It’s been five years since The Lion King remake hit the theatres, and its prequel is just around the corner. Disney dropped the first trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King, which chronicles the origin story of Simba’s father Mufasa.
According to the film’s official synopsis, Mufasa: The Lion King will be told in flashbacks, and it will introduce Mufasa as an orphaned cub, who’s lost and alone until he finds a kindred soul in a sympathetic lion named Taka.
“The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny – their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe,” reads Disney’s logline.
Aaron Pierre will lead the voice cast as Mufasa, and he’ll be joined by Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiffany Boone, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, and Lennie James. Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, John Kani, and Beyoncé will reprise their roles from the previous film, and they’ll be joined by Beyoncé’s daughter Blue Ivy Carter.
Mufasa: The Lion King was directed by the Oscar winner Barry Jenkins, and it embraces the same photorealistic animated style as The Lion King remake. It will be released just in time for Christmas, on December 20.