The Barry Jenkins directorial will be released in India on 20 December in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu languages.
Published Aug 21, 2024 | 1:05 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 21, 2024 | 1:05 PM
Mahesh Babu to lend his voice to Mufasa in Telugu version of 'Mufasa: The Lion King'. (X)
The beloved character Mufasa from the iconic story The Lion King (2019) is all set to return to the big screens with a new live-action film, Mufasa: The Lion King. The Telugu version will feature the voice of Tollywood superstar Mahesh Babu as Mufasa, marking a major highlight for fans.
Following the tremendous success of The Lion King, this visually stunning new venture will explore Mufasa’s backstory.
Mahesh Babu, who is lending his voice to the character, expressed his excitement about Mufasa: The Lion King.
He said, “I have always admired Disney’s legacy of entertainment and storytelling. Mufasa’s character appeals to me as both a loving father and the king of the jungle. This collaboration with Disney is special for me, and I look forward to sharing this experience with my family and fans when the film releases in Telugu.”
About the rare collaboration, Bikram Duggal, the Head of Studios at Disney Star, said, “Our goal is to create a personal connection with audiences across the country. We are thrilled to have Mahesh Babu bring Mufasa to life in Telugu.”
The Telugu version of Mufasa: The Lion King will also bring back popular actors Brahmanandam and Ali as the voices of Pumbaa and Timon respectively. The official Telugu trailer will be launched at 11.07 am on 26 August.
Directed by Barry Jenkins, Mufasa: The Lion King blends live-action filmmaking with photorealistic computer-generated imagery. The ambitious venture narrates the story of Mufasa’s rise to power, as recounted by Rafiki.
Further, it introduces new characters, including an orphaned cub named Mufasa and a lion named Taka, along with their journey through the Pride Lands.
Mufasa: The Lion King is scheduled for release in India on 20 December 2024. It will hit the screens in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
BIGGG NEWS… MAHESH BABU TO DO VOICEOVER FOR MUFASA IN TELUGU VERSION… #MaheshBabu to roar as #Mufasa in the dubbed #Telugu version of #Disney‘s hugely-anticipated family entertainer #Mufasa: #TheLionKing.#Telugu trailer will be launched on 26 Aug 2024 at 11.07 am.#Mufasa:… pic.twitter.com/XkNxRrpEUK
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) August 21, 2024
Meanwhile, Mahesh Babu will next be seen in SSMB29 (tentatively titled) under the direction of SS Rajamouli. Touted to be an action-adventure on the lines of the Indiana Jones series, SSMB29 will be shot extensively in the African jungles.
It also casts Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt in a prominent role. Reports say Malayalam actor Prithviraj Sukumaran will also join the cast. However, an official confirmation is awaited
Meanwhile, rumours are agog that the film would be made with a budget of around ₹1,000 crore.
Written by Vijayendra Prasad and SS Kanchi, the pan-Indian film marks the maiden collaboration between Rajamouli with Mahesh Babu. Oscar-winning music composer MM Keeravani will score the tunes for the flick.
KL Narayana is bankrolling it under the banner of Sri Durga Arts. More details about the cast and crew are yet to be revealed.
The film will likely go on floors this month or in September. Expectations are running high for SSMB29 because of the unique collaboration.
Mahesh Babu’s latest outing, Guntur Kaaram, was a commercial hit. The Trivikram Srinivas directorial was released for Sankranthi this year.
(Edited by Y Krishna Jyothi)
