Disney on Monday launched the primary trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King.

Directed by Barry Jenkins, the music-filled movie serves as each an origin story and follow-up to Jon Favreau’s 2019 photorealistic film The Lion King. That movie was primarily based on the 1994 Disney animated basic of the identical title. 

Together with the trailer launch, it was revealed that Blue Ivy Carter will make her movie debut voicing Kiara, daughter of King Simba and Queen Nala, whereas her mom, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, will reprise her function as Nala from the 2019 movie.

The brand new movie, which hits theaters Dec. 20, will inform the backstory of Simba’s father, Mufasa, an orphan who grew as much as be a clever, highly effective and compassionate ruler.

The official logline is as follows: “Mufasa: The Lion King enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to younger lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick. Advised in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, misplaced and alone till he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka — the inheritor to a royal bloodline. The prospect assembly units in movement an expansive journey of a rare group of misfits looking for their future — their bonds might be examined as they work collectively to evade a threatening and lethal foe.”

Aaron Pierre voices the title character (voiced by James Earl Jones in each of the earlier movies), whereas Kelvin Harrison Jr. voices his brother, Scar (Chiwetel Ejiofor within the 2019 movie and Jeremy Irons within the 1994 animated basic), although he’s listed within the credit as Taka, a lion prince with a brilliant future who accepts Mufasa into his household as a brother.

Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen will return as Timon and Pumbaa, respectively, reprising their roles from Favreau’s 2019 film. That film grossed a complete of $1.7 billion on the world field workplace to grow to be the top-grossing Disney-branded movie of all time.

The solid additionally contains Donald Glover as Simba (reprising his function from the 2019 movie); Tiffany Boone as Sarabi; Kagiso Lediga as Younger Rafiki; Preston Nyman as Zazu; Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros, a formidable lion with huge plans for his delight; Thandiwe Newton as Taka’s mom, Eshe; Lennie James as Taka’s father, Obasi; Anika Noni Rose as Mufasa’s mom, Afia; Keith David as Mufasa’s father, Masego; and John Kani as Rafiki.

Further casting contains Braelyn Rankins, Theo Somolu, Folake Olowofoyeku, Joanna Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim, Abdul Salis and Dominique Jennings.

Lin-Manuel Miranda is writing the movie’s songs.

“Elton John. Tim Rice. Hans Zimmer. Lebo M. Mark Mancina. Beyoncé, Labrinth, Ilya Salmanzadeh. Beau Black, Ford Riley, the unimaginable music crew on ‘The Lion Guard,’ and so many musical contributors over time,” Miranda stated. “The Lion King has an unimaginable musical legacy with music from a few of the best songwriters round, and I’m humbled and proud to be part of it. It’s been a pleasure working alongside Barry Jenkins to carry Mufasa’s story to life, and we will’t look forward to audiences to expertise this movie in theaters.”

Earlier this month, Jenkins was available at CinemaCon in Las Vegas to debut the primary teaser trailer for theater house owners.

“It’s an expansive journey,” he advised attendees, including: “Audiences can anticipate so many issues on this movie — an epic story and a comedy with loads of acquainted faces. There are some completely hilarious moments and a few with excessive gravitas.”