Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. Bring New Life to “Mufasa: The Lion King”

Recently, Latination had the honor of participating in the press junket for Mufasa: The Lion King, where we sat down with Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr, the stars of this highly anticipated prequel. Their passion for the project was as fun as it was inspiring as they opened up about the responsibility of bringing such an iconic story to life and the deeper themes the movie explores.

Aaron, who voices the iconic character Mufasa, shared his gratitude for being part of this monumental film. “To have our art be part of this is something we are deeply grateful for,” he said. His respect for the legacy of the late great James Earl Jones, who famously voiced Mufasa in the original Lion King, was evident. “To engage with Mufasa as a guiding light, that was my responsibility, but no one can match the great James Earl Jones,” Aaron acknowledged.

Kelvin, who plays a pivotal role as Taka aka Scar, reflected on the creative process behind embodying these beloved characters. “To find interesting ways to help bring him alive was amazing,” he said. However, he hillariously admitted to learning a tough lesson about tackling and emulating the iconic voice of Jeremy Irons as Scar in The Lion King. “I learned the hard way,” he joked. “I thought Jeremy Irons’ voice could be matched, and it can’t.” Kelvin’s honesty revealed his deep respect for the original cast while showcasing his commitment to creating something fresh.

The conversation amongst the actors veered into the themes of Mufasa: The Lion King, particularly its exploration of brotherhood. Aaron and Kelvin emphasized the importance of representing brotherhood amongst  men of color, both on and off screen. Kelvin shared a his want and need to see more of it: “I want to see more of it. I remember back in the day seeing stars like Denzel [Washington], Eddie Murphy, Will Smith, and Martin Lawrence hanging. I think that was really cool.” His remembrance of those iconic moments spotlighted the value of the  camaraderie in Hollywood, especially among Black and Afro-Latino actors.

This emphasis on brotherhood definitely resonates deeply within the film’s narrative, as it portrays Mufasa’s rise from humble beginnings to becoming a revered leader. It’s a story that not only honors the past but also inspires future generations to embrace their inner strength and form meaningful connections and trust for those who need it. Mufasa: The Lion King hits theaters December 20^th.