LOS ANGELES — “Mufasa: The Lion King” director Barry Jenkins shared an exciting new trailer with fans attending the studio’s presentation at D23 Brazil.

The trailer gives viewers a look at fan-favorite characters like Mufasa, Scar, Rafiki, and Zazu before they called Pride Rock home.

Exploring the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride Lands, the film recruits Rafiki to pass on the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature touch.

Told in flashbacks, the story presents Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a friendly lion named Taka, the heir to a royal bloodline.

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The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey for an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny: their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly enemy.

The film stars Aaron Pierre (Mufasa), Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Taka/Scar), Tiffany Boone (Sarabi), Kagiso Lediga (Young Rafiki), Preston Nyman (Zazu), Mads Mikkelsen (Kiros), Thandiwe Newton (Eshe ), Lennie James (Obasi), Anika Noni Rose (Afia), Keith David (Masego), John Kani (Rafiki), Seth Rogen (Pumba), Billy Eichner (Timon), Donald Glover (Simba), Blue Ivy Carter (Kiara), Braelyn Rankins (Young Mufasa), Theo Somolu (Young Taka), Folake Olowofoyeku, Joanna Jones, Untilo Mbedu, Sheila Atim, Abdul Salis, Dominique Jennings and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter (Nalá).

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Combining live-action cinematographic techniques with photorealistic computer-generated imagery, the new feature film is produced by Adele Romanski. & Mark Ceryak, and executive produced by Peter Tobyansen.

“Mufasa: The Lion King” opens only in theaters on December 20.

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