Disney has unveiled the first look at Blue Ivy as Kiara in Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King.
In the highly anticipated musical prelude to the 2019 blockbuster The Lion King, Blue Ivy, the daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, lends her voice to the spirited character of Kiara, the daughter of King Simba (voiced by Donald Glover) and Queen Nala (voiced by Beyoncé).
In the teaser, which is already making rounds online, Blue Ivy’s character, Kiara, listens closely to Rafiki (John Kani) as he tells the story of Mufasa’s (Aaron Pierre) journey from an orphaned cub to the legendary king of Pride Rock. The film also explores Mufasa’s relationship with his brother, Scar, with emotional flashbacks that reveal their complicated history.
Despite her musical background, Blue Ivy won’t be singing in the movie. Director Barry Jenkins, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind Moonlight, confirmed this detail during an earlier D23 event in Anaheim. “Blue Ivy doesn’t sing in the movie. She’s a thespian!”
Jenkins shared that the idea of casting Blue Ivy came to him after hearing her narrate the audiobook version of Matthew Cherry’s Hair Love.
“Starting this project and just having that in the ether, I was like, ‘Is it worth a shot? Would Blue Ivy want to do it? Would Beyoncé want to act opposite her daughter? Is it too close to home?’” Jenkins previously told EW. “But once we put the question to them, they both responded with enthusiasm.”
The star-studded cast also includes Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen returning as Timon and Pumbaa, Tiffany Boone as Sarabi, and Anika Noni Rose and Keith David as Mufasa’s parents. Kelvin Harrison Jr. takes on the role of Taka, who later becomes Scar, while Thandiwe Newton and Lennie James voice his parents.
Fans eager to dive into the Pride Lands’ past won’t have to wait long. Mufasa: The Lion King hits theaters on December 20, just in time to bring a roar of excitement to the holiday season.