HowMufasa: The Lion KingPays Tribute to Late James Earl Jones 3 Months After His Death

Mar. 15, 2025

James Earl Jones and Mufasa in 2024’s Mufasa: The Lion King.Photo:Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty; Disney

Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty; Disney

DirectorBarry Jenkinsis revealing howMufasa: The Lion Kinghonors late actorJames Earl Jones.The new prequel film, about the iconic lion whom Jones voiced in the 1994 animated film, opens on a blank screen as Jones, whodied at 93at his home in New York on Sept. 9, speaks in character as Mufasa.“Look at the stars,” Jones says in the voiceover from the originalLion King. “The great kings of the past look down on us from those stars. So whenever you feel alone, just remember that those kings will always be there to guide you, and so will I.“Text that appears onscreen then reads, “In remembrance of James Earl Jones,” before the film begins.Jenkins, 45, toldEntertainment Weeklythat while Jones did not record any new voice material for the Mufasa-centric movie, he had pondered honoring Jones' work as part of a larger celebration of the original film’s 30th anniversary.Simba and Mufasa in 1994’s The Lion King.DisneyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“I remember both intellectually preparing myself for that conversation, but emotionally thinking about, ‘What am I going to do?’ or ‘We have to do something for 30 years [the anniversary of the originalLion King],’ " Jenkins said.“I grew up without a father figure. I think for a lot of people this character and that voice is synonymous with this idea of a surrogate father, or at least the example of what a father-son dynamic should be like. I wanted to find a way to honor that.““I heard his voice,” Jenkins added of the voiceover moment. “It just felt like it was something that we had to do.” Disney was “absolutely on board” with the idea, Jenkins said, and he made “a gut choice” in deciding to use Jones' “kings of the past” speech from the original film.James Earl Jones and young Mufasa in Mufasa: The Lion King.Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty; DisneyMufasasees much of the cast of 2019’sThe Lion Kingremake reprise their voice roles;Donald Glover,Seth Rogen,Billy Eichner,John KaniandBeyoncéwill all reprise their roles as Simba, Pumbaa, Timon, Rafiki and Nala, respectively, whileBlue Ivy Cartermakes her feature film debut as Kiara, Nala and Simba’s daughter.In this film,Rebel RidgeactorAaron Pierreportrays a young Mufasa, who strikes up a friendship and brotherly bond with the lion Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr), who later becomes Scar.Mads MikkelsenandThandiwe Newtonalso lend their voices.Mufasa: The Lion Kingis in theaters Dec. 20.

DirectorBarry Jenkinsis revealing howMufasa: The Lion Kinghonors late actorJames Earl Jones.

The new prequel film, about the iconic lion whom Jones voiced in the 1994 animated film, opens on a blank screen as Jones, whodied at 93at his home in New York on Sept. 9, speaks in character as Mufasa.

“Look at the stars,” Jones says in the voiceover from the originalLion King. “The great kings of the past look down on us from those stars. So whenever you feel alone, just remember that those kings will always be there to guide you, and so will I.”

Text that appears onscreen then reads, “In remembrance of James Earl Jones,” before the film begins.

Jenkins, 45, toldEntertainment Weeklythat while Jones did not record any new voice material for the Mufasa-centric movie, he had pondered honoring Jones' work as part of a larger celebration of the original film’s 30th anniversary.

Simba and Mufasa in 1994’s The Lion King.Disney

Disney

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“I remember both intellectually preparing myself for that conversation, but emotionally thinking about, ‘What am I going to do?’ or ‘We have to do something for 30 years [the anniversary of the originalLion King],’ " Jenkins said.

“I grew up without a father figure. I think for a lot of people this character and that voice is synonymous with this idea of a surrogate father, or at least the example of what a father-son dynamic should be like. I wanted to find a way to honor that.”

“I heard his voice,” Jenkins added of the voiceover moment. “It just felt like it was something that we had to do.” Disney was “absolutely on board” with the idea, Jenkins said, and he made “a gut choice” in deciding to use Jones' “kings of the past” speech from the original film.

James Earl Jones and young Mufasa in Mufasa: The Lion King.Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty; Disney

Mufasasees much of the cast of 2019’sThe Lion Kingremake reprise their voice roles;Donald Glover,Seth Rogen,Billy Eichner,John KaniandBeyoncéwill all reprise their roles as Simba, Pumbaa, Timon, Rafiki and Nala, respectively, whileBlue Ivy Cartermakes her feature film debut as Kiara, Nala and Simba’s daughter.

In this film,Rebel RidgeactorAaron Pierreportrays a young Mufasa, who strikes up a friendship and brotherly bond with the lion Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr), who later becomes Scar.Mads MikkelsenandThandiwe Newtonalso lend their voices.

Mufasa: The Lion Kingis in theaters Dec. 20.

source: people.com