Some bonds aren't born, they're forged. The new CGI prequel to the animated Disney film The Lion King, entitled Mufasa: The Lion King, premiered December 20 to an impressive box office, and one of the new songs showing the beginning of the relationship between Mufasa and Prince Taka, before he got his Scar, has been released.
Watch "I Always Wanted a Brother," penned by Lin-Manuel Miranda and featuring the voices of Braelyn Rankins, Theo Somolu, Aaron Pierre, and Kelvin Harrison, Jr., above.
The film is directed by Barry Jenkins, features a script by Jeff Nathanson, and is produced by Adele Romanski and Mark Ceryak, and executive-produced by Peter Tobyansen. Featuring new music by Miranda and additional music and performances by Lebo M., the project sees the return of much of the voice cast from the 2019 CGI remake of the 1994 classic.
READ: How Disney's Mufasa Has Changed Broadway's The Lion King
In the film, Rafiki is called upon to relay the legend of Mufasa to the daughter of Simba and Nala, Kiara, after the events of the first film. Told primarily through flashback by Rafiki, Timon, and Pumbaa, the story introduces a new backstory for Mufasa, who is now an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline—setting destiny in motion.
New and returning voice actors include Aaron Pierre as Mufasa; Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka; Tiffany Boone as Sarabi; Kagiso Lediga as Young Rafiki; Preston Nyman as Zazu; Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros; Thandiwe Newton as Taka’s mother, Eshe; Lennie James as Taka’s father, Obasi; Anika Noni Rose as Mufasa’s mother, Afia; Keith David as Mufasa’s father, Masego; John Kani as Rafiki; Seth Rogen as Pumbaa; Billy Eichner as Timon; Donald Glover as Simba; Blue Ivy Carter as Kiara; and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala.
They are supported by voice artists Braelyn Rankins, Theo Somolu, Folake Olowofoyeku, Joanna Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim, Abdul Salis, and Dominique Jennings.