Mufasa Prequel Honors James Earl Jones

The upcoming film 'Mufasa: The Lion King,' directed by Barry Jenkins, has received overwhelmingly positive early reactions, praising its engaging story, Lin-Manuel Miranda's music, and stunning visual effects. The prequel explores the origin stories of Mufasa and his brother Taka, later known as Scar, featuring Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as part of the cast. The film opens with a tribute to James Earl Jones, the original voice of Mufasa, who passed away in September at age 93. Jenkins felt the tribute was necessary as Jones' portrayal provided a father figure for many, including himself. The film will debut in theaters on December 20, following its premiere in Los Angeles, where the tribute was described as both fitting and moving.