History of Mufasa: The Lion King in Timeline

Mufasa: The Lion King is an upcoming American musical drama film that serves as both a prequel and sequel to the 2019 remake of the animated classic The Lion King. The film boasts a star-studded cast, with Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, John Kani, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reprising their roles. New additions to the cast include Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiffany Boone, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, and Blue Ivy Carter in her feature film debut. Directed by Barry Jenkins, written by Jeff Nathanson, and produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pastel Productions, the film utilizes photorealistic animation.

1974: Release of The Godfather Part II

The Godfather Part II, a film with a similar structure to Mufasa: The Lion King, was released in 1974.

1994: Release of The Lion King (1994)

The original animated film, The Lion King, was released in 1994.

1998: Release of The Lion King II: Simba's Pride

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, the direct-to-video sequel to the original animated film, was released in 1998.

2016: Release of Moonlight

Moonlight, a film directed by Barry Jenkins, was released in 2016.

2018: Release of If Beale Street Could Talk

If Beale Street Could Talk, a film directed by Barry Jenkins, was released in 2018.

2019: Release of Hair Love

Hair Love, a short film for which Blue Ivy Carter did the audiobook version, was released in 2019.

2019: Release of The Lion King (2019)

The live-action-styled CGI photorealistic remake of The Lion King was released in 2019.

September 2020: Development Announced

In September 2020, development on a prequel to The Lion King was confirmed.

September 2020: Development and Story Details

In September 2020, it was announced that a follow-up film to the 2019 remake of The Lion King was in development, with a story centered on Mufasa during his formative years and additional scenes focusing on events after the first film.

August 2021: Casting Announced

In August 2021, Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. were announced as the voice cast.

August 2021: Casting of Young Mufasa and Scar

In August 2021, Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. were cast as the voices of young Mufasa and Scar.

June 2022: Composer Hired

In June 2022, Nicholas Britell was hired to compose the score for the film's soundtrack.

September 2022: Returning Composers Announced

In September 2022, it was announced that Hans Zimmer and Pharrell Williams would return to compose for the film.

September 2022: First Footage Revealed at D23 Expo

In September 2022, the first footage of the film was played exclusively to attendees at D23, revealing that production had been underway.

September 2022: Official Title Reveal and D23 Expo Announcement

The film was officially announced with its official title revealed in September 2022 at the 2022 D23 Expo.

2022: Official Announcement and Title Reveal

The film was officially announced with the title Mufasa: The Lion King at the 2022 D23 Expo.

April 2023: Kelvin Harrison Jr. Interview

In April 2023, Kelvin Harrison Jr. confirmed that the film will explore Scar's backstory.

July 2023: Production Slowdown

In July 2023, production on the film slowed down due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.

December 13, 2023: Plot Details Revealed

On December 13, 2023, it was reported that the film's plot would involve Rafiki telling the story of Mufasa to his granddaughter, Kiara.

2023: SAG-AFTRA Strike Impact

In 2023, the SAG-AFTRA strike caused a delay in the production of Mufasa: The Lion King, ultimately pushing its release date from July 5, 2024 to December 20, 2024.

April 11, 2024: Barry Jenkins Promotes Film at CinemaCon

On April 11, 2024, Barry Jenkins promoted the film at CinemaCon, where an exclusive preview was shown.

April 2024: Further Casting Announced

Further casting was announced in April 2024.

April 2024: Confirmation of Returning Cast and New Additions

In April 2024, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Donald Glover were confirmed to reprise their roles, with several new additions to the cast announced.

April 2024: Songwriter Announced

In April 2024, it was announced that Lin-Manuel Miranda would write the songs for the film.

April 29, 2024: Teaser Trailer and Poster Debut

The first teaser trailer and official teaser poster for Mufasa: The Lion King debuted on Good Morning America on April 29, 2024. The trailer featured a new instrumental rendition of "Circle of Life." The trailer received a mixed reception, with some deeming the film "unnecessary."