What ‘The Lion King’ Prequel Actors Really Look Like

Aaron Pierre headlines “Mufasa: The Lion King” in the title role, an orphaned cub who becomes the leader of the Pride Lands. The actor earned acclaim this year for his leading turn in the Netflix thriller “Rebel Ridge” and for playing Malcolm X in the fourth season of the National Geographic anthology series “Genius.” Fellow “Mufasa” star Kelvin Harrison Jr. played Martin Luther King Jr. in the show.

“Kelvin has said this really beautifully before, although he and I have worked on a feature film together and a limited series together, the majority of the time that we’ve spent together, and actually the true foundation of what our friendship and brotherhood was built outside of the context of work,” Pierre recently told Variety’s Angelique Jackson. “I’m deeply grateful to have Kelvin as one of my dearest friends, having somebody who is the same age in the same space and navigating similar things. I really don’t have the language for how invaluable and priceless that is.”

Kelvin Harrison Jr. voices the key supporting character Taka, who later becomes known as Scar. Taka is Mufasa’s adopted brother and their close bond is slowly threatened by Taka’s festering jealousy. Harrelson previously played Martin Luther King opposite Mufasa voice actor Aaron Pierre as Malcolm X in the fourth season of the National Geographic anthology series “Genius.” The actor’s other credits include “Waves,” “Cyrano,” “The High Note” and “Elvis.”

“I looked up and realized that, while making this film, they had gone off and played MLK and Malcolm X,” Barry Jenkins told Variety’s Angelique Jackson about his two stars. “But it made sense because the chemistry they had in performing these scenes — the very first thing that happens in ‘Mufasa’ is all the vocal recordings, all these radio plays with the cast — and even though they’re playing these brothers who ultimately grow very far apart, when they are together, it just feels so lived in, so honest, so earnest.”

Beyonce and Jay-Z’s daughter Blue Ivy Carter makes her movie debut as the voice of Kiara, the daughter of Simba and Nala. The screenplay for “Mufasa” is framed around Kiara being told the story of her grandfather by Rafiki.

“Everybody that’s a part of this is so helpful and supportive,” Blue Ivy told “Good Morning America” about the film. “The director, Barry, is a really sweet person and he tells me ways that I can improve in my lines. And he’s very supportive of me and tells me in the nicest way possible, and I feel like so does everybody else.”

Newcomer Braelyn Rankin voices the younger version of Mufasa in “The Lion King” prequel. It’s the young actor’s first major voice role in a studio movie after having supporting roles on television series such as “Doom Patrol,” “Take Note,” and “Delilah,” among other titles.

Newcomer Theo Somolu is the voice of young Taka. It’s his first role in a major Hollywood studio film. Previously, Somolu had a voice role in 10 episodes of the 2020 kids’ series “Mighty Express.”

John Kani is back as the voice of Rafkiki, the sage-like mandrill who meets young Mufasa on his journey to the Pride Lands. Rafiki also serves as the narrator of “Mufasa,” telling the story of the title character to his granddaughter Kiara. Viewers might recognize Kani’s voice as he played King T’Chaka in the MCU in “Captain America: Civil War” and “Black Panther.” Flashbacks in “Mufasa” feature Kagiso Lediga as young Rafiki.

Billy Eichner is back as the voice of Timon, the wise-cracking meerkat and best friend of Seth Rogen’s Pumbaa. The characters offer up witty banter throughout the film as Rafiki tells the story of Mufasa to Kiara.

Seth Rogen reprises the voice role of Pumbaa, the eternally hungry warthog who becomes one of Simba’s closest friends in the original “The Lion King.” Pumbaa’s role is more limited in “Mufasa” as he provides comedic relief while Rafiki tells the story of the title character.

“Hunters” and “The Following” actor Tiffany Boone is the voice of Sarabi, the queen of the Pride Lands and the mother of Simba. Viewers meet Sarabi in “Mufasa” as a lioness separated from her pack, which is how she comes to befriend Mufasa and Taka. She becomes the center of a love triangle between the two lions, but her heart belongs to Mufasa.

Boone told Variety’s Angelique Jackson that watching the final “Mufasa” cut was “was an out-of-body experience. It was like I wasn’t even watching myself. I was just taken in by this beautiful thing that was created by Barry.”

Mads Mikkelsen has played villains in the “Fantastic Beasts” and “Indiana Jones” franchises, and now he’s once again pure evil in “Mufasa: The Lion King.” The actor voices Kiros, the leader of a group of white lions known as “The Outsiders.” They are all bitter and vengeance-seeking strays. Kiros seeks revenge on Mufasa for murdering his son during a violent attack.

Thandiwe Newton is the voice of Eshe, who becomes Mufasa’s adopted mother after he is orphaned during a violent flood. Eshe is Taka’s birth mother. She is an expert hunter who teaches Mufasa essential skills like tracking prey and predators. Eshe takes Mufasa under her wing despite the resistance of her partner, Obasi.

“The Walking Dead” favorite Lennie James voices Obasi, Taka’s father and a determined pack leader whose “no strays” policy makes him resistant to letting the orphaned Mufasa join his family. In an attempt to save his bloodlines, Obasi forces Taka and Mufasa to leave the pack when it is threatened by Kiros and The Outsiders.

John Oliver voiced the hornbill Zazu in 2019’s “The Lion King,” but the character is now played by Preston Nyman in “Mufasa.” The character is introduced in the film as Sarabi’s scout after she is separated from her pack. She helps navigate the group to the Pride Lands before becoming majordomo to Mufasa.

“Dreamgirls” and “Princess and the Frog” actor Anika Noni Rose is the voice of Afia, Mufasa’s biological mother. Before they are separated by a flood, Afia teaches Mufasa about a land full of beauty and vegetation known as Milele. Mufasa spends most of his life in search of this promised land once he becomes an orphan.

Mufasa’s biological father is Masego, voiced by Keith David. The two are separated during a flood in which Masego tries to save Mufasa from the water. The traumatic event is why Mufasa has a lifelong fear of swimming.

Donald Glover returns to voice Simba, although the character is not a major presence considering the movie tells the story of his father.

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is back as the voice of Nala, Simba’s mate and the queen of the Pride Lands. Nala is not a big character in this prequel story, so being involved in “Mufasa” was mainly a chance for Beyonce to watch her daughter, Blue Ivy, make her movie debut.

“Seeing Blue as Kiara and hearing her voice come out of that character…Give me a second because I can’t believe that’s my baby,” Beyonce told “Good Morning America” about her daughter’s acting debut. “I’m so proud of this.”

“Mufasa: The Lion King” also briefly features the voices of Folake Olowofoyeku as a member of The Outsiders named Amara, Thuso Mbedu as Rafifki’s baboon friend Junia, Sheila Atim as Ajarry and Abdul Salis as Chigaru.