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Jenkins explores complexity of Mufasa and Scar's

characters

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Film uses photorealistic animation, serves as prequel and

sequel

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Voice cast includes Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr.,

Beyonce

Knowles-Carter

By Danielle Broadway

SAN DIEGO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Director Barry Jenkins

believes it was important to revisit the Disney ( DIS ) classic

"The Lion King" with the prequel "Mufasa: The Lion King" for

audiences to understand that the protagonist lion Mufasa was

never perfect, and the villain Scar was not always evil.

"For 30 years we've been living with this idea of Mufasa as

unimpeachably great and good, and Scar is like the full

embodiment of evil," Jenkins told Reuters.

"In this story, we get to go back and show that no one is

born good or born evil. You'll get a result of all these

different choices that you make, good parenting, bad parenting,

nature versus nurture," the "Moonlight" director added.

Jenkins found that it was key to the story to introduce a

more complex look at the classic characters.

The film, written by Jeff Nathanson, uses photorealistic

animation and serves as both a prequel to the original animated

1994 "The Lion King" and a sequel to the 2019 remake, which was

directed by Jon Favreau.

"Mufasa", distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, arrives in

theaters on Friday.

The movie includes the voices of leads Aaron Pierre as

Mufasa, the lion who grows up to be the king and father to Simba

along with Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka, who's eventually known

as the antagonist named Scar, a prince and Mufasa's adoptive

brother.

Taking place in the Pride Lands of Tanzania after the events

of the 2019 "Lion King" film, "Mufasa" follows Mufasa and Taka,

who become friends and eventually adoptive brothers until a

series of devastating events threaten their bond.

The voice cast also includes multi-Grammy winner Beyonce

Knowles-Carter who reprises her role from the 2019 film as

Simba's mate, Nala, and the "Texas Hold 'Em" singer's daughter,

Blue Ivy, making her film debut voicing Simba and Nala's

daughter, Princess Kiara.

It was important for Pierre to pay homage to the late James

Earl Jones, one of the most renowned actors in Hollywood and the

original voice of Mufasa.

"He really for me is just top level," the "Genius" actor

said.

For Pierre, Jones was his guiding light that extinguished

any fear that he had about the iconic role.

"I actually managed to use that (his fear) in the adolescent

version because the adolescent version doesn't have it all

figured out," he added.