Disney has added another film to their most successful franchise, The Lion King – this time following Mufasa’s journey from a cub to becoming the king of Pride Rock.
Inspired by the 1994 animation, the latest addition is a live-action feature and is directed by Moonlight filmmaker Barry Jenkins.
Before heading to your nearest cinema, here are six things you need to know about the film and don’t worry, there are no spoilers.
What is Mufasa: The Lion King about?
Mufasa is synonymous with one of the most heart-breaking moments of any Disney film but apart from being Simba’s dad and Scar’s brother, there’s little fans know about him.
In this prequel film, we follow Mufasa as a young cub who gets lost and meets a sympathetic lion cub, and heir to a royal bloodline, named Taka.
This meeting sets the wheels in motion for the future king, and we go on his journey to meet his soon-to-be wife Sarabi and friends.
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Do I need to watch The Lion King to understand Mufasa: The Lion King?
Not necessarily but it is a major reference point throughout the film.
In the new live-action sequel, we met some of the “great kings of the past” first mentioned in the 1994 original.
The story is told through flashbacks as Rafiki tells Simba’s daughter Kiara about the “circle of life” and why it’s important to “remember who you are”.
The choice to do so makes it easier for young minds to follow along but if you want the full experience and to understand the non-stop references to the original, re-watching either the animation, 2019 live-action film or the musical would be a good idea.
Tiffany Boone, who voices a young Sarabi (Simba’s mum), says her opinion on Scar has slightly changed after being part of the new movie.
She tells Sky News: “I think I empathise with Scar a lot more than I did before. I’m not saying he’s right to do what he did in the original version but you understand how the relationship between Mufasa and Scar got to the point where it’s so contentious and so I now have a little bit of a softer spot in my heart for Scar.”
Who stars in Mufasa: The Lion King?
Mufasa: The Lion King is led by Croydon actor Aaron Pierre, who has previously starred in Rebel Ridge as well as Genius and Foe.
He says stepping into the role of Mufasa has been a “huge honour” and hopes he does James Earl Jones justice as the younger version of his character.
The actor posed for photos on Pride Rock at the UK premiere – a moment he says he won’t forget.
“That was really special. The London premiere was just so beautiful. London showed up and with all of the beautiful energy and they celebrated, and they just poured love into that evening.”
Taka is played by Kelvin Harrison Jr and a young Sarabi is voiced by Tiffany Boone.
While the daughter of Beyonce and Jay-Z, Blue Ivy Carter, voices Kiara, the daughter of King Simba.
Other voices include Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros, Kagiso Lediga as a young Rafiki and Preston Nyman as a young Zazu.
In order to set up the film as a flashback, the 2019 voices return briefly – Donald Glover, Beyonce Knowles-Carter, John Kani, John Oliver, Seth Rogan and Billy Eichner.
Is James Earl Jones in Mufasa: The Lion King?
Seen as a father figure by many, the death of James Earl Jones marked a sad day for movie fans all over the world.
The Star Wars actor originated the strong, stoic voice of Mufasa in the 1994 animation and reprised the role for the 2019 live-action remake.
Jenkins made the decision to dedicate the entire film to the star and his voice briefly appears as a somewhat ‘voice of God’ at the beginning of the new film.
Opening with a black screen, you hear Jones’s voice uttering his advice to Simba: “Look at the stars. 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.”
Is it safe for children to watch Mufasa: The Lion King?
The film has received a PG rating in the UK so it is safe for everyone to watch.
However, much like the original, it is worth approaching with caution as there’s a scene or two that might be a bit scary and/or emotional for younger viewers.
Who made the music for Mufasa: The Lion King?
The musical man of the moment – Lin-Manuel Miranda – is responsible for the soundtrack to Mufasa: The Lion King.
Jenkins says watching him work taught him so much as a creative person.
“Typically, in a musical, the songs come first and the movie folds around it. But in this case, because Lin was so busy directing Tick Tick Boom and working on Encanto so we got started before he came in and it was really wonderful to see him look at the script and sort of diagnose where songs could elevate the narrative rather than just distract from it,” says Jenkins.
“And the song I Always Wanted A Brother was a great example. Lin watched a very early animatic and right away identified that’s the song [for this section], and it’s one of my favourite pieces in the film.”
Five people have been charged in connection with the death of One Direction star Liam Payne in Argentina.
Three people have been charged with negligent homicide and two have been charged with supplying drugs, the Argentinian Public Prosecutor’s Office said.
Negligent homicide – similar to gross negligent manslaughter in the UK – carries a sentence of one to five years, while supplying drugs carries a sentence of up to 15 years.
Roger Nores, described as a “representative” of Payne, was one of those charged with negligent homicide, alongside hotel manager Gilda Martin and receptionist Esteban Grassi.
A hotel employee, Ezequiel Pereyra, and waiter, Braian Paiz, have been charged with supplying drugs on two occasions.
All five have been summoned to appear in court.
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A statement from the judge and public prosecutor today said Payne had been “demanding” drugs and alcohol during his stay at the hotel.
On the 16 December, Payne was in the hotel lobby and “unable to stand” due to the “consumption of various substances”, the court document said.
The receptionist and two others “dragged” the singer to his room, and the manager allowed this to happen “at least by omission”.
Given Payne’s “altered” consciousness and the access to a balcony from the room, the “proper thing to do was to leave him in a safe place and with company until a doctor arrived”, according to the judge.
They also accused Payne’s representative, Nores, of leaving Payne on his own in the hotel in a “state of vulnerability”, despite knowing about Payne’s previous addiction problems and that the fact Nores could “not trust that the rest of the hotel staff would act appropriately”.
The judge described Payne’s death as “foreseeable”.
The prosecutor’s office previously ruled out self-harm as a factor in the One Direction star’s death, and said he did not adopt a reflex posture to protect himself from the fall, meaning it can be inferred he may have fallen “in a state of semi or total unconsciousness”.
The new document today reiterated the hypothesis that Payne had “tried to leave the room through the balcony and thus fell”.
The results of toxicology tests revealed that before his death, Payne had traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his body.
According to the post-mortem examination, Payne died from “multiple” injuries and internal and external bleeding.
Argentine investigators found what appeared to be narcotics and alcohol strewn around broken objects and furniture in Payne’s hotel room, leading the public prosecution to surmise he had suffered a substance abuse-induced breakdown around the time of his fall.
World chess number one Magnus Carlsen is back in a major tournament after he quit because he was told to change his jeans.
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has now relaxed its dress code to allow “elegant minor deviations”.
Those deviations “may, in particular, include appropriate jeans matching the jacket”, the new rules state.
Carlsen was defending his titles at the Fide World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York when he was told to change his trousers.
He had been to a lunch meeting before the competition and had to change quickly.
“I put on a shirt, jacket and honestly like I didn’t even think about jeans,” he told chess publication Take Take Take.
After playing a few rounds of the tournament, he was told he would face a fine because of his jeans, and then was told he wouldn’t be able to play at all if he didn’t change.
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The Norwegian refused and left the competition on Saturday, saying he’d go somewhere where the weather was a “bit nicer”, adding: “I am too old at this point to care too much.”
FIDE quickly rewrote the rules after the spat and Carlsen will now return to the championships, which the federation described as “great news for the chess world”.
“The situation was badly mishandled on their side,” said Carlsen in an interview with Take Take Take.
“I was about to book my plane tickets.”
But he told the publication he was pleased to be playing again, as he loved the tournament.
The chess federation has warned players against taking liberties with their outfits.
“I sincerely hope that nobody would try to undermine the festive mood, including by abusing this additional flexibility,” said Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE president in a statement.
“Special assistants” will be on hand to help judges decide whether players’ outfits are acceptable, according to Mr Dvorkovich.
Five-time World Chess champion Carlsen was previously involved in a dispute with rival Hans Niemann.
He accused Niemann of cheating after he was beaten at a tournament in 2022, but Niemann denied the allegations and said he would “strip fully naked” to prove his innocence.
The pair settled a $100m (£79m) lawsuit in August last year.
Actress Michelle Keegan is expecting her first baby with husband Mark Wright, the celebrity couple have announced.
Keegan and former The Only Way Is Essex star Wright, both 37, shared the news on their Instagram accounts with the caption “2025 is going to be a special one for us” followed by a baby emoji.
A picture on the social media site posted on Sunday shows the couple standing opposite each other on a beach as former Coronation Street actress Keegan holds her bump.
Keegan, also known for her roles in Sky comedy Brassic and Netflix’s Fool Me Once, is wearing a white off-the-shoulder top and skirt, while Wright is dressed in a beige shirt and trousers.
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