quite believe that this is a reality, so I’m still pinching myself and I’m happy to be pinching myself with other people who are pinching themselves about this movie.”
Harrison, known for his charming personality, playfully addressed the question of whether anyone was surprised to see him take on the role of the villainous Scar.
“I think they saw the potential,” Harrison laughed. “They knew I like to have a good time and I think that’s ultimately what Scar likes to do is have a good time. He likes to play with his food.”
On The Red Carpet’s full episode, “On the Red Carpet Presents: Mufasa: The Lion King,” features extended interviews with Pierre, Harrison, and boone, as well as their co-stars Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner, who reprise their roles as the hilarious duo Timon and Pumbaa.
Viewers will also hear from Jenkins and Miranda,get a behind-the-scenes tour of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park,and meet bo,a real-life “lion king” who calls the park home. “Mufasa: The Lion king” roars into theaters on December 20.
Disney is the parent company of this ABC station.